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出埃及记生命读经 · 第14篇

耶和华神的名和祂的约

Jehovah God’s Name and His Covenant
1在神和法老之间的第一次冲突以后，神的代表─摩西感到困扰并且灰心（五章二十二至二十三节）。在六章一至八节，神给摩西一段刚强的话语，论到祂的名和祂的约。因我们对神的名仍然缺乏经历，对神的约也缺少真正的了解，我们需要在本篇信息中来看这些事。
1After the first conflict between God and Pharaoh, Moses, who was God’s representative, was troubled and discouraged (5:22-23). In 6:1-8 God gave Moses a strong word concerning His name and His covenant. Because we are still short of the experience of God’s name and of the true realization of God’s covenant, we need to consider these matters in this message
一 耶和华神的名
I. JEHOVAH GOD’S NAME
（一） 祂的名代表祂的人位
A. His Name Denoting His Person
2让我们先看耶和华神的名。祂的名代表祂的人位。它不是一个虚无的名称，而是表明祂的所是。
2Let us first see the name of Jehovah God. His name denotes His person. It is not an empty title, but rather it is the definition of what He is
（二） 以利沙代
B. El Shaddai
3在六章三节神对摩西说：『我从前以全丰之神的名向亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各显现，至于我名耶和华他们未曾知道。』（直译。）我多年被这节圣经所困惑。我知道根据创世记某些经节，亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各，都很熟悉耶和华的名。（创十二4，二六25，三二9。）我们如何能使这些经节与主在六章三节中的话调和呢？答案在于这个事实：知道某个名字是一回事，而凭著那个名字来认识神是另一回事。例如，全世界的人都知道耶稣的名。然而，并非所有知道这名的人都因这名认识主。知道耶稣的名是一回事，但在经历里凭著祂的名认识主耶稣是另一回事。耶稣的意思是耶和华救主。人或许熟悉耶稣的名，但他们却没有经历耶和华救主。这就是我得救前的光景。我生在基督教里，我母亲教导我耶稣的故事。我甚至向别人说到耶稣，并且保卫基督教不受攻击。然而，我自己却没有经历耶稣作耶和华救主。我知道那名，但还没有凭著那个名认识主。同样的原则，亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各知道耶和华的名，但他们没有凭著这名认识神。
3In 6:3 God said to Moses, “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God All-sufficient; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them” (Heb.). For years I was puzzled by this verse. I knew that according to certain verses in Genesis, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all familiar with the name Jehovah (Gen. 12:4; 26:25; 32:9). How can we reconcile these verses with the Lord’sword in 6:3? The answer rests in the fact that it is one thing to know a particular name and it is another thing to know God by that very name. For example, people all over the world know the name of Jesus. However, not all those who know this name also know the Lord by this name. To know the name of Jesus is one thing, but to know the Lord Jesus in an experiential way by His name is another. Jesus means Jehovah the Savior. People may be familiar with the name of Jesus, but they may have no experience of Jehovah the Savior. This was my situation before I was saved. I was born into Christianity, and my mother taught me the story of Jesus. I even spoke of Jesus to others, and I defended Christianity against attack. However, I myself had no experience of Jesus as Jehovah the Savior. I knew the name, but I did not yet know the Lord by that name. In the same principle, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew the name Jehovah, but they did not know God by this name
4然而，他们的确知道耶和华是全丰的神，就是以利沙代（Elshaddai）。以利（El）意思是大能者，而沙代（shaddai）含有胸部或乳房的意思。所以，这神圣的称呼表示神是刚强全丰的。作为如此的一位，祂是供应的神（创十七1，二八3）和应许的神。（创三五11。）
4However, they did know the Lord as God All - sufficient, that is, as El Shaddai. Elmeans the mighty One, and Shaddai implies the meaning of breast or udder. Hence, this divine title indicates that God is strong and all-sufficient. As such a One, He is the supplying God (Gen. 17:1; 28:3) and the promising God (Gen. 35:11).
