| 哈曼所下的殘酷諭旨迅速傳達。不單末底改立即用各種方式表示自己的哀痛；諭旨宣達之處，猶大人都禁食哀哭。王后以斯帖聽聞末底改的哀慟，卻不明所以。她先送新衣服給末底改，他卻不受。他要公開表達他的哀痛。然後，他也非常清楚地向以斯帖表明，她不要以為國中所有猶大人被殲滅，她自己卻可免於此禍。 但以斯帖反問他說：「我能做甚麼啊？依據法令，除非得到王的召見，否則任何人擅自見王，必立即處死。」末底改的回答充分顯示了他的信心和智慧。他的話包含了兩個超越時間的原則，用我們現代的話來講，就是：「妳如果閉口不言，神必興起另一個人來拯救祂的百姓。祂必有方法去成就祂的旨意。然而，焉知妳得了王后的位份，不是為了現在麼？妳必須現在行動，相信是神放妳在這個位份上。」 以斯帖的回應也非常發人深省。「首先必須要做的，是神的百姓同心禱告，他們必須迫切並明示他們的迫切。我和我的宮女也要這樣行三天，然後就算是違背法律，我也要去見王。我若死便死吧！」 末底改接受她的建議，招聚神的百姓切切禱告，神便應允他們。這次事件給我們很大的啟迪。當我們遇到看似無法應對的處境時，常常是自己計劃和謀算，卻忘記可做的最重要的事，是自己切切向神禱告，並邀請其他信徒與我們一起禱告。 我們若花更多時間禱告，少些時間空談，便能很好地開路讓神工作並成就祂完美的旨意。焉知神已把我們放在某個位置，在特定的時刻成為祂手中的器皿。 |
| The news of Haman's cruel decree was soon spreaded. Not only did Mordecai put on every sign of mourning, but wherever the decree was published, the Jews reacted with fasting and weeping. When Queen Esther heard of Mordecai's condition, she couldn't understand it. She tried first of all to give him new clothing which Mordecai refused to wear. He wanted to publicly display his grief. Then he also made it very plain to Esther that she should not think she would escape death when all the other Jews in the empire were to be killed. But Esther said, "What can I do? I cannot approach the king unless he sends for me. The rule is that anyone doing that is instantly put to death." Mordecai's reply revealed so much of the faith and wisdom of this remarkable man. He made a statement which contained two timeless principles. In our words he said, "If you remain silent, God will raise up someone else to deliver His people. He can always find a way so that His will is carried out. And in any case, who knows? You may be the one God has put into a position to do what no one else can do. You must act now, believing God has placed you there." Esther's reply was also remarkable. "The first thing which must happen is for God's people to pray. They must be in earnest about it and show that they are. My maids and I will do the same for three days. Then I will go to the king, even if it is against the law. If it means I die in doing this, so be it." Mordecai accepted what Esther suggested and gathered together God's people for earnest prayer, and God answered. What a lesson for us! When we are faced with what seems an impossible situation, too often we plan and scheme. We forget that the most important action we could take would be to pray earnestly ourselves and ask some of God's people to join us in doing so. If we spend more time praying and less time talking, it could be well that the way would be open for God to work and to carry out His perfect will. Who knows? We may be the ones God has put in position to be the instrument in His hand at that particular moment. |
沒有留言:
張貼留言