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出埃及记生命读经 · 第37篇

属天的粮食─吗哪（三）

The Heavenly Diet—Manna (3)
1读经：出埃及记16:13下-15，31-36；民数记11:6下-9。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 16:13b-15, 31-36; Num. 11:6b-9
2在前一篇信息中，我们已经指出吗哪从天而降，（十六4）它随露水降下，（十六13上～14，民十一9，）并且它在早晨来到。（十六13上，。）在本篇信息中我们要来看吗哪的许多其它特征。
2In the previous message we pointed out that manna came from heaven (16:4), that it came with the dew (16:13b - 14; Num. 11:9), and that it came in the morning (16:13b, 21). In this message we shall consider a number of other 21 characteristics of manna.
（四） 小的
D. Small
3吗哪和人的观念相反，它是个小东西。（十六14下。）人通常宝爱伟大的东西，我们常常赞美主的伟大。然而，你在那里能找到赞美基督微小的诗歌呢？我们寻遍许多诗集，但找不著关乎基督微小的诗歌。建筑材料也许非常大，但食物必须小到适合放进我们口中。我们吃进来的食物必须小到可以吃。如果我们要吃一大块肉，我们需要先把它切成小片。许多世纪以来，很少信主的人对主微小的宝贵有彀多的赏识。许多人认为四福音是记载一个伟大人物的生平。事实上，福音书并不强调基督的伟大。不错，主耶稣是大卫的后裔，一个王家的后裔。然而，祂生在马槽里，长在一个微小、被人藐视的城里一位木匠的家中。这说出主没有显示祂的伟大。反之，祂宁愿在人眼中看为微小。
3Contrary to the human concept, manna was something small (16:14b). People usually appreciate something that is great, and we often praise the Lord for His greatness. However, where can you find hymns of praise for the smallness of Christ? We have looked through many hymnals, but have not found any hymns on Christ’s smallness. Building materials may be very large, but food must be small enough to fit into our mouth. The food taken in by us must be small enough to eat. If we want to eat a large piece of meat, we need to first cut it into small pieces. Throughout the centuries, few of those who believe in the Lord have had an adequate appreciation of the preciousness of the Lord’s smallness. Many regard the four Gospels as the record of the life of a great person. Actually the Gospels do not emphasize Christ’s greatness. Yes, the Lord Jesus was a descendant of David, a descendant of a royal family. However, He was born in a manger, and He was raised in the home of a carpenter in a small, despised town. This indicates that the Lord did not make a display of His greatness. On the contrary, He preferred to be small in the eyes of man
4根据约翰六章，群众要主耶稣作王登宝座，但祂逃避了这样对祂的高举。次日祂回来，并且表明祂自己是生命的粮。（约六35。）祂不要作王；祂要成为食物，好使祂的百姓可以接受祂，作他们的生命和生命的供应。主不要伟大，反倒成为微小，好作我们的食物。
4According to John 6, the crowd wanted to enthrone the Lord Jesus as a king, but He fled from such an exaltation of Himself. The next day He returned and presented Himself as the bread of life (John 6:35). He did not want to be a king; He wanted to be food that His people may receive Him as their life and life supply. Instead of being great, the Lord wanted to be small in order to be food for us
5从基督升天直到如今，基督教的教师倾向于强调基督的伟大和高举。然而，基督也要成为微小，使我们可以吃祂。教会历史中的大复兴从没有以基督的微小为焦点。这就是这样的复兴通常没有持续很久的原因。再者，基督教里的腐败总是由伟大之门进来的。倘若我们关上了这门，腐败的成分就不能进到教会里。
5From the time of Christ’s ascension until now, Christian teachers have tended to stress the greatness and exaltation of Christ. Nevertheless, Christ still wants to be small so that we may eat Him. The great revivals in the history of the church have not focused on Christ’s smallness. This is the reason that such revivals usually have not lasted very long. Furthermore, the corruption in Christianity has always come in through the door of greatness. If we would close this door, no element of corruption could enter into the church.