（三） 耶和华
C. Jehovah
5就著供应和应许来说，以利沙代是神的名，就著存在和成就应许来说，耶和华是祂的名。作为耶和华，神是永存的神（出三14，约八24，28，58）和成就应许的神。（出六6～8。）亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各死了，并没有享受应许的成全。（来十一13。）在他们的经历中，神是全丰者，但不是耶和华。对他们来说，祂是应许的神，但不是成就应许的神。在六章一至八节，当神对摩西说话的时候，祂不是作为以利沙代─应许的神来说话，而是作为耶和华─成就应许的神。在这里神没有给摩西一个关乎美地的应许；反之，祂乃是来成就祂从前给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的应许。当神在创世记十五章与亚伯拉罕立约时，在十三和十四节祂指出，美地的应许成就以前，需要有四百年。这四百年结束于摩西八十岁的时候。这表明应许亚伯拉罕的，要向摩西和以色列人应验。因此，在第六章神临到摩西和以色列人，不是作为全丰的神，而是作为耶和华。神要作为成就应许的神，祂必须是永存的神；那就是说，祂必须是自有者。在某种独特的意义上，『是』动词只适用于祂。这个动词是耶和华这名构成的基本要素。在这宇宙中惟独祂是自有者。作为应许者，祂是以利沙代；但作为成就祂所应许的，祂是耶和华我是。神的存在并不倚赖祂自己以外的任何事物。祂永远存在，无始无终。作为耶和华，神永远是。大约四千年前，神给了亚伯拉罕一个关乎美地的应许。神的应许还没有向亚伯拉罕本人应验，因亚伯拉罕还未复活。倘若神不是自有永有者，数千年前的应许就无法应验。然而，因为神今是、永是，祂不能不成就祂的应许。在宇宙中有一位我是，这一位就是成就应许的神，凡祂所说的都要成就。耶和华必成就祂的话。
5Just as El Shaddai is God’s name for supply and promise, so Jehovah is His name for existence and fulfillment. As Jehovah, God is the existing God (Exo. 3:14; John 8:24, 28, 58) and the fulfilling God (Exo. 6:6-8). Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob died without enjoying the fulfillment of the promise (Heb. 11:13). In their experience God was the all-sufficient One, but He was not Jehovah. To them, He was the promising God, but He was not the fulfilling God. When God spoke to Moses in 6:1-8, He did not speak as El Shaddai, the promising God, but as Jehovah, the fulfilling God. Here God did not make a promise to Moses regarding the good land; rather, He came to fulfill the promise He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When God was making a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15, He indicated in verses 13 and 14 that it would be four hundred years before the promise concerning the good land would be fulfilled. These years were completed when Moses was eighty years of age. This indicates that what was a promise to Abraham was to be a fulfillment to Moses and to the children of Israel. Therefore, in chapter six God came to Moses and to the children of Israel, not as God All-sufficient, but as Jehovah. In order for God to be the fulfilling God, He must be the existing God; that is, He must be the self-existing One. In a unique sense, the verb to be is applied only to Him. This verb is a basic component of the name Jehovah. In this universe He alone is the self-existing One. As the One who promised, He is El Shaddai; but as the One who fulfills what He has promised, He is Jehovah, the One who is. God’s existence is not dependent on anything apart from Himself. He exists eternally, having neither beginning nor ending. As Jehovah, God simply is. Approximately four thousand years ago, God made a promise to Abraham concerning the good land. God’s promise has not yet been fulfilled to Abraham himself, because Abraham has not been resurrected. If God were not the self - existing One and the ever - existing One, the promise made thousands of years ago could not be fulfilled. However, because God is and always will be, He cannot fail to fulfill His promise. In this universe there is One who is, and this One is the fulfilling God. Whatever He says will come to pass. Jehovah will fulfill His word.
6亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各经历神作供应的神和应许的神。他们凭著以利沙代的名认识祂。但因为他们没有得著应许的应验，他们就无法凭著耶和华的名认识祂，虽然我们指出，他们确实知道这名。他们在信心里死了，却没有得著应许的应验。但在出埃及记第六章，神进来应验祂给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的应许。故此，神对摩西说：『我是耶和华』。（六2。）这意思是说，神作为耶和华，作为『我是』的那位向摩西说话，并藉著摩西向以色列人说话。多年来我很难了解约翰第八章。在这一章中主三次说到祂自己是那『我是』。（24，28，58。）在五十八节主耶稣宣告说：『我实实在在的告诉你们，还没有亚伯拉罕，我就是。』（直译。）作为那伟大的『我是』，主是永远长存的神。因此，祂是在亚伯拉罕以先。从属灵上说，约翰八章能与出埃及三章相比，主在那里向摩西启示祂自己是那『我是』。（14。）
6Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob experienced God as the supplying God and as the promising God. They knew Him by the name El Shaddai. But because they did not receive the fulfillment of the promise, they did not know Him by the name Jehovah, although, as we have pointed out, they did know this name. They died in faith without having received the fulfillment of what was promised. But in Exodus 6 God came in to fulfill His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For this reason, God said to Moses, “I am Jehovah” (6:2, Heb.). This means that God spoke to Moses and, through him, to the children of Israel as Jehovah, as the One who is. For years I had difficulty understanding John 8. Three times in this chapter the Lord refers to Himself as “I am” (vv. 24, 28, 58). In verse 58 the Lord Jesus declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham came into being, I am.” As the great I Am, the Lord is the eternal, ever-existing God. Hence, He is before Abraham. Spiritually speaking, John 8 can be compared to Exodus 3, where the Lord reveals Himself to Moses as the I Am (v. 14
7我们曾指出耶稣的名意思是耶和华救主，不是以利沙代救主。那位来作我们救主的是永存者－我是。祂来成就神给祂子民的一切应许。所以，耶稣来不是要应许，而是要成就。这意思是说，祂来不是作以利沙代，而是作耶和华。
7We have pointed out that the name of Jesus means Jehovah the Savior. It does not mean El Shaddai the Savior. The One who came to be our Savior is the ever- existing One, the One who is. He came to fulfill all the promises made by God to His people. Therefore, Jesus came not to promise, but to fulfill. This means that He came not as El Shaddai, but as Jehovah
8同样的原则，神临到摩西是作耶和华，不是作以利沙代。主似乎在说：『摩西，你的列祖凭著以利沙代的名认识我。但现在我要你凭著另一个名认识并经历我，就是凭著耶和华的名，「我是」的名。凡我所应许的，我必成就。』主这样对摩西说，因为摩西向祂抱怨关于他和法老交涉的结果。摩西告诉主，法老苦待这百姓。并且摩西说：『你一点也没有拯救他们』。（五23。）因此，神对摩西说，祂是耶和华。祂巴望摩西和所有的以色列人都凭著这名认识祂，并且经历祂作永存的神和成就应许的神。当主鼓励摩西时，他似乎说：『摩西，不要困扰或灰心。你必须了解我在这里不仅仅是以利沙代，还是耶和华。现在是你经历我作那『我是』的时侯。作为耶和华、永存者，我必成就我的约。』当神临到摩西，祂不是作为以利沙代而来，乃是作耶和华。祂来不是要应许，乃是要成就祂所已经应许的。所以，摩西不必失望或灰心﹔神作为永存者和成就者进到他的光景中。
8In the same principle, God came to Moses as Jehovah, not as El Shaddai. It seems as if the Lord were saying, “Moses, your forefathers knew Me by the name El Shaddai. But now I want you to know Me and to experience Me by another name — by the name Jehovah, the name of the One who is. Whatever I have promised, I shall fulfill.” The Lord spoke this way to Moses because Moses had complained to Him about the result of his negotiation with Pharaoh. Moses had told Him that Pharaoh had done evil to the people. Furthermore, Moses said, “Neither hast thou delivered thy people at all” (5:23). Therefore, God told Moses that He was Jehovah. He desired that Moses and all the children of Israel know Him by this name and that they experience Him as the existing God and as the fulfilling God. As the Lord was encouraging Moses, it seems as if He were saying, “Moses, don’t be troubled or discouraged. You need to realize that I am here not only as El Shaddai, but as Jehovah. It is time for you to experience Me as the I Am. As Jehovah, the ever-existing One, I shall fulfill My covenant.” When God came to Moses, He came not as El Shaddai, but as Jehovah. He came not to promise, but to fulfill what had already been promised. Therefore, there was no need for Moses to be disappointed or discouraged. God had come into his situation as the existing and fulfilling One.
