我向来都喜欢地图。只要有一张地图在手，我便可以花一个小时来研究它。民数记33章就像一张地图，它追溯以色列民从埃及到摩押平原的四十年旷野路程。
我们从这章圣经可以学到什么呢？这章圣经提醒我们，在这四十年中，以色列民一直没有安顿下来，他们时常都在四处奔波，他们从一处迁移至另一处，他们住在容易支搭和拆卸的帐幕中。只有一个地方是他们的家：就是神应许赐给他们的迦南地。
从某些角度来看，这就是今天神子民的生活写照。我们现今活着的世界，并不是我们的家乡。身为基督徒，我们知道在我们死后，我们的灵魂将会与天上的主同活-然后，当衪再来时，我们将会与衪一同活在新天新地里。所以，我们一方面看顾神赐给我们居住的这个世界，但同时我们不会紧紧抓住世上的事物，我们无需远望，也可以看到这个世界和它的模式是破碎的。尽管很多美物仍然存在，但它终不是我们永久的家乡；惟有能够单单与神我们生命之主同活的地方，才是我们的家。
这个世界的快乐、追求、和情欲，有没有令你变得舒适安逸呢？你是否视你现今的生活为永远不变的？请你记着，神已为我们预备了一个与主一同永活的家乡（希伯来书 11:16），耶稣现今是在那里的，就让我们专心仰望衪吧。
主耶稣，惟愿与你同活的喜乐成为我们的喜乐。求你帮助我们与周围的人分享我们的盼望。阿们。
民数记 33:1-4, 48-49
1以色列人按着军队，在摩西、亚伦的手下出埃及地所行的路程记在下面。
2摩西遵着耶和华的吩咐记载他们所行的路程，其路程乃是这样：
3正月十五日，就是逾越节的次日，以色列人从兰塞起行，在一切埃及人眼前昂然无惧地出去。
4那时，埃及人正葬埋他们的长子，就是耶和华在他们中间所击杀的，耶和华也败坏他们的神。
48从亚巴琳山起行，安营在摩押平原约旦河边，耶利哥对面。
49他们在摩押平原沿约旦河边安营，从伯耶施末直到亚伯什亭。
"They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho." - Numbers 33:48
I've always loved maps. Put a map in my hand, and I'll be busy for an hour. Numbers 33 is like a map. It traces the 40-year wilderness journey of Israel from Egypt to the plains of Moab.
What can we learn from a chapter like this? It reminds us that Israel never settled during the 40 years. They were always on the move. They went from one place to another. They lived in tents that could be set up and taken down. Only one place was home: Canaan, the land God had promised them.
In some ways this is what life is to be like for God's people today. This world, as it is now, is not our home. As Christians, we know that when we die, our souls will live with the Lord in heaven—and then, when he returns, we will live with him in the new heaven and earth. So while we care for the earth God has given us to live on, we do not hold tightly to the things of this world. We don't have to look far to see that this world and its ways are broken. Many good things remain, but this is not our permanent home. That can only be with God, the Lord of our lives.
Have you become comfortable with this world's pleasures, pursuits, and passions? Are you living as if life here is permanent? Remember, a home with the Lord is prepared for us (Hebrews 11:16). Jesus is there. So let's keep our eyes fixed on him.
Lord Jesus, may the joys of life in your presence be our joy. Help us to share our hope with others around us. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
