上帝回應反叛者God Responds to Rebellion


[WOTS]
10/18/2018


Unit 1: God Calls a People上帝呼喚百姓

                          Title: 上帝回應反叛者God Responds to Rebellion           Oct. 21, 2018

經文Scriptures：民數記Numbers 14:1-19

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School 賴美滿 校長

https://www.WorldwideOTS.org

前言PREFACE:   當所有以色列人正等待進入那應許之地時，他們派遣偵探去觀察這將繼承之地是充滿了牛奶和蜂蜜，總是那邊的人之強大是難於制服的，只有 迦勒相信他們能制服這地。

人們時常互相鼓勵說，＂您所需要的是要有信心＂．信心總是有一個目標，所以我們必須問，＂誰是我信心之目標呢？＂今日的經文指出我們信心之目標是極其的重要。

 When all the Israelites were waiting for, entering into the Promised Land, they send spies to check out the land they are about to inhabit. When the spies returned they reported that the land flows with milk and honey; however, the people living there were too strong to overcome. Only Caleb believed they can overcome those occupying the land.

People often encourage others by saying, “All you have to do is to have faith.” The truth is that faith always has an object. We must ask, “On what or whom is my faith based?” Our scripture points out that the object of our faith is all-important.

上週This Week：我們看到上帝命令我們要充分表現透過我們生命之中過聖潔擴散到他人的生活。                                                                        We saw that God’s command to be holy permeates life and is only adequately expressed through our whole being.

這週This Week：我們將查出反叛的危險和後果以及需要完全的信任上帝。 We will examine the dangers and consequences of rebellion and the need for placing our complete trust in God.   

1.                  偵探之觀察報告THE SPIES REPORT: 請讀民數記14:1 Please read (Numbers 14:1)

以色列人正將進入那應許之地時，上帝告訴他們派遣偵探去觀察這將繼承之地 (13:1-2).    雖是偵探回來證明那地是充滿了牛奶和蜂蜜 (13:27)，大多數人總是報告那邊的人之強大是難於制服的 (13:28-29, 31-33)，只有 迦勒相信他們能制服這地 (13:30)。人們不相信上帝能幫這事情。因此，他們一齊都哭了 (14:1)。

The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. In preparation for this event, God told them to send spies into the land to explore it (13:1-2). Although they came back with evidence that the land truly did “flow with milk and honey” (13:27), most of the spies gave a negative report of their findings the land also flowed with numerous enemies and fortified cities (13:28-29, 31-33). This terrifying report was more than the Israelites could handle. Even though Caleb tried to assure everyone that they could conquer the land with God’s help (13:30), the people did not trust that God would help them this time. So they all wept together (14:1).

2.       害怕造成反叛FEAR LEADS TO REBELLION Number民數記 14:1-4  

當下全會眾大聲喧嚷、那夜百姓都哭號 (14:1)。   以色列眾人向摩西亞倫發怨言、全會眾對他們說、巴不得我們早死在埃及地、或是死在這曠野。    耶和華為甚麼把我們領到這地、使我們倒在刀下呢．我們的妻子和孩子、必被擄掠、我們回埃及去豈不好麼。 眾人彼此說、我們不如立一個首領、回埃及去罷。

    That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud (14:1).   All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!  Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?     Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"  And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

聖經靈修版解經 P.251, 以色列人不能進去應許之地，困難關頭，該如何辦呢？極度傷心之時，眾百姓都哭號。他們看不到光明的遠景，就在當前之迷惑之中，也忘記他們所認識的上帝。倘若他們把重回埃及之勇氣，用來奮勇向前的話，一定能進入美地。不至於在曠野漂流。在前途困難重重的情況下，我們必須把眼光看得高，看得遠，重新想到起初的意象，化怨言為力量，最終必能成功。

When the chorus of despair went up, everyone joined in. Their greatest fears were being realized. Losing their perspective, the people were caught up in the emotion of the moment, forgetting what they knew about God’s character. What if the people had spent as much energy moving forward as they did moving back? They could have enjoyed their land, instead they never even entered it. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in. You have better ways to use your energy than to complain.

但他們完全失去了信心，並否認上帝和拒絕摩西。But their complete lack of faith has them to deny all that God had done for them and to reject Moses once again.

3.       最後試想軟和以色列百姓FINAL ATTEMPT TO ASSUE THE ISRAELITES讀民數記14:5-9  Read Number 14:5-9

摩西亞倫就俯伏在以色列全會眾面前。窺探地的人中、嫩的兒子約書亞、和耶孚尼的兒子迦勒、撕裂衣服、對以色列全會眾說、我們所窺探經過之地、是極美之地。耶和華若喜悅我們、就必將我們領進那地、把地賜給我們、那地原是流奶與蜜之地。但你們不可背叛耶和華、也不要怕那地的居民、因為他們是我們的食物、並且蔭庇他們的已經離開他們、有耶和華與我們同在、不要怕他們。

    Then Moses and Aaron felled face down in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.     Joshua, son of Nun and Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.    If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.  Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

聖經靈修版解經 : 上帝以大能奇事領百姓出埃及，免受奴役，經過曠野，到達美麗的邊緣。  上帝保護他們，供給他們，應驗了上帝的應許，但可惜到最後關頭，百姓竟然拒絕上帝。   人們看見了神蹟，為何不信呢？入美地就是出埃及的最終目的地，為何人會放棄呢？因為懼怕。我們也是同樣，肯信上帝為我們解決小事，卻懷疑上帝能否成就大事，勝過大難處，為我們做重大的決定。不要在目標在望之際輕易放棄。上帝已長久領你前行，祂必不叫你失望，要數算主恩，您就能依靠祂了。

With great miracles, God had led the Israelites out of slavery, through the desolate desert, and up to the very edge of the Promised Land. He had protected them, and fulfilled every promise. Yet when encouraged to take that last step of faith and enter the land, the people refused. After witnessing so many miracles, why did they stop trusting God? Why they refuse to enter the Promised Land when that had been their goal since leaving Egypt? They were afraid. Often we do the same thing. We trust God to handle the smaller issues but doubt his ability to take care of the big problems, the tough decisions, the frightening situations. Don’t stop trusting God just as you are ready to reach your goal. He brought you this far and won’t let you down now. We can continue trusting God by remembering all he has done for us.

4.     結論POINT:

摩西已經做過上次做的事。他為百姓代為求情，上帝也回應摩西之請求。他忘了，但人們反叛之懲罰是嚴重的。當時除了迦勒和約書亞以外沒有一個人能見到應許之地 (民數記 14:20-25). 雖他們的罪過被赦免，但百姓仍為其反叛在吃苦Number 14:10-19, Moses did what he did the last time. He intercedes to God for the people and God responds as Moses requested. He does forgive, but the consequences for the people’s rebellion are harsh. Not one of the adults present at that time, except Caleb and Joshua, would get to see the Promised Land. While their sin was forgiven, the people still suffered the consequences of their rebellion. (民數記 14:20-25)

今天我們已看到專住於眼前之環境，沒信心和不順從上帝會引致我們信心衰弱和恐懼感。

Today we have seen that fixing our eyes on circumstances, distrust, and disobedience toward God lead to fear and weaken our faith.

Questions:

1.       如何幫助小組和社區的敬拜使增強我們的信心和對上帝有信心呢？ 

      How can communal worship and fellowship help strengthen our faith and confidence in God?

2.       您過去如何經驗上帝之同在和輔導呢？您過去之經驗如何堅強您的信心和克服您的懼怕？How have you experienced God’s presence and guidance in the past? How might your past experiences with God build your faith and help manage fear now?

禱告:請求上帝時刻與我們同在和除去我們現在的任何害怕。

Close in prayer, asking God to fill our lives with His presence and calming the any fear we are currently experiencing.


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