人们时常说，人生有两件事是避不开的：死亡和纳税；这段经文没有谈及纳税，但它却提到很多关于死亡的事情。有时，这些记载看来有点消极，但我们每一个人都需要儆醒，因为死亡是一个现实 。
在这段经文中，死亡临到三个人身上。摩西的姐姐米利暗和哥哥亚伦已经死了，而神也宣告摩西亦将离世。米利暗如常人一般死去，但亚伦和摩西的死，却和他们没有听从神的命令有关。
死亡是旷野生活中常见却又悲惨的一部份体验。在到达天堂之前，我们先要面对死亡-除非耶稣在我们死亡之前已经回来了。死亡能扼杀我们，我们当中曾痛失挚爱亲朋的人，都会感受到死亡痛苦的刺，不是一件短期内可以忘却的记忆。然而我们被造是要活着，而不是死亡。
当我们面对死亡时，我们不要像那些没有指望的人那样忧伤（帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13），经文此处提醒我们，死亡没有最终仲裁权。神说亚伦要归到他列祖那里，这不单使死亡的事实听起来好受一点，这句话更表明，亚伦仍然是神的子民。
我们也是一样，因为我们有一位复活的救主。我们若在基督里，就知道死亡不能叫我们与祂的爱隔绝，而我们的灵魂也必定会与祂永远同在。
主耶稣，你已经为我们战胜了死亡。求你安慰所有正处于伤心悲痛中的人，又帮助我们来信靠你。阿们。
民数记 20:1, 12, 22-29
1正月间，以色列全会众到了寻的旷野，就住在加低斯。米利暗死在那里，就葬在那里。
12耶和华对摩西、亚伦说：“因为你们不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我为圣，所以你们必不得领这会众进我所赐给他们的地去。”
22以色列全会众从加低斯起行，到了何珥山。
23耶和华在附近以东边界的何珥山上晓谕摩西、亚伦说：
24“亚伦要归到他列祖那里。他必不得入我所赐给以色列人的地，因为在米利巴水，你们违背了我的命。
25你带亚伦和他的儿子以利亚撒上何珥山，
26把亚伦的圣衣脱下来，给他的儿子以利亚撒穿上。亚伦必死在那里，归他列祖。”
27摩西就照耶和华所吩咐的行。三人当着会众的眼前上了何珥山。
28摩西把亚伦的圣衣脱下来，给他的儿子以利亚撒穿上，亚伦就死在山顶那里。于是摩西和以利亚撒下了山。
29全会众，就是以色列全家，见亚伦已经死了，便都为亚伦哀哭了三十天。
"Aaron will be gathered to his people." - Numbers 20:24
People often say there are two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. This passage doesn't say anything about taxes, but it talks a lot about death. Sometimes that may seem morbid, but all of us need to recognize the reality of death.
Death confronted three people in this passage. Moses' sister Miriam and his brother Aaron both died. And Moses' death was announced. Miriam's death was ordinary, while Aaron and Moses' deaths were connected to their failure to listen to God's commands.
Death is a common yet painful part of life in the wilderness. Before any of us reach heaven, we are going to die—unless Jesus returns first. Death kills, and for those of us who lose a loved one to death it stings painfully; it's not something we get over in a short time. We were created to live, not die.
When we are faced with death, though, we must not grieve as people without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We are reminded here that death does not have the last word. God said that Aaron would be gathered to his people. This is not just a way of making death sound nice; it's a statement that Aaron still belonged to God's people.
So it is with us. We have a resurrected Savior. If we are in Christ, we know that death cannot separate us from his love, and our souls will go to be with him.
Lord Jesus, you have defeated death for us. Comfort all who are hurting and grieving today, and help us to trust in you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
