前车可鉴
哥林多前书十章1至6节
1弟兄们,我不愿意你们不晓得,我们的祖宗从前都在云下,都从海中经过,
2都在云里、海里受洗归了摩西;
3并且都吃了一样的灵食,
4也都喝了一样的灵水。所喝的,是出于随着他们的灵磐石;那磐石就是基督。
5但他们中间多半是神不喜欢的人,所以在旷野倒毙。
6这些事都是我们的鉴戒,叫我们不要贪恋恶事,像他们那样贪恋的;
信息分享
经文只是列出了神赐给以色列民的几种福气。根据和合本的翻译,「都」字总共出现了5次,即表示他们各人都经历了神的祝福。其中之一,是他们都得着神的带领。神用众人看得见的云柱来带领他们,他们只需要跟从就行了。
他们都经过了红海。凡跟从神带领的人,总必得着神的大能拯救,这是古往今来的事实。他们全都走进海里──那是必死无疑的──然而,因着神的保护,他们却能安然走到彼岸,脱离他们的敌人埃及王之追捕。我们今天的水礼,就仿如他们走过红海的行动一样,预表我们的出死入生。
他们岂不是需要食物吗?神亲自赐给他们。他们岂不是需要水喝吗?神命磐石出水来供给他们。同样地,我们所需用的一切,基督也会奇妙地赐给我们。
以色列民尽管经历了神的各种恩惠,但他们却依然犯罪。他们不满意神的带领方式;他们不承认摩西是他们的唯一领袖;他们不满意神所赐的食物。
他们完全忘记了神的施恩,只懂得抱怨神。当我们对神为我们所做的一切,或对我们的计划感到不满;当我们对神的计划发出怨言,我们便会像他们一样,失去神为我们所预备的一切福气。以色列人以为,他们即使没有神也可以继续上路,但最终却发现这是不可能的。
甚么是蒙福之途?就是承认我们所得着的一切,都是神所赐予的;而祂总是将最好的赐给我们。我们若懂得凡事数算主恩,就不会就昔日的以色列人那样可悲地跌倒了。
反思:
只有信靠、顺服,才能得着神的赐福,此外便再无其他的途径。
BE CAREFUL-YOU MIGHT FAIL TOO
1 Corinthians 10:1-6
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,
2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.
Message
Think of some of the things God did for them. The word 'all' occurs five times in these six verses. They all had guidance. How? By means of the cloud which God provided for them. It could be clearly seen. All they had to do was follow.
They all passed through the Red Sea. It is always true that those who walk in God's ways will be delivered by God's power. They all went down into the sea, into what would have been the place of death. They came up on the other side, delivered from their old enemy Egypt. It was as though they had all been baptised in the same way as we are baptised to show that we have passed from death unto life.
Did they need food? God provided it. Did they need water? It came from the Rock. In the same way all our needs are wonderfully supplied by Christ himself.
In spite of all this, the people of Israel failed. They were not satisfied with the way God guided them. They did not want to recognize Moses as their only leader. They did not like the food God provided.
They simply forgot God's goodness to them and murmured against God. When we become dissatisfied with what God is doing for us or planning for us; when we murmur against his will, we too will lose out on the very blessings God has for us. Israel thought they could go on without God, but they found out they couldn't.
What is the way of blessing? Acknowledge that everything we have has come from God and that he knows what is best for us at all times. If we do that, we will not fail as Israel failed so tragically.
Trust and obey for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.

