神拯救衪的子民,离开埃及为奴之地后,百姓很快便发觉他们处于没有食物和水的旷野。此时的百姓便开始抱怨神和怀疑神是否真的想要赐予他们任何好的东西。
他们脱离奴隶生涯只有很短的时间,但他们的记忆却扭曲了:“还记得我们曾经有丰足食物的埃及地吗?那些都是已逝去的好时光啊!”
神施行了奇妙的神迹来拯救衪的子民离开埃及,然而,他们需要时间和经历很多试炼,才能学会信靠神每天供应他们的需要。
神容忍了他们的怨言,衪从天上降下食物给他们。黄昏时他们收获鹌鹑作为肉食,早上他们在地上发现了一些小小的圆形物,这是奇妙的“从天降下的食物”。
我在非洲有很多的朋友都明白倚靠神赐他们“日用的饮食”意味着什么 -他们 时常这样说:“在无路之处,神总会开路。”
来到主的桌前时,我们藉着领受饼和葡萄酒(或葡萄汁),来接受主赐下的恩典。这个简单的仪式真的能操练我们对神的信靠。
神必然看顾衪的子民。
主啊,信靠你并非我们的本性。感谢你容忍我们的埋怨和不耐烦,并且一次又一次向我们显明,你必然亲自看顾我们。奉主耶稣名求,阿们。
出埃及记 16:1-14
1以色列全会众从以琳起行,在出埃及后第二个月十五日,到了以琳和西奈中间汛的旷野。
2以色列全会众在旷野向摩西、亚伦发怨言,
3说:“巴不得我们早死在埃及地耶和华的手下,那时我们坐在肉锅旁边,吃得饱足。你们将我们领出来,到这旷野,是要叫这全会众都饿死啊!”
4耶和华对摩西说:“我要将粮食从天降给你们。百姓可以出去,每天收每天的份,我好试验他们遵不遵我的法度。
5到第六天,他们要把所收进来的预备好了,比每天所收的多一倍。”
6摩西、亚伦对以色列众人说:“到了晚上,你们要知道是耶和华将你们从埃及地领出来的。
7早晨,你们要看见耶和华的荣耀,因为耶和华听见你们向他所发的怨言了。我们算什么,你们竟向我们发怨言呢?”
8摩西又说:“耶和华晚上必给你们肉吃,早晨必给你们食物得饱,因为你们向耶和华发的怨言,他都听见了。我们算什么?你们的怨言不是向我们发的,乃是向耶和华发的。”
9摩西对亚伦说:“你告诉以色列全会众说:‘你们就近耶和华面前,因为他已经听见你们的怨言了。’”
10亚伦正对以色列全会众说话的时候,他们向旷野观看,不料,耶和华的荣光在云中显现。
11耶和华晓谕摩西说:
12“我已经听见以色列人的怨言。你告诉他们说:‘到黄昏的时候,你们要吃肉,早晨必有食物得饱,你们就知道我是耶和华你们的神。’”
13到了晚上,有鹌鹑飞来,遮满了营。早晨,在营四围的地上有露水。
14露水上升之后,不料,野地面上有如白霜的小圆物。
"At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God." - Exodus 16:12
After God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt, they soon found themselves out in the desert without food and water. And here the people defaulted to complaining and wondering if God wanted anything good for them.
After being away from slavery for just a short while, their memory got distorted: "Remember Egypt, where we had plenty to eat? Those were the good old days!"
God had done amazing miracles to deliver his people from Egypt. But it would take time and many trials for them to learn to trust God to provide for them each day.
God endured their grumbling and graciously rained down food upon them. In the evening they received quail for meat, and in the morning they discovered thin flakes of a mysterious "bread from heaven" on the ground.
My African friends—many of whom know what it means to have to trust God for "daily bread"—often say, "God makes a way where there is no way."
When we come to the Lord's table, we receive the miraculous gift of grace in the form of bread and wine (or juice). This simple practice can actually train us in the discipline of trusting God.
God takes care of his people.
Lord, trusting you does not come naturally to us. Thank you for enduring our grumbling and impatience and for showing us, again and again, that you will take care of us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