6因著主的微小，祂完全不同于我们对祂的天然观念。甚至我们在主恢复里的人也盼望看见伟大的事。因著盼望伟大，许多在五旬节派或灵恩运动里的人惯于炫耀和夸张。为这缘故，我们对于流传发生在今天五旬节派里医病和神迹的报导，应当大打折扣。有些人夸口在某一个特别的聚会中发生了许多神奇的医治，却连一件真正的医治也没有。数年前，流传著一个大复兴在帝汶岛上发生的报导。根据这些报导，神迹是很普通的事。甚至说有人从死里复活。一位从前是传教士，现今在主恢复里的人，在那里参加过几次这些复兴的聚会，观察所发生的事。在一次聚会中，带领人宣布在聚会中水要变成酒。到了一个时候，这位弟兄看见带领人拿出他藏好的酒瓶，把酒倒进水罐中。何等虚假！像这样的虚假得以潜入，乃是因著许多基督徒盼望伟大。
6In His smallness the Lord is altogether different from our natural concept of Him. Even we in the Lord’s recovery may desire to see great things. Because of the desire for greatness, many of those in the Pentecostal or charismatic movement are given to boastfulness and exaggeration. For this reason, we should discount a large percentage of the reports of healings and miracles that supposedly take place in today’s Pentecostalism. Some may boast that many healings took place in a particular meeting when there was not even one genuine healing. Some years ago reports were circulated about a great revival that supposedly was taking place on the island of Timor. According to these reports, miracles were commonplace. Claims were even made that people had been raised from the dead. A former missionary who was there and is now in the Lord’s recovery attended some of these revival meetings to observe what was happening. In one meeting the leader announced that during the course of the meeting water would be changed into wine. At a certain point, this brother saw the leader take out a bottle he had hidden and pour wine from it into a container of water. What falsehood! Falsehoods such as this are allowed to creep in because so many Christians have the desire for greatness
7神迹不是食物。连真正神奇的医治也可能不是我们的食物。主耶稣要成为我们的食物。很可能蒙主医治而没有接受祂作食物。神医或许伟大且神奇，但它仍然没有食物的性质。然而，我们也可能以正确的方式得著神圣的医治，藉著这医治，主对我们成了生命的供应。这种医治不是外面的伟大；反之，它在外表上很小。在我们基督徒的生活中不能供应生命给我们的东西，若不是不真实的，就是不正常的；它们与食物的性质相反。根据约翰福音，人想要高举主耶稣，但祂总是逃避这样的高举。在约翰二章，犹太人看见主耶稣所行的神迹。但祂却不将自已交托他们。祂不信任那些被神迹感动的人。在约翰三章，尼哥底母夜里来见主耶稣。没有发生甚么神奇的事，主以非常普通的方式，以平静、隐藏、微小和安静的方式，来作这人的生命。这是神圣的方式。
7Miracles are not food. Even a genuine miraculous healing may not be food to us. The Lord Jesus wants to be our food. It is possible to be healed by the Lord without receiving Him as food. Healings may be great and miraculous, but still not have the nature of food. However, it is possible to receive divine healing in the proper way so that through the healing the Lord becomes a supply of life to us. This kind of healing is not outwardly great; rather, it is small in appearance. Those things in our Christian life which do not supply life to us either are not genuine or are not normal; they are contrary to the nature of food. According to the Gospel of John, people tried to exalt the Lord Jesus, but He always fled from such exaltation. In John 2 the Jews saw miracles performed by the Lord Jesus. However, He would not commit Himself to them. He would not trust in those who were impressed by miracles. In John 3 Nicodemus came to the Lord Jesus by night. Without anything miraculous taking place, the Lord was life to this man in a very ordinary way, in a way that was calm, hidden, small, and silent. This is the divine way.
8连我们这些在主恢复里的人也盼望看见伟大的事情发生。这样的愿望时常给难处开了门。盼望伟大定规会导致受苦。然而，这种受苦对于了结对伟大的盼望也许会有帮助。因著圣经没有告诉我们吗哪的体积，我们不知道吗哪有多小。基督的伟大和微小都是无法测度的。圣经中对吗哪所作的详细记载中，说到它的微小只说到一个词。吗哪是微小的，为要当作食物给人吃进来。作为真吗哪，基督微小到能彀让我们接受、消化并吸收进来。
8Even we in the Lord’s recovery may expect to see great things take place. Such a desire has often opened the door to trouble. The desire for greatness invariably results in suffering. However, this suffering may help to terminate the desire for greatness. Because the Bible does not give us the dimensions of manna, we do not know how small manna was. Both in His greatness and in His smallness, Christ is immeasurable. The detailed description given of manna in the Scriptures simply includes a word about its smallness. Manna is small in order to be taken in as food. As the real manna, Christ is small enough for us to take in, digest, and assimilate
（五） 柔细
E. Fine
9吗哪的另一个特征是它的柔细。（十六上。）吗哪非常柔细且均匀。我们天生是粗糙且不均衡的。甚至在仁慈或谦卑这样的美德上，我们也是粗糙而不均衡的。我们几乎找不到一个人是柔细、均匀且平衡的。然而，当我们接受主耶稣作我们的食物，并享受祂的话作我们生命的供应时，我们就被平衡，变得柔细而均匀了。
9Another characteristic of manna is its fineness (1 6:1 4 a). Manna was very fine and even. By 14 nature, we are coarse and unbalanced. Even in virtues such as kindness or humility, we may be rough and unbalanced. Rarely do we find a person who is fine, even, and balanced. However, when we take the Lord Jesus as our food, enjoying His word as our life supply, we are balanced. We become fine and even.
