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出埃及记生命读经 · 第17篇

神的要求和法老的抗拒（三）

God’s Demand and Pharaoh’s Resistance (3)
1出埃及记这卷书启示，神巴望拯救祂的百姓脱离祂自己以外的一切事物，祂要救他们脱离不是神的一切。离开埃及之后，神的百姓看见属天的异象，藉此他们认识神的自己，并且知道合乎神的生活。然后他们能被建造起来，作为神在地上的居所。这是出埃及记这本书的基本观念。神渴望拯救祂的选民脱离各样僭夺和霸占，使他们除了神自己之外，没有别的。以色列人从埃及蒙了拯救并过红海以后，他们来到何烈山，就是神的山。神的百姓曾一度在埃及，过著埃及的生活，在法老的暴政下作埃及的苦工。尽管他们很多人也许没有想到神，然而他们却是神的选民，因他们已经被神所豫定，并分别出来归给祂。出埃及记的头几章，启示出神的百姓已被撒但霸占，在撒但手下受捆绑。在那时，关乎他们的每一件事都是属埃及的。他们没有甚么是为著神的。因此，神要来拯救他们、分别他们、释放他们脱离撒但的僭夺和埃及的霸占，并且将他们带到神的山，在那里全然没有埃及的东西。在神的山那里，神所拣选的百姓能彀单独与祂同在。当以色列人来到何烈山，神就是他们的中心、他们的目标、他们的事业，和他们的生活。祂甚至是他们的家。神对他们是一切。在旷野里，尤其是在神的山─何烈山，以色列人除了神以外，没有别的。今天很多基督徒谈论得救，但少有人知道，得救就是被带到没有别的，只有神的地方。出埃及记比圣经任何其它卷书更把世界暴露出来。虽然新约论到世界说了许多，甚至告诉我们全世界都卧在那恶者手下，（约壹五19，）它却没有呈现一幅世界是甚么的清楚图画。为此我们必须来到出埃及记这卷图画的书。倘若我们以正确的方式读五至十二章，我们将看见一连串生动的图画，描绘世界生活的本质和意义。
1The book of Exodus reveals that God desires to rescue His people from everything other than Himself, that He wants to deliver them from everything that is not God. After the exodus from Egypt, God’sp eople saw a heavenly vision by which they came to know God Himself and, in addition, to know the kind of living that is in accordance with God. Then they could be built up as God’s dwelling place on earth. This is the basic concept of the book of Exodus. God longs to rescue His chosen people from every form of usurpation and preoccupation so that they may have nothing besides God Himself. After the children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt and had passed through the Red Sea, they came to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. At one time, God’s people were in Egypt, living an Egyptian life and performing Egyptian labor under the tyranny of Pharaoh. Although many of them may have had no thought of God, they were nevertheless God’s chosen people, for they had been predestinated by God to be separated unto Him. The first chapters of Exodus reveal that God’sp eople had been usurped by Satan and were held in bondage under Satan’s hand. At that time, everything related to them was Egyptian. There was nothing about them that was for God. Therefore, God came in to deliver them, to separate them, to release them from Satan’s usurpation and Egypt’s preoccupation, and to bring them to the mountain of God, where there was nothing at all Egyptian. There at the mountain of God the people God had chosen could be alone with Him. When the children of Israel came to Mount Horeb, God was their center, their purpose, their business, and their very life. He was even their home. God was everything to them. In the wilderness, especially at the mountain of God, Mount Horeb, the children of Israel had nothing but God. Many Christians today talk about being saved. But very few realize that to be saved is to be brought to a place where there is nothing but God. More than any other book in the Bible, the book of Exodus exposes the world. Although the New Testament speaks a great deal about the world, even telling us that the whole world lies in the evil one (1 John 5:19), it does not present a clear picture of what the world is. For this, we must come to the book of Exodus, which is a book of pictures. If we read chapters five through twelve in a proper way, we shall see a series of vivid pictures portraying the nature and meaning of the life of the world.
