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出埃及记生命读经 · 第38篇

属天的粮食－吗哪（四）

The Heavenly Diet—Manna (4)
1读经：出埃及记16:31-36；希伯来书9:4；启示录2:17。在本篇信息中我们要来看一件关乎吗哪非常深奥的事：在罐子里盛一满俄梅珥吗哪，存在耶和华面前，留到世世代代。（十六31～36。）将这一分吗哪存放在耶和华面前的吩咐有些不寻常。我们在圣经别处读不出神吩咐祂的百姓保存一项食物在祂面前，为著将来的世代。但在以色列人开始享受吗哪之后，神就吩咐他们『拿一个罐子，盛一满俄梅珥吗哪，存在耶和华面前。（十六33。）以后我们将看见，吗哪是放在金罐里的。（来九4。）
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 16:31-36; Heb. 9:4; Rev. 2:17 In this message we come to a very deep matter concerning manna: the keeping of an omer of manna in a pot before the Lord for future generations (16:31- 36). The commandment to lay up this portion of manna before the Lord was somewhat unusual. Nowhere else in the Bible do we read that God commanded His people to preserve an item of food before Him for coming generations. But after the children of Israel had begun to enjoy manna, God charged them to “take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before Jehovah” (16:33, Heb.). Later we shall see that the manna was placed in a golden pot (Heb. 9:4
2保存一俄梅珥吗哪，就是保存给神百姓的属天食物，这个吩咐的意义何在？为甚么吗哪盛在金罐内。为甚么它和两块约版一同放在约柜里？吗哪在罐子里，罐子在约柜里，而约柜在至圣所里。再者，至圣所在帐幕里，而帐幕被外院子的帷子所包围。外院子里面是帐幕，帐幕里面是至圣所，至圣所里面是约柜，约柜里面是金罐，而金罐里面是一俄梅珥吗哪。表面看来约柜是帐幕的焦点。事实上，存放在约柜中金罐内的吗哪才是中心。罐内的吗哪隐藏在五层遮盖之下。所以，真正的焦点乃是金罐内的吗哪。我们最好问自己。我们基督徒生活的焦点是甚么？金罐内的吗哪如何是神居所的焦点，照样，基督作为我们所吃的吗哪也该是我们全人的焦点。帐幕是旧约中神的居所，而今天我们就是神的居所。从经历的观点说，我们可以认为自己就是帐幕，因为帐幕是神的建造，而我们也是祂的建造。今天教会乃是神的帐幕。我们全体就等于帐幕，因我们乃是教会的一部分。作为教会的一部分，我们全人的焦点应该是吗哪。要以更完全的方式描述这吗哪，我们可以说这吗哪就是我们所吃，所消化并吸收的基督。因此，今天神建造的焦点乃是祂百姓所吃、所消化并吸收的基督。
2What is the significance of the commandment to preserve an omer of manna, the heavenly food for God’sp eople? Why was the manna placed in a golden pot, and why was it put into the ark along with the tables of the covenant? The manna was in the pot, the pot was in the ark, and the ark was in the Holy of Holies. Furthermore, the Holy of Holies was in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle was surrounded by the fence of the outer court. Within the outer court was the tabernacle, within the tabernacle was the Holy of Holies, within the Holy of Holies was the ark, within the ark was the pot, and within the golden pot was an omer of manna. Apparently the ark was the focal point of the tabernacle. Actually, the manna preserved in the pot placed within the ark was the central point. The manna in the pot was hidden under five layers of coverings. The actual focal point, therefore, was the manna in the golden pot. We would do well to ask ourselves what is the focal point of our Christian life. Just as the manna in the golden pot was the focal point of God’s dwelling place, so Christ as the manna eaten by us should be the focal point of our being. The tabernacle was God’s dwelling place in the Old Testament, and we are God’s dwelling place today. From the standpoint of experience, we may consider ourselves as identical to the tabernacle, for the tabernacle was God’s building, and we are also His building. The church is God’s tabernacle today. We are corporately identical to the tabernacle because we are part of the church. As part of the church, the focal point of our being should be manna. To describe this manna in a fuller way, we may say that this manna is the Christ we have eaten, digested, and assimilated. Hence, the focal point of God’s building today is the Christ eaten, digested, and assimilated by His people.