9这对我们不该仅仅是道理；它该在实际上成为我们的经历。今天在主的恢复里，我们不是在应许的阶段；而是在应验的阶段。应验的阶段包括旧约和新约中所有应许的应验。有一个新约的应许是主的话：『我要建造我的教会』。（太十六。）这话今天正在我们中间应验。这表示我们经历的主不仅是以利沙代，更是耶和华。然而，我们必须承认，在日常生活中我们缺少经历主作那伟大的『我是』。尽管我们喜欢唱有关基督丰富的诗歌（诗歌第四百零三首），一天过一天我们却仍是贫穷的。你经历神作耶和华有多少？凭以利沙代的名认识神，并宣告祂是全有、全能，和全丰是容易的。然而，真正经历那『我是』就完全是另一回事了。如果我们要凭耶和华的名认识神，我们就必须有经历。否则，我们就要像亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各，知道这名，却没有任何经历。
9This should not merely be doctrine to us; it should become our experience in a practical way. In the Lord’s recovery today we are not in the stage of promise; we are in the stage of fulfillment. The stage of fulfillment includes the fulfillment of the promises made both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. One New Testament promise is the Lord’s word, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). This word is being fulfilled 18 among us today. This indicates that we are experiencing the Lord not only as El Shaddai, but also as Jehovah. We must confess, however, that in our daily living we are short of the experience of the Lord as the great I Am. Although we enjoy singing the hymn about the riches of Christ (Hymns #542), day by day we may still be in poverty. How much do you experience God as Jehovah? It is rather easy to know Him by the name El Shaddai and to declare that He is rich, almighty, and all - sufficient. However, it is quite another thing to have the real experience of the I Am. If we would know God by the name Jehovah, we must have experience. Otherwise, we shall be like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who knew this name without having any experience of it.
10四十多年前，在我的家乡兴起了教会。我在一家大公司，工作非常忙碌。教会的事务也需要我许多时间。我每周至少四次必须在教会的聚会中说话。主的祝福在我们身上，圣徒人数不断加增。我越过越有负担要放下工作，全时间事奉主。经过几个月，我为这事一再到主面前去，但是无法解决。因主不让我过去，我吃不好也睡不好。最后我到了不能往前的地步，直到这件事得著了解决。有一天晚上当我与主办交涉时，祂题醒我曾答应要全时间事奉主。我对祂说，我是在有妻子、儿女以前答应的。现在我很担心，如果我辞掉工作事奉主，我的家庭如何能维持。在那以前，我已知道关乎神供给的应许。我知道我们若求神的国和神的义，凡我们所需要的都要加给我们。然而，我不认识神是成就应许的神。那天晚上主不仅向我启示祂的话，更启示祂自己是那位成就应许者。然后主给我一个最后通牒─拣选祂或放弃祂。当我起来时，我含著泪说：『主，我拣选你。』当我站起来时，里面知道问题已经解决了。从那时直到如今，主对我真是成就应许的神。我一再地经历祂作那位『我是』。因祂是那位『我是』，耶和华从不误事。祂永远长存，祂今是，以后永是。从我多年的经历中，我能见证神是。阿利路亚！我们不仅能认识祂是全丰的神，更能认识祂是那位『我是』。青年人，我在本篇信息中的负担特别是为著你们的。我感谢主，你们忠于主的恢复。但我知道在你们前面还有一段漫长的路程，并且有许多试炼和试验等著你们。我要向你们作见证，你们所事奉的神不仅是以利沙代，更是耶和华。祂不仅是全丰者和应许者，更是永存者和成就者。因为祂是那『我是』，祂必成就祂所应许的一切。我也许不能遵守我的话，因为我会去世。但因耶和华永远长存，而且祂是『是』动词的实际，凡祂所说的祂必成就。当你遭遇试验、试炼，和难处时，你应当说：『主，你是。我的问题会过去，但是主，你永远长存。』法老比以色列人更有权势。然而，过些时候，法老就成为无有。他只能暂时抵挡主。当法老过去以后，耶和华仍然存在。
10More than forty years ago, the church was raised up in my home town. I was very busy with my job in a large corporation. Also, the church affairs required a great deal of my time. It was necessary for me to speak in the church meetings at least four times a week. The Lord’s blessing was upon us, and the number of saints was increasing. I became more and more burdened to give up my job to serve the Lord full time. Over a period of months, I went to the Lord about this matter again and again, but I was not able to settle it. Because the Lord would not let me go, I could neither eat well nor sleep well. Eventually I reached the point where I could not go on until this issue was resolved. One night as I was dealing with the Lord, He reminded me that I had promised to serve Him full time. I told Him that I had made that promise before I had a wife and children. Now I was very concerned how I could support my family if I were to leave my job to serve the Lord. Prior to that time, I had come to know God’s promises concerning His provision. I knew that if we seek God’skin gdom and His righteousness, whatever we need will be added to us. However, I did not know God as the fulfilling God. That night