2神要祂的百姓看见世界的所是。如果世界的成分仍留在我们里面，我们在完成神旨意的事上就要受到破坏。当以色列人在旷野时，他们回顾在埃及的享受，想念韭菜、葱、蒜的滋味。（民十一5。）因著这种想念，他们对神的居所便有了问题。今天的基督徒也是一样。因为许多基督徒仍在埃及，他们与神的居所无分无关。甚至那些从埃及分别出来的人，也可能仍然回想埃及的享乐。故此，我们都需要看见一幅清楚的图画，谈到埃及的生命和生活。十灾不仅对埃及人是一种警告和惩罚，它们对神的百姓也是一种启示和揭露。藉著这十灾，以色列人必定看见埃及生活的真实光景。这些灾害的结果，必使他们厌恶在埃及的生活。神要叫埃及的生活被暴露，使祂的百姓恨恶它，并要逃走。所以，神降十灾的目的不仅是要警告埃及人并惩罚他们，也是要给祂自己的百姓看见到底世界是甚么。
2God wants His people to see the world for what it is. If the element of the world remains in us, we shall be damaged in relation to the fulfilling of God’s purpose. When the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they remembered the enjoyment they had in Egypt. They recalled the taste of the leeks, the onions, and the garlic (Num. 11:5). Due to this remembrance they had a problem with God’s dwelling place. The same is true of Christians today. Because many Christians are still in Egypt, they can have nothing to do with God’s dwelling place. Even those who have been separated from Egypt may still remember the pleasure of Egypt. Hence, we all need to see a clear picture of the life and living in Egypt. Not only were the ten plagues a warning and a punishment to the Egyptians, but they were also a revelation, an unveiling, to God’sp eople. By means of these plagues, the children of Israel must have come to see the actual situation of Egyptian living. As a result of these plagues, they must have come to loathe their living in Egypt. God wanted the life in Egypt to be exposed so that His people would hate it and want to flee from it. Therefore, God’s purpose in sending the ten plagues was not only to warn the Egyptians and to punish them. It was also to show His own people what the world was
3今天也需要向神的百姓暴露这个世界。神要祂的百姓在地上作祂的居所。然而，只有我们从世界里被拯救出来，并且在神自己以外没有别的，这个愿望才能实现。在这些日子里，我们一直强调众教会必须被建造起来。但如果我们要看见众教会实际地被建造，我们就必须完全从世界里出来。在消极方面，出埃及记揭示出世界。在积极方面，它启示了神的居所。首先，向神的百姓揭露埃及生活的真相、意义，和结果。神赐下这启示的心意是要使祂的百姓厌恶埃及，将埃及丢在背后，并分别归神作祂的居所。今天，原则也是一样。如果我们不与世界分别，就不能成为神的居所。为看建造祂的居所，我们必须了解世界的究竟。不但如此，我们还必须厌弃世界的生活方式，并且甘心舍弃它。
3The world also needs to be unveiled to God’sp eople today. God wants His people to be His dwelling place on earth. However, this desire can be fulfilled only if we have been delivered from the world and have nothing besides God Himself. In these days we have been emphasizing the need for the building up of the churches. But if we want to see the churches built up in a practical way, we must come fully out of the world. On the negative side, the book of Exodus unveils the world. On the positive side, it reveals God’s dwelling place. Firstly, the true nature, meaning, and issue of life in Egypt are exposed to God’s people. God’s in tent i on in giving this revelation is to cause His people to become disgusted with Egypt, to leave Egypt behind, and to be separated to God for His dwelling place. The principle is the same today. If we have not been separated from the world, we cannot become God’s dwelling place. For the building up of His dwelling place, we must see the world as it really is. Furthermore, we must loathe the world’sway of living and be willing to forsake it.