（六） 圆的
F. Round
10在十六章十四节我们看见吗哪是圆的。很难断定吗哪是像雪花那样的圆还是像球那样的圆。雪花的圆是圆形的，而球的圆是球状的。希伯来字似乎说出吗哪像雪花一样。但在别处告诉我们吗哪像芫荽子，这暗示吗哪像球一样。
10In 16:14 we see that manna was round. It is difficult to determine whether the manna was round like a flake or round like a ball. The roundness of a flake is circular, whereas the roundness of a ball is spherical. The Hebrew word seems to indicate that the manna was like a flake. But elsewhere we are told that manna was like coriander seed. This implies that manna was like a ball
11吗哪的圆表征基督是永远的，无始无终。基督是永远的食物，带著永远的性情，作为无限永远的滋养。谁吃祂，谁就有永远的生命和永远的性情，并得著永远的滋养。藉著吃基督，我们成了永远的子民，就是超时间的子民。吃主耶稣把我们从时间里带出来，进到永远里。我们在重生时所得著的生命就是永远的生命带著永远的性情。因著我们已得著这样的生命，我们就成了永远的子民。在某种意义上，我们已经是永远的，尽管我们还在时间里。我们愈吃主耶稣，我们就愈成为永远的。
11The roundness of manna signifies that Christ is eternal, without beginning or ending. Christ is eternal food with an eternal nature for eternal nourishment without limitation. Whoever eats Him will have eternal life with the eternal nature and will receive eternal nourishment. By eating Christ, we become eternal people, those who are beyond time. The eating of Jesus brings us out of time and into eternity. The life we received in regeneration is an eternal life with an eternal nature. Because we have received such a life, we have become eternal people. In a sense, we are eternal already, although, of course, we are still in time. The more we eat the Lord Jesus, the more eternal we become.
12吗哪的圆指明基督是永远、完全和完满的。有了吗哪就一无所缺。主耶稣和祂的话是完全且完满的。我们藉著吃祂就被变化。我们愈吃主耶稣和祂的话，我们就愈成为永远、完全和完满的。在这属天吗哪的粮食里没有不足或缺乏。
12The roundness of manna indicates that Christ is eternal, perfect, and full. With the manna there is no shortage. The Lord Jesus and His word are perfect and full. By eating Him we are transformed. The more we eat the Lord Jesus and His word, the more eternal, perfect, and full we become. In this diet of heavenly manna there is no defect or shortage
（七） 白色
G. White
13出埃及十六章三十一节说出吗哪是白色的。它清洁又纯净，没有任何的搀杂。地上没有像这样的食物。我们在基督和祂的话以外所吃的每样东西都是搀杂的。惟有基督和祂的话是纯净的。我们愈吃基督和祂的话，我们就愈被净化，并蒙拯救脱离各样的搀杂。如果我们天天到主耶稣这里来，接受祂到我们里面，并吃祂的话，我们就会经历一种净化的过程，使我们愈过愈纯净。凡吃基督的人最后会变得纯一且清洁。大多数的人都很复杂。怎样能使这些复杂的人单纯呢？要变为单纯惟一的路就是吃主耶稣。我们愈吃祂并接受祂的话，我们就愈单纯。如此我们成了纯一且清洁的。
13Exodus 16:31 indicates that manna was white. It was clean and pure, without any kind of mixture. No earthly food is like this. Everything we feed on apart from Christ and His word is a mixture. Only Christ and His word are pure. The more we feast on Christ and eat His word, the more we are purified and saved from every kind of mixture. If we come daily to the Lord Jesus and take Him into us and feed on His word, we shall undergo a process of purification that makes us more and more pure. Those who feed on Christ eventually become simple and pure. Most people are complicated. How can these complicated people be simplified? The only way to be simplified is to eat the Lord Jesus. The more we eat Him and receive His word, the more we are simplified. In this way we become single and pure
14当我们有分于基督作我们的吗哪时，我们不但被净化，成为单纯，并且也变为洁白。洁白的意思就是没有玷污。当我们吃基督时，我们里面的玷污就被消除了。尽管我们在某些方面也许不错，但可能还不是洁白的。例如，我们的爱和谦卑就可能有些天然的色彩。事实上，我们人性的美德没有一样是洁白的。但我们愈接受基督作我们生命的供应时，我们天然的色彩就
14As we partake of Christ as our manna, we are not only purified and simplified, but we also become white. To be white means to be without stain. As we feed on Christ, the stains within us are eliminated. Although we may be good in certain respects, we may not be white. For example, our love and humility may have a certain natural color. Actually, none of our human virtues is white. But the more we take in Christ as our life supply, the more our natural color is eliminated, and the whiter we become