3现在我们能了解，为甚么神吩咐把一定分量的吗哪保存在祂面前的金罐内。这指明我们所吃，所消化并吸收的基督是我们的中心。今天你全人的中心是甚么？说我们的中心是吗哪乃是使用旧约的名词。在新约的词汇里，我们该回答说，我们全人的中心乃是我们所吃，所消化并吸收的基督。我能大胆地作见证，我全人的焦点就是这位基督。
3Now we can understand why God commanded that a certain amount of manna be kept in a golden pot before Him. This indicates that the Christ whom we have eaten, digested, and assimilated is our center. What is the center of your being today? To say that our center is manna would be to use an Old Testament term. In New Testament terminology, we should answer that the center of our being is the very Christ we have eaten, digested, and assimilated. I can boldly testify that the focal point of my being is such a Christ
四 在神面前的记念
IV. A MEMORIAL BEFORE GOD
4放在罐内的吗哪要世世代代保存在神面前作为记念。出埃及十六章三十二节说：『要将一满俄梅珥吗哪留到世世代代，使后人可以看见我当日将你们领出埃及地，在旷野所给你们吃的食物。』我们从经历的观点来思想这事；就看见当我们天天有分于基督，我们也就是保存祂。然而，许多基督徒没有保存多少基督。我们都需要保存基督。在我进入教会生活以前，我没有保存多少基督。但因著主的怜悯我能作见证，在已过的三十年间我保存了大量的基督。在这件事上，我为著青年人非常喜乐。甚至我们中间的青年人在保存大量基督的事上也是蒙福的。我们所保存基督的分量在于我们吃基督的分量。我们愈吃基督，我们保存祂就愈多。在旧约里，吗哪是按照收取和吃的比例而保存的。在十六章三十三节摩西吩咐亚伦将一满俄梅珥吗哪盛在罐子里。在收取和吃吗哪的事上，有些以色列人很贪心，而其余的人很懒惰。根据十六章十六节，百姓17『各拿一俄梅珥。』二十七节告诉我们，以色列人『有多收的，有少收的。』然而，他们量过所收取的吗哪之后，『多收的也没有余，少收的也没有缺。』（18。）那些贪心收取吗哪的人得著一俄梅琪，那些懒惰的人也得著一俄梅珥。根据我们的度量，我们所收取的吗哪量一量也许远超过一俄梅珥。但根据神的度量，它恰好是一俄梅珥。在属灵的事上我们不该贪心。不论我们多能收取吗哪，最终我们都得著一俄梅珥。
4The manna that was kept in the pot was preserved to be a memorial before God for the coming generations. Exodus 16:32 says, “Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread where with I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.” As we consider this record from the standpoint of our experience, we see that as we partake of Christ day by day, we are also preserving Him. Many Christians, however, are not preserving very much of Christ. We all need to preserve Christ. Before I came into the church life, I did not preserve much of Christ. But by the Lord’s mercy I can testify that during the past thirty years I have preserved a great deal of Christ. In this matter, I am very happy for the young people. Even the young ones among us are blessed in preserving a good amount of Christ. The amount of Christ we preserve depends on the amount of Christ we eat. The more we eat Christ, the more we preserve Him. In the Old Testament manna was preserved in proportion to the gathering and the eating. In 16:33 Moses told Aaron to put an omer full of manna in the pot. In the collecting and eating of manna, some of the children of Israel may have been greedy, whereas others may have been lazy. According to 16:16 the people gathered “an omer for every man.” In verse we are told that the children of Israel “gathered, some more, some less.” However, after they had measured the manna which had been gathered, “he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack” (v. 18). Those who were greedy in their gathering of manna received one omer, and those who were lazy also received one omer. According to our measurement, the manna we gather may measure much more than an omer. But according to God’s measurement, its measure is exactly one omer. In spiritual things we should not be greedy. No matter how capable we are in collecting manna, eventually we all receive one omer.