4倘若我们看见出埃及记这卷书所揭示神的旨意，就更容易领会这些灾害的意义。神降灾的心意不仅是要惩罚埃及人，也是要暴露埃及人的生活。正如出埃及记这卷书中的埃及人一样，今天世上的人也不明瞭世界生活的真实光景。世人都被麻醉了，在撒但麻醉的影响之下，他们乐意去过世界的生活。他们不认识活在世上没有神是怎么回事。在他们的经历中，世界的水必须变作血。然后他们就要知道世界生活的本质以及世界生活的结果。世界生活的本质就是死，而在世界生活的结果也是死。
4If we see God’s purpose as it is disclosed in the book of Exodus, it will be easier for us to understand the significance of the plagues. God’sin tent i on in sending the plagues was not only to punish the Egyptians; it was also to expose the Egyptian living. Like the Egyptians in the book of Exodus, the people in the world today have no understanding of the actual situation of life in the world. The worldly people have all been drugged. Under the influence of Satan’s drugging, they are happy with their life in the world. They have no realization of what it is to live without God in the world. In their experience, the water of the world needs to be turned into blood. Then they will know the nature of life in the world and the result of living in the world. The nature of life in the world is death, and the result of living in the world is also death
四 第四次冲突
IV. THE FOURTH CONFLICT
（一） 在神的一面
A. On God’sS i de
5在和法老的第四次冲突中，主用青蛙来蹧蹋埃及的四境。（八2。）青蛙从江、河、池里上来，上到法老、他的众臣仆，和所有埃及人的身上。青蛙毁坏了舒适的埃及生活的享受。这些青蛙真是烦人！藉著把青蛙之灾降在埃及人身上，主要埃及人明瞭，他们在埃及的生活并不是真正享受的生活，而是麻烦的生活。埃及人不晓得，在神眼中，他们所有的享受都是『青蛙』。他们从尼罗河─世界供应的源头，所收聚的每样东西都是青蛙。曾是产鱼的埃及诸水现在却滋生青蛙。原则上，我们今天也许经历同样的事，在我一生中，我收聚了许多东西都变成了『青蛙』。起初，我享用这些东西。但它们一件一件的变成了『青蛙』。我认为是一条『鱼』，实际上是一只『青蛙』。你在这世界里所得著的每件东西，迟早都要变成『青蛙』。这意思是说，你从『尼罗河』─世界供应的源头─所收聚的每样东西，都要成为你烦恼的原因。物质的得著，甚至你所亲爱的人都可能是『青蛙』。当我们所宝贝的东西变成『青蛙』时，我们才了解世界的享受不是真享受。反之，它非常麻烦。
5In the fourth conflict with Pharaoh, the Lord smote all the borders of Egypt with frogs (8:2). Frogs came up from the waters of the rivers, the streams, and the ponds. By coming upon Pharaoh, all his servants, and all the Egyptians, the frogs destroyed the enjoyment of the comfortable Egyptian living. How troublesome these frogs were! By sending the plague of the frogs upon the Egyptians, the Lord wanted the Egyptians to realize that their life in Egypt was not really a life of enjoyment, but a life of trouble. The Egyptians did not realize that, in the eyes of God, all their enjoyments were “frogs.” Everything they gathered from the Nile, the source of the world’s supply, was a frog. The waters in Egypt that once produced fish now brought forth frogs. In principle, we may experience the same thing today. Throughout the course of my life, I have gathered many things that turned out to be “frogs.” At first, I enjoyed these things. But one by one, they became “frogs.” What I thought was a “fish” was actually a “frog.” Sooner or later, everything you gain in this world will become a “frog.” This means that everything you gather up from the “Nile,” the source of supply for the world, will be a cause of trouble to you. Material possessions and even people dear to you can be “frogs.” When the things we treasure turn into “frogs,” then we realize that the enjoyment of the world is not the true enjoyment. On the contrary, it is very troublesome.