15愈被消除，我们也变得愈洁白。
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（八） 如霜
H. As Frost
16吗哪也如霜。（十六14。）霜是介于露水和雪之间的东西。露水和霜都是使人复苏的。但尽管露水能使人复苏，它却不能杀死病菌。然而霜能杀死病菌。作为吗哪，基督不仅使我们复苏；祂也杀死我们里面消极的东西。每当我们经历基督作生命的供应时，我们就得著了浇灌和畅快，我们里面消极的东西，好比消极的态度就被置于死地。我们经历到霜的复苏和它的杀死。
16The manna was also like frost (1 6:1 4). Frost is something between dew and snow. Both dew and frost are refreshing. But although dew refreshes, it does not kill germs. Frost, however, does kill germs. As manna, not only does Christ refresh us; He also kills the negative things within us. Whenever we experience Christ as the life supply, we are watered and refreshed, and the negative things within us, such as our negative attitudes, are put to death. We experience both the refreshing of the frost and its killing.
17霜也像最好的空气调节器，它使我们冷下来。世人都太热衷于追求罪恶的享乐和属世的消遣。今天许多基督徒也太火热、太疯狂了；他们需要冷却下来。尤其是那些在五旬节派和灵恩运动里的人，更当如此。那些牵连在灵恩运动里的人需要吃吗哪并经历霜。事实上，我们都需要霜的经历。因著我们在某些事上很火热，我们需要沉著且冷静。我们都需要冷静下来，为要以适当的方式得著复苏。当我们有分于基督和祂的话时，我们就冷静下来，并且因著霜得著复苏。
17As the best kind of air conditioning, frost also cools us. All the worldly people are too hot in their pursuit of sinful pleasures and worldly amusements. Many of today’s Christians are also too hot, too feverish; they need to be cooled down. This is especially true of those in Pentecostalism or in the charismatic movement. Those who are involved in the charismatic movement need to eat manna and experience the frost. Actually, we all need the experience of frost. Because we are so hot in certain matters, we need to become cool and sober. We all need to be cooled down in order to be refreshed in a proper way. As we partake of Christ and His word, we are cooled down and refreshed by the frost
（九） 像芫荽子
I. As Coriander Seed
18十六章三十一节和民数记十一章七节告诉我们，吗哪像芫荽子。这表明作为食物的基督，满了生命。我们吃基督，祂就进到我们里面作种子。比起玉蜀黍或小麦，芫荽子非常小。虽然这种子很小，牠却满了生命，并且将生命的成分带到我们全人里面。作为
18In 16:31 and Numbers 11:7 we are told that the manna was like coriander seed. This indicates that as food Christ is full of life. When we eat Christ, He comes into us as a seed. Compared to corn or wheat, the coriander seed is tiny. Although this seed is very small, it is full of life, and it brings the life element into our being. As such a seed, Christ grows within us
19这样一粒种子，基督在我们里面长大。
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20我们若想要在基督的伟大里来接受祂就错了。我们所接受作为滋养的基督很微小，好像芫荽子。对基督正常和正确的享受乃是接受祂作微小却满了营养的种子。
20If we try to receive Christ in His greatness, we are mistaken. The Christ we receive as nourishment is small, like a coriander seed. The normal and proper enjoyment of Christ is to take Him in as a small seed full of nourishment
21作为包罗万有赐生命的灵，基督不是伟大的；事实上祂非常微小。倘若祂不是微小的，祂怎能住在我们里面？在我们每天的经历中，那灵是微小的，不是伟大的。然而，那些在灵恩运动里的人盼望以伟大的方式得著那灵。他们要以圣灵大能的行动把全世界都激动起来。有些基督徒一直为此祷告多年，但圣灵这样的行动并没有发生。在教会中，赐生命的灵以微小的方式在我们里面和我们中间运行，到处为主得著人。尽管那灵的工作是小规模的，但它从不停止。
21As the all-inclusive life-giving Spirit, Christ is not great; He is actually very small. If He were not small, how could He dwell in us? In our daily experience the Spirit is small, not great. However, those in the charismatic movement desire to have the Spirit in a great way. They want the whole world to be stirred up by a mighty move of the Spirit. Some Christians have been praying for this for years, but no such move of the Spirit has taken place. In the church the life-giving Spirit moves in us and among us in a small way, here and there capturing people for the Lord. Although the Spirit’s working i son a small scale, it never stops
22在许多事例中，那些以惊人方式得救的人没有和主一同往前。但那些看来平静悔改的人常常稳健且绝对地随主向前。他们正如静悄悄而不兴奋长大的芫荽子，逐渐且积极地长大。在他们没有甚么特别，也没有甚么不寻常，但生命长大而繁增。这就是享受基督作满了生命之芫荽子的路。
22In many cases those who are saved in a spectacular way do not go on with the Lord. But those who are converted in a seemingly uneventful way often go on with the Lord steadily and absolutely. Like coriander seeds that grow quietly and without excitement, they grow gradually and positively. With them there is nothing special, nothing unusual, but life grows and multiplies. This is the way to enjoy Christ as coriander seed, full of life
（十） 坚实
J. Solid
23吗哪也是坚实的事实隐含于百姓如何豫备它的记载中；他们『或用磨推，或用臼捣，煮在锅中。』（民十一8。）吗哪要推、要捣、要煮，它定规是坚实的。也许它像某些谷类一样地坚硬。在你的经历中，基督是柔软的还是坚硬的？常常我吃基督时，发现祂是坚实的，甚至是坚硬的。基督与我们天然的观念相反，祂不是柔软的。然而，许多基督徒喜欢认为基督是非常柔软的。但吗哪很坚实，它必须要推、要捣，要煮在锅中。在用吗哪作成饼以前，吗哪必须先推。
23The fact that manna also was solid is implied in the description of how the people prepared it; they “ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and boiled it in pots” Num. 11:8, Heb.). In order to be ground, beaten, and boiled the manna had to be solid. Perhaps it was hard like certain grains. In your experience is Christ soft or hard? Often in my eating of Christ I find that He is solid, even hard. Contrary to our natural concept, Christ is not soft. However, many Christians like to think of Christ as being very soft. But the manna was so solid that it had to be ground, beaten, and boiled in pots. Before cakes could be made of manna, the manna first had to be ground
24也许你希奇这是甚么意思。当我年轻时，我认为以色列人只是收取吗哪，带到帐棚里吃。很长一段时间，民数记十一章八节使我困惑。吃吗哪不是一件简单的事。收取吗哪以后，我们需要推、要捣、要煮，然后用吗哪作成饼。许多基督徒读圣经，但他们没有得著任何食物，因为他们缺少推、捣和煮。在我们的经历中，我们需要天天推基督、捣基督和煮基督。我们的经历就是磨，臼和锅，为著推基督、捣基督并煮基督。某些经历好像磨，而其它的好像臼和锅。藉著不同的环境和景况，圣经成为我们的食物。我们也许收了吗哪，但没有推它、捣它或煮它。我们也许只有生吗哪，不适于食用。吗哪推过以后，就作成饼。要作这些饼，我们需要某些景况和环境。我们也需要其他更有经历的圣徒帮助我们来推、来捣、来煮吗哪。离了这个过程，吗哪还是不适于食用。尽管我们也许在早晨与主同在的时间收取吗哪，这吗哪还不可立即食用。但藉著我们在各种环境中的经历，吗哪被推、被捣、被煮，然后它就可以食用了。
24Perhaps you are wondering what this means. When I was young, I thought that the children of Israel simply gathered the manna, brought it to their tents, and ate it. Numbers 11:8 troubled me for a long time. Eating manna is not a simple matter. After gathering it, we need to grind it, beat it, boil it, and then make cakes of it. Many Christians read the Bible, but they do not receive any food because they lack the grinding, beating, and boiling. Daily in our experience we need to grind Christ, beat Christ, and boil Christ. Our experiences are the millstones, mortars, and pots for grinding, beating, and boiling Him. Certain experiences are like grinding stones, whereas others are like mortars and pots. Through different kinds of circumstances and situations the Bible is food to us. We may have gathered manna but may not have ground, beaten, or boiled it. We may have only raw manna, which is not good for eating. After the manna is ground, it is made into cakes. To make these cakes we need certain situations and circumstances. We also need other saints with more experience to help us grind, beat, and boil the manna. Apart from this process, the manna is not yet suitable for eating. Although we may gather manna during our time with the Lord in the morning, this manna may still not be ready to eat. But through our experiences in different circumstances, the manna is ground, beaten, and boiled. Then it is ready to eat.