not only did the Lord unveil His word to me, but He also unveiled Himself as the One who fulfills His promises. Then the Lord gave mean ultimatum—either take Him or not take Him. As I rose up from my knees, I said with tears, “Lord, I take You.” When I rose to my feet, I knew within that the matter had been settled. From that time until this present hour, the Lord has been real to me as the fulfilling God. I have experienced Him again and again as the I Am. Because He is the I Am, Jehovah never fails. He never ceases to exist; He is and He always will be. From my years of experience I can testify that God is. Hallelujah, we can know Him not only as the all-sufficient God, but also as the One who is! Young people, my burden in this message is especially for you. I am grateful to the Lord for your faithfulness to His recovery. But I realize that there is a long journey ahead of you and that many trials and tests await you. I want to testify to you that the very God whom you are serving is not only El Shaddai, but also Jehovah. He is not only the sufficient One and the promising One, but also the existing One and the fulfilling One. Because He is the One who is, He will fulfill all that He has promised. I may not be able to keep my word because I may cease to be. But because Jehovah exists eternally and because He is the reality of the verb to be, He will fulfill whatever He has spoken. When you encounter tests, trials, and difficulties, you should say, “Lord, You are. My problems will end, but You, Lord, will be forever.” Pharaoh was much more powerful than the children of Israel. Nevertheless, after a little while, Pharaoh became nothing. He could withstand the Lord only for a short period of time. After Pharaoh had ceased to be, Jehovah still was.
11在第六章主鼓励摩西，使摩西认识祂是耶和华。主似乎说：『摩西，你需要凭著耶和华的名认识我。你必须根据我的所是、我的存在，来认识我。我既是那伟大的『我是』，你还有甚么理由灰心呢？』主在这里训练摩西凭著耶和华的名来经历祂并认识祂。
11In chapter six the Lord encouraged Moses by causing him to know Him as Jehovah. It seems as if the Lord were saying, “Moses, you need to know Me by the name Jehovah. You must know Me according to My being, according to My existence. Since I am the great I Am, what reason do you have to be discouraged?” Here the Lord was training Moses to experience Him and to know Him by the name Jehovah
12你只经历主作以利沙代，或是你也经历祂作耶和华？当你有需要或在难处里，不要仅仅为著主的丰富、充裕而赞美主。你也该赞美祂是那『我是』。不要只感谢祂大有能力，而要放胆宣告：『主，你是。』许多基督徒在缺乏时祷告主作丰富者。但是你曾否听过基督徒为著主的永存赞美祂？主渴望有人宣告：『主，你是！』我们必须是这样赞美主的人。我们不该仅仅为著主的丰富、充裕，和能力赞美主。倘若我们得著主是那『我是』的启示，我们就要在新样里祷告了。当难处来临时，我们要到主面前去说：『主，这里有难处，但你是。你就是那『我是』，我相信你。』
12Do you experience the Lord only as El Shaddai, or do you also experience Him as Jehovah? When you have a need or are in difficulty, do not merely praise the Lord for His richness and sufficiency. You should also praise Him that He is the One who is. Do not simply thank Him that He is able and mighty, but declare boldly, “Lord, You are.” When they are in need, many Christians pray to the Lord as the sufficient One. But have you ever heard of Christians praising the Lord for His eternal existence? The Lord is longing for some to proclaim, “Lord, You are!” We need to be those who praise the Lord in this way. We should not simply thank the Lord for His richness, sufficiency, and ability. If we have received the revelation of the Lord as the I Am, we shall pray in a new way. When trouble comes, we shall go to the Lord and say, “Lord, here is a problem, but You are. You are the I Am, and I believe in You
二 耶和华神的约
II. JEHOVAH GOD’S COVENANT
13现在我们继续看耶和华神的约。在创世记十二章，神给亚伯拉罕一个应许。在创世记十五章，那个应许成了一个约；到了创世记十七章，定割礼为那约的记号。因此，至终神所给亚伯拉罕的不仅是一个应许，还是一个带著记号的约。神的应许就是祂的话。（罗九9。）每当神说祂要为我们作某件事，那个话就成了应许。但是当应许加上誓言时，应许就成了保证神话语的约。这样的约就像一个契约一样。