6在埃及的青蛙没有杀死任何人，但牠们对每一个人都是搅扰。牠们无所不在─在他们的房屋里、卧房里、床榻上、炉灶里，和搏面盆里。何等的搅扰！蛙灾是一种惩罚或启示，在于蒙受这灾害之人的态度。倘若他们接受主的怜悯，蛙灾对他们就是一种启示，暴露埃及和其享受乃是青蛙之地的事实。这是世界生活的意义。世界享受的每一方面都是『青蛙』。然而，那些拒绝主怜悯的人就得忍受蛙灾作为惩罚。
6The frogs in Egypt did not kill anyone, but they were a nuisance to everyone. They were everywhere — in their houses, in their bedrooms, upon their beds, in their ovens, and in their kneading troughs. What a nuisance! Whether the plague of the frogs was a form of punishment or a revelation depended upon the attitude of the people who were subject to the plague. If they had received the Lord’s mercy, it would have been a revelation to them, an exposure of the fact that Egypt with its enjoyment is a land of frogs. This is the meaning of the living of the world. Every aspect of the world’s enjoyment is a “frog.” Those who refused the Lord’s mercy, however, had to endure the plague of the frogs as a punishment.
（二） 在法老的一面
B. On Pharaoh’sS i de
7埃及的术士能行亚伦用杖所行的三件事：把水变作血、把杖变作蛇，并使青蛙滋生。法老的术士用他们的邪术叫青蛙上了埃及地。（八7。）但他们无法赶走青蛙。
7The Egyptian magicians were able to do three of the things that Aaron did with his rod: change the water into blood, change the rod to a serpent, and bring forth frogs. With their enchantments Pharaoh’s magicians brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt (8:7). However, they could not take the frogs away
8传福音的人必须能把『青蛙』带来。这意思是说，他必须使人瞭解，世界所有的享受和霸占都是『青蛙』。然而，某些哲学教师也能使人知道世界的东西霸占并破坏他们。传福音的人暴露世界生活的真相，但有些『术士』或哲学家也能作同样的事。我们在中国传福音的时候，经常遇见这样的『术士』，世界的哲学家。我们告诉人，世界的生活霸占他们。有些哲学家也教导同样的事。例如，道教教人纯真无私。我们还告诉人，这世界的享受实际上是一种死亡。有些哲学家也这样教导。然而，正如埃及的术士不能除去青蛙，今天的『术士』也无法除去在我们这个时代中搅扰人的『青蛙』。在中国的那些哲学家能把『青蛙』带来，但是不能使牠们消踪。当摩西为青蛙呼求耶和华，耶和华就照摩西的话行，（八12～13，）青蛙就死了。同样的原则，一个正确的传福音者不仅把『青蛙』带来，并且使牠们被驱除。
8A preacher of the gospel must be able to bring forth “frogs.” This means that he must cause people to realize that all the enjoyments and preoccupations of the world are “frogs.” However, certain philosophical teachers also are able to make people realize that the things of the world usurp them and damage them. Evangelists expose the real situation of living in the world, but some “magicians” or philosophers can do the same thing. As we preached the gospel in China, we frequently encountered such “magicians,” the philosophers of the world. We told the people that life in the world usurps them. Some of the philosophers taught the same thing. For example, Taoism teaches simplicity and selflessness. We also told people that the enjoyment of this world is actually a form of death. Some philosophers taught this also. However, just as the Egyptian magicians were not able to take away the frogs, so today’s “magicians” cannot take away the “frogs” that trouble people in our time. Those philosophers in China could bring forth the “frogs,” but they could not make them disappear. When Moses cried unto the Lord concerning the frogs, the Lord did according to Moses’ word (8:12-13), and the frogs died out. In the same principle, a proper evangelist not only brings forth “frogs,” but also causes them to be driven away.