（十一） 吗哪的外表像珍珠的外表
K. Its Appearance like That of Bdellium
25民数记十一章七节告诉我们，吗哪的外表好像珍珠的外表。（原文。）这一节不太好繙译。钦定本说颜色像珍珠的颜色。珍珠被解释为代表两种不同的物质，两者都是白色透明的树胶和白色的珍珠。由某些树的树脂所产生的珍珠与蚌所产生的珍珠非常相像。从这些树所流出的树胶变硬时，它就形成像珍珠般的球。本节的珍珠这个词也许是指这些球说的。因此，两种物质都可称为珍珠，一种是蚌所产生的，另一种是树分泌的树胶所产生的。两种珍珠都很光亮、透明。
25In Numbers 11:7 we are told that the appearance of manna was like the appearance of bdellium (Heb.). It is difficult to translate this verse properly. The King James Version says that the color was as the color of bdellium. Bdellium has been interpreted to signify two different substances, both a white transparent gum and a white pearl. The pearls produced by resin from certain trees are very much like pearls produced by oysters. When the resinous gum that flows out of these trees hardens, it forms pearl-like balls. The word bdellium in this verse may refer to these balls. Hence, two substances may be called pearls, one produced by oysters and the other produced by the secretion of resinous gum from trees. Both kinds of pearls are bright and transparent
26本节繙成『颜色』或『外表』的希伯来字实际上是眼睛的意思。吗哪有眼睛。吗哪的眼睛就像珍珠的眼睛。珍珠与眼睛有几分相似。你若察看一颗珍珠，你会看出它好像一个眼球。每个吗哪看起来就像一个眼球，圆圆的、亮亮的而且是透明的。你知道你的眼球是透明的么？否则，我们就是瞎的。我们的眼球像照相机的镜头一样是透明的。我们愈吃基督，我们眼睛就愈多，并且变得愈透明。启示录四章中的四活物『前后遍体都满了眼睛』，而且『遍体内外都满了眼睛』。（6，8。）眼睛是为著四活物接受亮光和异象的。四活物满了眼睛的事实指明他们在各方面都明亮如水晶。
26The Hebrew word rendered “color” or “appearance” in this verse actually means an eye. Manna has an eye. The eye of the manna is like the eye of a pearl. A pearl somewhat resembles an eye. If you examine a pearl, you will see that it is like an eyeball. Every piece of manna looked like an eyeball, round, bright, and transparent. Do you realize that your eyeball is transparent? Otherwise, we would be blind. Our eyeball is transparent like the lens of a camera. The more we eat Christ, the more eyes we shall have and the more transparent we shall become. The four living creatures in Revelation 4 are “full of eyes in front and behind” and “full of eyes around and within” (vv. 6, 8). Eyes are for living things to receive light and vision. The fact that the four living creatures are full of eyes indicates that they are crystal clear in every respect
27眼睛表示透明。我们的全身都是黑暗的，眼睛例外，是透明的。倘若我们没有基督，就没有眼睛，并且全然是黑暗的。当我们得救时，就开始明亮起来。现在我们愈享受基督作属天的吗哪，我们就愈透明。当我们与享受基督作食物的圣徒在一起时，我们就觉得他们是透明的。作为吗哪，基督是透明的。我们吃祂，我们也就变得透明了。
27An eye signifies transparency. With the exception of our eyes, which are transparent, our whole body is opaque. If we do not have Christ, we do not have any eyes, and we are altogether opaque. When we were saved, we began to be transparent. Now the more we enjoy Christ as the heavenly manna, the more transparent we become. Whenever we are with saints who enjoy Christ as food, we sense that they are transparent. As the manna, Christ is transparent. When we eat Him, we become transparent also
28这个透明最终成为我们的外表。倘若我们天天享受基督，吃祂作为有珍珠外表的吗哪，我们将有基督的外表，眼球的外表，并且这外表要成为我们的颜色。藉著吃基督，我们的颜色成为基督的透明。这样，透明就成了我们的外表和颜色。
28This transparency will eventually become our appearance. If we enjoy Christ day by day, eating Him as the manna with the appearance of bdellium, we shall have the appearance of Christ, the appearance of an eyeball, and this appearance will become our color. By eating Christ our color becomes the transparency of Christ. In this way, transparency becomes our appearance and our color.