13We proceed now to Jehovah God’s covenant. In Genesis 12 God made a promise to Abraham. In Genesis 15 that promise became a covenant, and in Genesis 17 circumcision was enacted as a token of that covenant. Thus, what God gave Abraham eventually was not only a promise, but also a covenant with a token. God’s promise is His word (Rom. 9:9). Whenever God says that He will do a particular thing for us, that word is a promise. But when an oath is added to the promise, the promise becomes a covenant which assures God’sword. Such a covenant is like a contract
14在六章八节主对摩西说：『我举手应许给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的那地，我要把你们领进去将那地赐给你们为业，我是耶和华。』（直译。）主给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的应许，是藉著举手所立的约。以这样的方式举手就是立誓、起誓。在创世记十四章，亚伯拉罕对所多玛王说，他已经向至高的神起誓，不拿他的任何东西。（22～23。）这意思是说，亚伯拉罕已经为那件事起了誓。在旧约中立约时，要把手举起来。但到了新约，主耶稣的整个人被举起来了。在约翰八章二十八节主耶稣说：『你们举起人子以后，必知道我是。』（直译。）因著主耶稣被举起来，神立了一个大誓，使祂的应许成了新约。在四福音里，主有许多应许。当祂在十字架上被举起来时，这些应许就成了新约。如今整本新约圣经就是一个约，是由被高举的基督所保证并签定的契约。
14In 6:8 the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring you into the land, concerning the which I did lift up my hand to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah” (Heb.). The promise the Lord gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was a covenant made by the lifting up of His hand. To lift up the hand in such a way was to make an oath, to swear. In Genesis 14 Abraham told the king of Sodom that he had lifted up his hand unto the most high God not to take anything from him (vv. 22-23). This means that Abraham had made an oath concerning that particular matter. In the Old Testament the hand was lifted up when a covenant was made. But in the New Testament the whole Person of the Lord Jesus was lifted up. In John 8:28 the Lord Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am.” By the lifting up of the Lord Jesus, God made a great oath that caused His promises to become the new covenant. In the four Gospels the Lord made many promises. When He was lifted up on the cross, these promises became the new covenant. Now the whole New Testament is a covenant, a contract signed and endorsed by the uplifted Christ.
15主不仅在十字架上被高举，最终还被高举到三层天上神的宝座。主现今坐在安座上作为宇宙中最大誓约的象征。这誓约是藉著两个步骤立定的﹕首先藉著主被高举在十字架上，然后被高举在宝座上。阿利路亚，这位全人被高举者现今是在宝座上！因此，今天我们手中所有的不是一个应许，乃是一个约。神对摩西题到这约时似乎说：『摩西，你岂不知我与你的祖宗立过约么？我曾举手起誓要领我的百姓进入美地。你以为法老能拦阻我带领我的百姓进入应许之地么？摩西，不要灰心。我是，但法老不是。我是耶和华，要成就我的约。我要将我的百姓领进美地，赐给他们为业。摩西，要因我的约和我今时的名受到鼓励。』
15The Lord was uplifted not only to the cross but, ultimately, to the throne of God in the third heaven. The Lord is now sitting on the throne as the symbol of the greatest oath in the universe. This oath was made by two steps: by the Lord being uplifted first to the cross and then to the throne. Hallelujah, this One whose whole being has been uplifted is now on the throne! Therefore, what we have in our hand today is not a promise, but a covenant. In speaking to Moses about the covenant, God seems to have said, “Moses, don’ty ou realize that I have made a covenant with your forefathers? I have lifted up My hand to bring My people into the good land. Do you think that Pharaoh can stop Me from bringing My people into the promised land? Moses, don’t be discouraged. I am, but Pharaoh is not. I am Jehovah to fulfill My covenant. I shall bring My people into the good land and give it to them for a heritage. Moses, be encouraged with My covenant and with My present-day name
16今天我们也有主的名和主的约。我们在主的恢复里所作的，不是根据我们的想像，而是根据主的约。已往我们曾对主说，我们所实行的是照著祂的话。从现在起我们要对主说，我们所行的乃是照著祂的约，就是祂起誓要成就的约。我们为主的权益争战，不仅与神纯正的话站在一起。并且与祂的约站在一起。这约是在主耶稣被高举在十字架和宝座上时所签署的。有些人说今天实行教会生活是不可能的。他们也宣称主不可能有恢复。他们似乎不知道主的恢复是在祂的约里所应许的。我盼望强调这个恢复不是照著我们的思想、推测或想像的事实。它甚至不是照著我们的看见。主的恢复完全是根据祂的约。在这约中主耶稣说过：『我要建造我的教会』（太十六18。）多年来，仇敌企图破坏这个恢复。但因著这个恢复是根据主的约，它就不能被破坏。