9在中国，有些时候我们传福音给某些富翁，我们使『青蛙』向他们显现。这使他们确信，世界的享受实际上是一种搅扰，是无穷烦恼的原因。我们照他们的要求，为他们祈求，『青蛙』就被带走了。但这只使我们看见，他们的光景与法老在青蛙走后的光景一样。当法老见灾祸松缓，就硬著心不肯听摩西和亚伦。（八。）同样的原则，当这些富翁看见『青蛙』离开了，情况缓和了，他们就拒绝悔改相信主。
9Sometimes as we preached to certain of the wealthy people in China, we caused “frogs” to appear to them. This convinced them that the enjoyment of the world is really a nuisance, a cause of unending trouble. At their request, we prayed for them, and the “frogs” were taken away. But this only served to show us that their condition was the same as Pharaoh’sa fter the frogs were taken away. When Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart and did not hearken to Moses and Aaron (8:15). In the same principle, when these rich people saw that the “frogs” were removed 15 and that there was relief from their situation, they refused to repent and believe in the Lord.
五 第五次冲突
V. THE FIFTH CONFLICT
（一） 在神的一面
A. On God’sS i de
10在第五次冲突中，耶和华吩咐摩西说：『你对亚伦说，伸出你的杖击打地上的尘土，使尘土在埃及遍地变作虱子。』（八16。）当亚伦伸杖击打地上的尘土，『就在人身上和牲畜身上有了虱子；埃及遍地的尘土，都变成虱子了。』（17。）先前，埃及的尘土出产彀类，可用作食物。但在这次灾害中，尘土变作虱子，对埃及人造成很大的不安。虱子使人大受困扰。然而，虱灾不仅是一种惩罚，也是一个启示，埃及的尘土最终所产生的是虱子，而不是作食物的谷类。
10In the fifth conflict, the Lord said to Moses, “Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt” (8:16). When Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod and smote the dust of the earth, “it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt” (v. 17). Formerly, the dust of Egypt produced grain that could be used for food. But in this plague the dust became lice that caused great discomfort to the Egyptians. The lice were extremely irritating. However, the plague of the lice was not only a punishment, but also a revelation that, ultimately, the dust of Egypt produces lice, not grain for food
11在这些灾害中，神有智慧且有怜悯。祂没有使用一项有力的武器，给埃及人一次而永远的教训。反之，祂使用很微小的东西。如果神一下子就摧毁了所有的埃及人，就没有警告、没有题醒，也没有启示了。神因著祂的智慧和怜悯，用虱子暴露埃及生活的光景，并鼓励祂的百姓离开埃及。在原则上，神今天也作同样的事。祂一再给我们看见埃及并不可爱，祂题醒我们不要留在埃及，祂使我们看见在埃及的生活是可憎的。水滋生青蛙，尘土产生虱子。祂知道如果祂的百姓清楚埃及的光景，他们就会巴望离开埃及。藉著十灾，神的百姓醒悟过来，他们的生活不该是世界的生活，而该是在旷野里向神活著的生活。
11In these plagues God was both wise and merciful. He did not use a powerful weapon to teach the Egyptians a lesson once for all. Instead, He used something very small. If God had suddenly destroyed all the Egyptians, there would have been no warning, no reminder, and no revelation. In His wisdom and mercy, God used lice to expose the situation of the living in Egypt and to encourage His people to get out of Egypt. God does the same thing in principle today. Again and again He shows us that Egypt is not lovable, and He reminds us not to remain in Egypt. He causes us to see that life in Egypt is disgusting. The water brings forth frogs, and the dust produces lice. He knows that if His people are clear about the situation in Egypt, they will desire to be separated from it. By means of plagues God’sp eople come to realize that their living should not be the living of the world, but the living unto God in the wilderness
12蛙灾揭示埃及之水的本质，而虱灾揭示埃及尘土的本质。尘土变作虱子，表明我们在世界生活中供应的源头最终成了困恼的原因。今天全世界的人为著生活倚靠水和尘土。没有这些，就不可能有生活的供应。虽然水和尘土是神为我们创造的，但它们已被撒但接管，并用来为著他自己邪恶的目的。所以，神在祂的审判里，暴露了在他们堕落光景中的水和尘土的真相。祂把水变作血，把尘土变作虱子。前三样灾害─血灾、蛙灾、和虱灾向我们揭示世界生活的本质、意义，和结局。那些继续活在世界里的人将遭遇死亡、搅扰，和困恼。我们都需要对于今天世界的生活得著这样的启示。愿这异象给我们深刻的印象，使我们永不忘记。