29吃基督使我们有更多的眼睛。我们愈吃祂和祂的话，我们就愈成为满了眼睛的活物。有时候我希望不受两只肉眼的限制。有更多的眼睛，我就能看得更多。倘若我们有更多属灵的眼睛，我们会更加光明透亮。得著更多眼睛的路就是更多吃主耶稣作真吗哪，具有珍珠的外表，光明透亮的眼球的外表。当我们在新耶路撒冷时，我们的全人都是透明的，和城墙一样。因为城墙是完全透明的，神的荣耀便能照耀在其中。藉著吃主耶稣，最后我们全人都是透明、透亮的。
29Eating Christ causes us to have more eyes. The more we eat Him and eat His word, the more we become living creatures full of eyes. Sometimes I wish that I were not limited to two physical eyes. With more eyes I could see a great deal more. If we had more spiritual eyes, we would be much more bright and transparent. The way to have more eyes is to eat more of Jesus as the real manna with the appearance of bdellium, the appearance of a bright, transparent eyeball. When we are in the New Jerusalem, our whole being will be transparent, like the wall of the city. Because the wall of the city is wholly transparent, the glory of God can shine through it. By eating Jesus, we shall eventually become transparent throughout our entire being
（十二） 吗哪的滋味好像新油
L. Its Taste like That of Fresh Oil
30民数记十一章八节说吗哪的滋味『好像新油』，或像『油饼』。油表征圣灵。当我们吃基督作吗哪时，我们就尝到了神的灵。这里的油是新鲜的。我们享受基督作吗哪所尝到的那灵总是新鲜的。
30Numbers 11:8 says that the taste of manna “was as the taste of fresh oil,” or of “oil cakes.” Oil typifies the Holy Spirit. When we eat Christ as our manna, we taste the Spirit of God. The oil here is fresh. The Spirit we taste when we enjoy Christ as manna is always fresh
（十三） 吗哪的滋味如同搀蜜的薄饼
M. Its Taste like That of Wafers with Honey
31出埃及记十六章三十一节说吗哪的『滋味如同搀蜜的薄饼』。蜜是甜的。蜜是两种生命的调和，就是动物生命和植物生命的产品。产生蜜的蜜蜂从花朵、从植物的生命得著供应。作为我们的吗哪，基督有动物生命和植物生命调和的这种成分。这种调和是我们甘甜的营养。我们已指出吗哪的滋味好像新油，也像搀蜜的薄饼。新油的滋味是芳香的，而蜜的滋味是甘甜的。芳香和甘甜是两种最重要的味道。油的滋味代表芳香，而蜜的滋味代表甘甜。吃的食物总是芳香或是甘甜的。基督的滋味好像油和蜜。油与饼调和。蜜与薄饼调和。作为我们的食物，基督有油和蜜的味道。在我们对基督的享受里，我们觉得祂的芳香和甘甜。在祂里面有油和蜜的滋味。基督尝起来绝不是苦的、或是咸的。祂总是芳香和甘甜的。
31Exodus 16:31 says that “the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.” Honey is sweet. Honey is the mingling of two lives, the produce of the animal life and the vegetable life. The honey bees which produce honey receive the supply from flowers, from the vegetable life. As our manna, Christ has this element of the mingling of the animal life with the vegetable life. This mingling is our sweet nourishment. We have pointed out that the taste of manna is like that of fresh oil and also like that of wafers with honey. The taste of fresh oil is fragrant, whereas the taste of honey is sweet. Fragrance and sweetness are the two most important aspects of taste. The taste of oil signifies fragrance, and the taste of honey, sweetness. Tasty food is always either fragrant or sweet. Christ tastes like oil and honey. The oil is mingled with the cakes, and the honey is mingled with the wafers. As our food, Christ has the flavor of oil and honey. In our enjoyment of Christ, we sense His fragrance and sweetness. Within Him there is the taste of oil and honey. Christ is never bitter or salty to our taste. He is always fragrant and sweet.
