從迷惘到信靠
當感到懷疑時……
經文
以西結書十二21-28
21耶和華的話臨到我說：
22人子啊，在你們以色列地怎麼有這俗語，說日子遲延，一切異象都落了空呢？
23你要告訴他們說：主耶和華如此說：我必使這俗語止息，以色列中不再用這俗語。你卻要對他們說：日子臨近，一切的異象必都應驗。
24從此，在以色列家中必不再有虛假的異象和奉承的占卜。
25我耶和華說話，所說的必定成就，不再耽延。你們這悖逆之家，我所說的話必趁你們在世的日子成就。這是主耶和華說的。
26耶和華的話又臨到我說：
27人子啊，以色列家的人說：他所見的異像是關乎後來許多的日子，所說的預言是指著極遠的時候。
28所以你要對他們說：主耶和華如此說：我的話沒有一句再耽延的，我所說的必定成就。這是主耶和華說的。
信息分享
我們一旦掌握了聖經預言背後的原則，就能夠懷著信心平靜的面對將來。如果我們知道神肯定會信守祂自己的話，不只是一件事，而是在一切的事上，那麼我為甚麼還需要有不必要的憂慮呢？還記得神對洪水的預告嗎？那是神在洪水發生前120日（創六3）所說的話，結果事情正如神所預言那樣的發生了。
也許最驚人的例子是在創世記十五章13至14節，那裡記載亞伯拉罕的生平：「耶和華對亞伯蘭說：『你要的確知道，你的後裔必寄居別人的地，又服事那地的人；那地的人要苦待他們四百年；並且他們所要服事的那國，我要懲罰，後來他們必帶著許多財物從那裡出來。』」。然後在出埃及記十二章40至42節，我們看到：「以色列人住在埃及，共有四百三十年。正滿了四百三十年的那一天，耶和華的軍隊都從埃及地出來了，這夜是耶和華的夜。因耶和華領他們出了埃及地」。
第一段經文是一般性的陳述，後來的那一段神縮短了它的時間性，不是一年，不是一個月，而是講到拯救發生的那一個晚上。在你下一次開始懷疑神所對你說的話是否可靠的時候，要記得這些寶貴的經文。我們需要耐心等候神；需要知道神應許的一切都會實現的。有時我們很難明白耽延的原因，但是一定要等候異象，因為它是確實的，它是肯定的，它永遠都不會落空。
「神會信守祂的應許」
進深研究
可一1-15；加四4；弗一10；提前二6
1. 約翰宣告甚麼？
2. 神甚麼時候差派祂的兒子？
祈禱
天父，求您幫助我懂得向前瞻望，不是透過疑惑的眼睛，而是透過不斷增強的信心。當我感到迷惑的時候，求您堅定我的腳步。奉耶穌的名祈求，阿們。
From Confusion to Confidence
When tempted to doubt...
Bible reading:
Ezekiel 12:21-28
21 The word of the Lord came to me:
22 "Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'?
23 Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Say to them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.
24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.
25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.'"
26 The word of the Lord came to me:
27 "Son of man, the Israelites are saying, 'The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.'
28 "Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.'"
Message
Once we grasp the principles that underly Biblical prophecy, they enable us to face the future with confidence and poise. What is the point of being unduly anxious when we know that God is committed to keeping His Word - not in just one thing, but in everything? Remember God's prediction concerning the Flood? It was 120 years before it happened (Gen. 6:3) - but it came to pass exactly as God foretold.
But perhaps the most striking illustration of this is found in the life of Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14: "Then the Lord said to him, 'Know for certain that your decendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and ill-treated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will come out with great possessions.' " Later, in Exodus 12:40-42, we read: "The sons of Jacob and their descendants had lived in Egypt 430 years, and it was on the last day of the 430th year that all of Jehovah's people left the land. This night was selected by the Lord to bring His people out from the land of Egypt" (TLB).
The first text is a general statement, but then God narrows it down more precisely to not just the year, not just the month, but the very night on which the deliverance is to take place. Keep these remarkable texts in mind when next you begin to doubt the reliability of God's personal word to you. Wait upon God. Be assured - everything He has promised will come to pass. It will be difficult at times to understand the delay. But wait for the vision - it is certain, it is sure, it can never, never fail.
"God is committed to keeping His Word"
Prayer
Father, help me to look out at the future, not through the eyes of chilling doubt, but through the eyes of ever-increasing faith. And when I cannot understand, help me just to stand. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Mark 1:1-15
Galatians 4:4
Ephesians 1:10
1 Timothy 2:6
1. What did John declare?
2. When did God send His Son?
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