12The plague of the frogs unveils the nature of the water in Egypt, whereas the plague of the lice unveils the nature of the dust in Egypt. The dust becoming lice indicates that the source of the supply of our living in the world eventually becomes a cause of irritation. Today people throughout the world depend upon water and dust for their living. Without these, it is impossible to have the life supply. Although water and dust were created for us by God, they have been taken over by Satan and used for his own evil purpose. Therefore, in His judgment, God exposed the actual nature of the water and dust in their fallen condition. He changed the water into blood and the dust into lice. The first three plagues—the plagues of the blood, the frogs, and the lice—unveil to us the nature, meaning, and result of living in the world. Those who keep on living in the world will encounter death, trouble, and irritation. We all need to receive such a revelation of the living in the world today. May this vision make such a deep impression upon us that we never forget it
（二） 在法老的一面
B. On Pharaoh’sS i de
13法老的术士试图生出虱子来，但他们作不到。他们向法老承认，使埃及的尘土变作虱子乃是神的手指。他们不是说神的手，而是说神的手指。这表明耶和华，希伯来人的神是全能的。按他们的领会，神只是用祂的手指就作了他们所作不到的事。然而，法老的心仍然刚硬、顽梗，不肯听摩西和亚伦，正如耶和华所说的。
13Pharaoh’s magicians tried to bring forth lice, but they were unable to do so. They admitted to Pharaoh that it was the finger of God that caused the dust of Egypt to become lice. They did not say that it was the hand of God, but the finger of God. This indicates that Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, was almighty. To their understanding, God had only to use His finger to do something that they were not able to do. However, Pharaoh’she art remained hard, stubborn, and he hearkened not to Moses and Aaron, as Jehovah had said
14我在本篇信息中的负担不是要教导圣徒不该爱世界。我的负担是要指出在出埃及记这卷书中所描绘的图画。想一想血灾、蛙灾，和虱灾是如何暴露今天的世界？你仍要在世界中定居么？你仍以为世界是你最好的住处么？倘若我们对出埃及记所描绘的图画有印象，我们就巴望离开今日的埃及。因著神的怜悯，祂给我们看见一幅生动的图画，揭示生活在世界中的本质、意义，和结局。祂渴望拯救我们脱离世界，并且把我们带到何烈山，就是神的山，归于祂自己。在这山上，没有血灾、蛙灾，和虱灾。相反的，我们有光、有启示、有目标、有神的同在，以及满了神供应的将来。在埃及的生活与在何烈山的生活，两者之间是何等的对比！你要在埃及与血、青蛙、虱子同在呢，还是你要在何烈山与神同在？不需要人劝我们离开世界。我们若看见出埃及记所描绘的图画，我们将自然而然地厌弃世界，从世界逃走，并在神的山聚集归于耶和华。
14My burden in this message is not to teach the saints that they should not love the world. My burden is to point out the picture portrayed in the book of Exodus. Consider how the plagues of the blood, the frogs, and the lice expose today’s world. Do you still want to settle down in the world? Do you still regard it as the best place for you to dwell? If we are impressed with the picture given in the book of Exodus, we shall desire to get out of today’s Egypt. In His mercy, God has shown us a vivid picture that unveils the nature, meaning, and consequence of living in the world. He desires to rescue us from the world and to bring us to Himself at Mount Horeb, the mount of God. At this mountain, we have no plagues of blood, frogs, and lice. Instead, we have light, revelation, purpose, the presence of God, and a future filled with God’s supply. What a contrast between life in Egypt and life at Mount Horeb! Do you want to be in Egypt with the blood, the frogs, and lice, or do you want to be with God at Mount Horeb? No one needs to advise us to leave the world. If we see the picture portrayed in Exodus, we shall spontaneously loathe the world, flee from it, and be gathered to the Lord at the mountain of God.