（十四） 适于作饼
N. Good for Making Cakes
32吗哪推好以后，百姓把它作成饼。（民十一8。）这些饼有薄饼的形状，富有营养。基督是吗哪作成的饼，营养丰富。圣经说基督是从天上降下来的粮。（约六41。）基督是粮的事实表明祂是富于营养的食物。基督作吗哪的这方面乃是由饼所豫表的。粮与饼之间的不同乃在于：粮有些粗糙，而饼是细的。赞美主，祂是满了营养的薄饼！
32After the manna had been ground, the people made cakes of it (Num. 11:8). These cakes were a form of fine bread and were nourishing. As the cakes made from manna, Christ is rich in nourishment. The Bible says that Christ is the bread which came down from heaven (John 6:41). The fact that Christ is bread signifies that He is food rich in nourishment. This aspect of Christ as manna is typified by the cakes. The difference between bread and cakes is that bread is somewhat rough, whereas cakes are fine. Praise the Lord that He is a fine cake full of nourishment
（十五） 一个奥秘
O. A Mystery
33最后，吗哪是一个奥秘。事实上，吗哪这个词的意思是：『这是甚么？』以色列人没有人知道吗哪是甚么。你注意到圣经描写吗哪时，将吗哪比喻作某些东西么？譬如，十六章十四节说吗哪是地上有如白霜的小圆物，而十六章三十一节说吗哪像芫荽子，滋味如同搀蜜的薄饼。『如同』和『好像』这些词一再地被使用。事实上圣经并没有告诉我们吗哪是甚么，因为吗哪是奥秘的。尽管吗哪从天而降，不属于旧造，但它却能滋养人的肉身。这样，吗哪定规含有某些成分和矿物质，就是旧造的一部分。这显明吗哪的奥秘性来。
33Finally, manna was a mystery. In fact, the word manna means, “What is it?” None of the children of Israel knew what manna was. Have you noticed that in describing manna the Bible likens manna to certain things? For example, 16:14 says that manna was as small as the hoar frost on the ground, and 16:31 says that manna was like coriander seed and that its taste was like wafers made with honey. Again and again, the words “as” and “like” are used. The Bible does not actually tell us what manna was because manna is mysterious. Although manna came from heaven and did not belong to the old creation, it could nourish man’s physical body. To do this, manna must have contained certain elements and minerals which were part of the old creation. This shows the mysteriousness of manna
34作为真吗哪，基督是奥秘的；祂不能用科学来解释。在新约中，对于基督的奥秘有各样的描述。例如，基督复活以后，进了一间关闭的屋子，门徒聚集在那里。门徒『惊慌害怕，以为所看见的是魂。』（路二四37。）主知道他们很困惑，就说：『你们看我的手，我的脚，就知道实在是我了。摸我看看；魂无骨无肉，你们看我是有的。』（39。）在复活里，基督成了那赐生命的灵。（林前十五45下。）然而，祂有一个看得见和摸得著的身体。门徒甚至能看见祂手上和脚上的钉痕。很难说今天基督是属灵的还是属肉身的。一方面，祂仍有一个有骨有肉的身体。另一方面，圣经告诉我们基督活在我们里面，并成形在我们里面。（加二20，四19。）我们真是无法解释基督，因著祂是奥秘的。作为吗哪，基督实在是一个奥秘。
34As the real manna, Christ is mysterious; He cannot be explained scientifically. In the New Testament there are various indications of the mysteriousness of Christ. For example, after His resurrection Christ entered into a closed room where the disciples had gathered. The disciples “were startled and became frightened and thought they beheld a spirit” (Luke 24:37). Knowing they were troubled, the Lord said, “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you behold Me having” (v. 39). In resurrection Christ became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b). Nevertheless, He had a body that could be seen and touched. The disciples could even see the nail prints in His hands and feet. It is difficult to say whether Christ today is spiritual or material. On the one hand, He still has a body of flesh and bones. On the other hand, the Bible tells us that Christ lives in us and is being formed in us (Gal. 2:20; 4:19). We simply cannot explain Christ because He is mysterious. As manna, Christ is indeed a mystery.