5我们已经看见各人每天早晨收取吗哪的分量是一俄梅珥。各人每天所吃吗哪的分量也是一俄梅珥。不论一个人的胃口多大、容量多大，他吃一俄梅珥吗哪。另一面，胃口小、容量小的人也吃一俄梅珥。一俄梅珥吗哪保存在罐子里的事实，指明被保存之吗哪的分量与收取和吃的分量一样。这表示我们保存的基督不能多过我们所收取、所吃的基督。反之，我们收取并吃一定的分量，也保存一样的分量。用旧约的说法，我们所收取、所吃的分量是一俄梅珥，而我们所保存的分量也是一俄梅珥。不论我们收多少，还是得著一俄梅珀。同样的，不论我们能吃多少，还是正好吃一俄梅珥。
5We have seen that the amount of manna collected each morning came to one omer for each person. The amount of manna that was eaten each day also was one omer for each person. No matter how great a person’sap petite or capacity was, he ate one omer of manna. On the other hand, a person whose appetite and capacity were small also ate an omer. The fact that an omer of manna was kept in the pot indicates that the amount of manna to be preserved was the same as the amount collected and eaten. This indicates that we cannot keep more of Christ than we gather and eat. Rather, we collect and eat a certain amount, and we preserve that same amount. Using Old Testament terms, what we collect and eat measures an omer, and what we preserve also measures an omer. No matter how much we collect, we still have one omer. Likewise, no matter how much we are able to eat, we still eat just one omer
6以色列人不得将吗哪储存到次日。在十六章十九节摩西对百姓说：『所收的，不许甚么人留到早晨。』然而，『他们不听摩西的话，内中有留到早晨的，就生虫变臭了。』（20。）以色列人必须每天吃他们的一分吗哪。倘若他们想要留到次日早晨，吗哪就臭了。这指明照著天然观念而储存起来是不合乎圣经的。在马太六章三十四节主耶稣告诉我们，不要为明天忧虑。明天是明天，不要为它忧虑。凡为明天忧虑的人是试著尽量去储存的人。这样的储存绝不是为著今天，却总是为著明天。然而，我们不该过明天的生活。我们只有今天，没有明天。无人能活出明天。每天早晨我们都该收取吗哪。我们不该贪心或是懒惰，而该照著神的话收取吗哪。神吩咐我们在早晨收取吗哪，我们就依从祂这样作。吗哪经过磨推，臼捣或水煮之后，我们便吃它。一天又一天，这样吃吗哪是何等的平安和安息！我们过著安息且平静的生活，没有忧虑没有难处。我们每天吃每天分的吗哪，一天度过一天。
6The children of Israel were not permitted to save up the manna for the next day. In 16:19 Moses told the people, “Let no man leave of it till the morning.” Nevertheless, “they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until morning, and it bred worms, and stank” (v. 20). It was necessary for the children of Israel to eat their allotment of manna each day. If they tried to keep it until the next morning, it would become rotten. This indicates that to save according to the natural concept is not biblical. In Matthew 6:34 the Lord Jesus tells us not to be anxious about tomorrow. Let tomorrow be tomorrow. Do not worry about it. Those who worry about tomorrow will try to save as much as possible. Such saving is never for today, but always for tomorrow. However, we should not live a life of tomorrow. We have only today—we do not have tomorrow. No one can live tomorrow. Every morning we should simply gather manna. We should be neither greedy nor lazy, but collect manna according to God’sword. God tells us to gather manna in the morning, and we do so according to Him. Then after grinding, beating, or boiling the manna, we eat it. What a peace and rest to eat manna like this day by day! We have a restful and peaceful life without worries and problems. Every day we eat our daily portion of manna and live one day at a time.
7这里的点乃是神吩咐百姓保存一俄梅珥吗哪，就是他们每天收取和吃的分量。这指明我们吃基督的分量就是我们所能保存的分量。神没有吩咐我们保存别样的食物在祂面前。但祂的确要求我们保存一定分量的基督，与我们吃祂的分量相等。
7The point here is that God commanded the people to keep one omer of manna, the very amount they collected and ate each day. This indicates that the amount of Christ we eat is the amount we can preserve. God does not command us to preserve any other kind of food before Him. But He does require us to preserve an amount of Christ which equals the amount we have eaten of Him
（一） 基督作神百姓重新组成的成分
A. Christ as the Reconstituting Element for God’sP eople
8我们所吃的基督就是我们所保存的基督，这个事实指明我们所吃的基督在要来的世代将成为记念。只有我们所吃、所经历的基督才值得记念。我们所享受的基督要成为永远的记念，因为我们所经历、所享受的基督成了我们的组成要素。事实上祂成为神百姓重新组成的成分，就是使他们被重组的成分。我们的所是、所有或所能，没有甚么值得记念。只有成为我们组成要素的基督才值得永远的记念。我们在永世里所记念的，除了基督以外，没有别的。基督将成为我们的记念，直到世世代代。
