2008年4月23日 星期三

2008-04-23 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧,歡迎訂閱推介奉獻支持
《網絡天糧》查詢,請電郵:ccf@ccfellow.org

訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持

青草地上


偉大旅程的開始

粵語 國語

第23天


讀經:   出埃及記十二章29至42節
當埃及人一覺醒來,才猛然發覺昨晚經歷了死亡之夜;當全國都在一片哀慟聲中,法老最終不得不屈服,下令叫以色列人立即離去。他終於肯承認他們的神擁有更大的能力。

不要忘記,以色列人在埃及已繁衍成一個龐大的族裔;只要你把第37節的人數,加上婦女與兒童的數目,再加上38節所指的其他「閒雜人」,得出的總數,大概也有二百萬以上。如今,這群龐大的以色列民,終於浩浩蕩蕩地一同離開埃及。

然而,不久之後,那些混在以色列民中間的「閒雜人」便證明對他們是有損無益的。他們總是最先抱怨和反叛的人。他們代表了今天的世俗人;他們經常混雜在基督徒的群體中,但他們的心卻未曾與神和好。他們便經常對一心想與神同行的基督徒造成困擾。

接著,請留意第40至42節。神曾經對亞伯拉罕說,他的後裔將要寄居在別人的地,那地的人必苦待他們四百年(參創十五13)。神的話語真實。祂在以色列民出埃及前的至少六百年,已經向亞伯拉罕預言此事。我們經常計算著年日,但對神來說,時間並不是問題。我們沒有耐性去等待,但其實,我們應該經常緊記彼得的一句話:「主所應許的尚未成就,有人以為是耽延,其實不是耽延,乃是寬容你們。」(彼後三9)

神給你的應許,有沒有還未應驗的呢?耐心等候祂吧!神是信實的,祂必然兌現自己的承諾。

反思:

我的主早已知道穿越曠野的道路,我又何需憂慮呢?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOD'S TENDER CARE OF HIS PEOPLE
Day 23


Bible Reading:   Exodus 13: 17 – 22
Two or three points stand out in this reading. First, God knew the condition of the people when they came out of Egypt. They had been slaves for many years and had no experience in fighting a war. If God had led them by the most direct route to Canaan, they would have had to face the warlike Philistines and might have been defeated and certainly discouraged. How marvellous is God's care for his people.

If you turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 you will find that same care is over us today. God does now allow us to be tempted beyond our spiritual strength but with the temptation he provides a way of escape.

Secondly. Joseph had prophesied that one day the Children of Israel would leave Egypt. His body had never been buried but had remained in a coffin as a silent witness, waiting for God to fulfil his word. Now that had happened and Moses took Joseph's coffin with him as Joseph had asked. The bones were finally buried in Canaan by Joshua, over 40 years later (see Joshua 24:32).

Then God did not leave his people without guidance. He gave them a symbol of his presence. It was a cloud by day that gave them wonderful shade from the burning desert sun. It gave them a marvellous light at night, so that they could read, cook or even travel at nighttime, when it was so much cooler.

Isn't that like God's care for us today? He has given us the protection of his presence every day. He has given us the light of his Word as our guide. He has done everything he can to help us. Thank him again today for all he has done for us.

A VERSE FOR TODAY:

Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits.

沒有留言: