一個也不能少!
出埃及記十章21至29節
21耶和華對摩西說:你向天伸杖,使埃及地黑暗;這黑暗似乎摸得著。
22摩西向天伸杖,埃及遍地就烏黑了三天。
23三天之久,人不能相見,誰也不敢起來離開本處;惟有以色列人家中都有亮光。
24法老就召摩西來,說:你們去事奉耶和華;只是你們的羊群牛群要留下;你們的婦人孩子可以和你們同去。
25摩西說:你總要把祭物和燔祭牲交給我們,使我們可以祭祀耶和華─我們的神。
26我們的牲畜也要帶去,連一蹄也不留下;因為我們要從其中取出來,事奉耶和華─我們的神。我們未到那裡,還不知道用甚麼事奉耶和華。
27但耶和華使法老的心剛硬,不肯容他們去。
28法老對摩西說:你離開我去罷,你要小心,不要再見我的面!因為你見我面的那日你就必死!
29摩西說:你說得好!我必不再見你的面了。
信息分享
這連串的災禍能否使法老改變初衷?法老確實作出了一些改變,他提議摩西帶領部分以色列離去,把羊群牛群留下;但摩西卻斷然拒絕,他對法老的回覆是:「要全部一齊去!一個也不能少!」
法老的建議其實相當有趣。它們聽起來,就好像撒但今天經常在信徒耳邊作出的提議一樣:
不要走得很遠(八25-28)。撒但今天會怎樣對信徒說?「做基督徒沒有問題,但不要做得太沉迷。」
你們這壯年人去吧!其餘的家人要留下(十10-11)。撒但同樣會對信徒說:「你自己相信便行;不應該影響別人。」
你們可以去,但要留下羊群牛群(十24)。撒但豈不經常對信徒說:「做一名普通信徒便可以,要將信仰與生活分開,更特別要與金錢分開。」
這些建議是否有點兒耳熟?摩西怎樣回答呢?他說:「不行!要全部離去,一個也不能少!」信徒要順服神的心意,就必須完全按照神的時間、方式和計劃去做,不能只做一半。這才是蒙福之途。
撒但經常哄騙我們,只要滿足神的最低要求便可以。我們若聽從他的建議,便只會失掉了神為我們預備的最大福氣。神極之願意賜福給我們,但我們必須先順服祂的心意。我們對神的回應,究竟是全心全意,抑或半心半意呢?
反思:
我們無須不斷求神賜福;只要我們願意順服神,神就會自然賜福給我們。
ALL OR NOTHING
Exodus 10: 21 - 29
21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.”
22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.
23 They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
24 Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, “Go, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back. Let your little ones also go with you.”
25 But Moses said, “You must also give us sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.
26 Our livestock also shall go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind. For we must take some of them to serve the LORD our God, and even we do not know with what we must serve the LORD until we arrive there.”
27 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he would not let them go.
28 Then Pharaoh said to him, “Get away from me! Take heed to yourself and see my face no more! For in the day you see my face you shall die!”
29 So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.”
Message
What effect did those plagues have on Pharaoh and the Egyptians? Pharaoh several times suggested ideas or plans to Moses about who should leave Egypt or how they should go, but Moses simply replied, 'All or nothing'.
These suggestions of Pharaoh's are very interesting. They sound so like the suggestions Satan makes to Christians today. Here are some of them:
1. Don't go very far away (8:25-28). What does Satan say today? 'Be a Christian but don't get too excited about it.'
2. Let the men go, but leave your families behind (10:10-11). 'It's all right for you, but don't try and make anyone else believe like you do.'
3. Let the people go, but leave all your flocks behind (10:24). 'Be a Christian if you want to, but don't let it touch the rest of your life, certainly not your giving.'
Don't those suggestions sound familiar? What was Moses' answer each time? 'All or nothing!' The only way to be obedient to God is to do all that he wants, in the way he wants and at the time he wants. That is the way of blessing.
Satan continually tries to persuade us to live on a lower level than God desires for us. If we listen to his voice, the result will be that we will always miss out on God's best. God is waiting to bless us, but first of all he wants our obedience. Does he have that in your life and mine?
A THOUGHT:
We are never told to ask for blessing. We are told to be obedient, then blessing will follow.