16Today we also have the Lord’s name and His covenant. What we are doing in the Lord’s recovery is not according to our imagination. It is according to God’s covenant. In the past we have told the Lord that what we are practicing is according to His word. From now on we need to tell Him that what we are doing is according to His covenant, the very covenant which He has sworn to fulfill. In fighting the battle for the Lord’sin te rests, not only do we stand with God’sp ure Word, but we also stand with His covenant. This covenant was endorsed when the Lord Jesus was uplifted to the cross and to the throne. Some say that it is impossible to practice the church life today. They also claim that it is impossible for the Lord to have His recovery. They do not seem to realize that the Lord’s recovery is promised in His covenant. I wish to emphasize the fact that the recovery is not according to our thought, foresight, or imagination. It is not even according to our vision. The Lord’s recovery is wholly according to His covenant. In this covenant the Lord Jesus has said, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:18). Throughout the years, the enemy has tried to destroy the recovery. But because the recovery is according to God’s covenant, it cannot be destroyed.
17我们承认主恢复的路不容易。在出埃及记中的以色列人也是一样。在他们从捆绑中得释放以前，神和法老之间有许多冲突。法老不易被对付。同样的原则，今日的法老─撒但和被撒但霸占并借夺的己─也不容易对付。有时候我们可能会灰心，像摩西和以色列人一样。这时我们需要记得耶和华和祂的约。真希奇，神没一举就除灭法老。反之，祂故意与法老冲突。祂甚至特意使法老的心刚硬。如果我是摩西，我会说﹕『主，既然你使法老的心刚硬，为甚么还打发我到他那里去呢？』藉著这样对付法老，主训练摩西和以色列人，凭著耶和华的名来认识祂，并认识祂的约。无论冲突变得如何激烈，耶和华终必成就祂的约。
17We admit that the way of the Lord’s recovery is not easy. It was the same with the children of Israel in the book of Exodus. Before they were released from bondage, there were many conflicts between God and Pharaoh. Pharaoh was not easily dealt with. In the same principle, today’s Pharaoh— Satan and the Satan-possessed and usurped self—is not easily dealt with either. Sometimes we may be discouraged, just as Moses and the children of Israel were. At such times we need to remember Jehovah and His covenant. How strange it was that God did not annihilate Pharaoh with one blow! Instead, He purposely engaged in conflict with him. He even deliberately caused Pharaoh’she art to be hardened. If I had been Moses, I would have said, “Lord, since You are hardening Pharaoh’she art, why do You send me to him?” By dealing with Pharaoh in this way, the Lord was training Moses and the children of Israel to know Him by the name Jehovah and to know His covenant. No matter how intense the conflict was to become, eventually Jehovah would fulfill His covenant
18不要被主恢复的任何反对所搅扰，当宗教起来反对我们时，也不要气馁。今天的法老也许挣扎、抗拒，并造成耽延，但最终他不能胜过主和主的恢复，因我们有主的名和主的约。我们不是从事于一种普通的基督教工作，主恢复的目标乃是要根据神的名和祂的约来建造教会。请记得，主已经被高举到十字架和宝座之上。祂现今在宝座上，作为祂的约已签署的确证。作为耶和华救主，那伟大的『我是』，祂必成就祂的约，并且领我们进入美地。
18Do not be troubled by any opposition to the Lord’s recovery, and do not be discouraged when religion rises up against us. Today’s Pharaoh may struggle, resist, and cause delay, but ultimately he cannot prevail against the Lord and His recovery, for we have the Lord’s name and His covenant. We are not engaged in an ordinary Christian work. The goal of the Lord’s recovery is to build up the church according to God’s name and His covenant. Remember, the Lord has been uplifted to the cross and to the throne. He is now on the throne as the sure sign that His covenant has been endorsed. As Jehovah the Savior, the great I Am, He will fulfill His covenant and bring us into the good land