8The fact that the Christ we eat is the Christ we preserve indicates that whatever we eat of Christ will become a memorial in generations to come. Only the Christ we have eaten and experienced is worthy of remembrance. The Christ whom we enjoy will be an eternal memorial, because the Christ we experience and enjoy becomes our very constitution. He actually becomes the reconstituting element for God’sp eople, that element which causes them to be reconstituted. Nothing of what we are, what we have, or what we can do is worthy of remembrance. Only the Christ who has become our constitution is worthy to be an eternal memorial. What we remember in eternity will be nothing other than Christ. For generation after generation, Christ will be our memorial
9有些基督徒到了永世，也许没有多少基督可以记念。因为他们今天没有吃多少基督，在永世里对祂就没有多少可回忆的。然而，一天又一天，我们与主的关系若是正确，并且扎实地吃祂，在永世里，我们对祂将有许多可说的。我们要回想在教会生活中吃基督和享受祂所过的美好时光。今天我们在教会中所享受的基督将成为永远的记念，这记念要保存在神面前，甚至在神里面。
9When some Christians are in eternity, they may not have very much of Christ to remember. Because they are not eating much of Christ today, they will not have much of Him to recall in eternity. However, if we are right with the Lord day by day and eat Him consistently, we shall have much to say about Him in eternity. We shall recall the wonderful times we had in the church life eating Christ and enjoying Him. Whatever we enjoy of Christ in the church today will become an eternal memorial. This memorial will be preserved in the presence of God, even in His very being
（二） 基督作神百姓属天的供应，为著神在地上的居所
B. Christ as the Heavenly Supply to God’sP eople for God’s Dwelling Place on Earth
10根据圣经，这个对吗哪的记念，表明作为真吗哪的基督，乃是供应的根源，为著神的居所。基督对于神的百姓乃是属天的供应，为著神在地上的居所。在以后的信息中，我们将看见，因著吗哪作他们的供应，以色列人建造了帐幕。帐幕表征以色列人，因著吗哪得供应并被重组，成了神真正的居所。在这个意义上，吗哪的供应甚至成了帐幕。
10According to the Bible, this memorial of manna indicates that as the real manna Christ is the source of supply for God’s dwelling place. Christ is the heavenly supply to God’s people for God’s dwelling place on earth. In a later message we shall see that with manna as their supply the children of Israel built the tabernacle. The tabernacle was a symbol of the children of Israel, who were the real dwelling place of God by being supplied with manna and reconstituted with it. In this sense, the supply of manna even became the tabernacle.
11我们在永世里将要回想关乎基督的两方面：享受基督作我们重组成分的一面，和基督作供应使我们成为神在宇宙中的居所。这两方面确实与我们今天在主恢复中的经历有关。藉著接受基督作我们生命的供应，我们一次又一次的聚会享受基督作我们的组成要素，我们正在建造神的居所。我们经历基督的这些方面在永世里要成为记念。不要认为我们到了永世就不记念今天的经历了。反之，我们要记念我们曾如何享受基督并接受祂作我们的供应，成为神的居所。这就是保存在神面前作为记念的吗哪。
11What we shall recall concerning Christ in eternity will have two aspects: the aspect of the enjoyment of Christ as our reconstituting element and the aspect of Christ as the supply to make us God’s dwelling place in the universe. These two aspects are clearly related to our experience in the Lord’s recovery today. By taking Christ as our life supply, meeting after meeting we are enjoying Christ as our constituent, and we are building up God’s dwelling place. These aspects of our experience of Christ will become a memorial in eternity. Do not think that when we are in eternity we shall not remember our experience today. On the contrary, we shall remember how we enjoyed Christ and how we took Him as our supply to become God’s dwelling place. This is manna preserved as a memorial before God
五 隐藏的吗哪
V. THE HIDDEN MANNA
12现在让我们来到隐藏的吗哪这件事。这个记念乃是隐藏的吗哪。在启示录二章十七节主耶稣说﹕『得胜的，我必将那隐藏的吗哪赐给他。』吗哪豫表基督作属天的食物，使神的百姓能走祂的道路。那一分吗哪保存在金罐内，隐藏在约柜里。公开的吗哪是为著神的百姓以公开的方式享受；表征隐藏基督的隐藏吗哪，乃是为著得胜的信徒所存留特别的分。已往我们曾指出，公开的吗哪是以色列人每天早晨所收取的吗哪，那个吗哪是公开的。但放在罐内保存在至圣所的约柜里面的一俄梅珥吗哪乃是隐藏的。这个吗哪不是公开为著会众的。然而，从我们经历的观点也可说，公开的吗哪是我们没有吃过的吗哪，而隐藏的吗哪是指我们吃过，消化并吸收的吗哪。每当我们吃吗哪，这吗哪自然而然就成为隐藏的吗哪。
12Let us come now to the matter of the hidden manna. The memorial is the hidden manna. In Revelation 2:17 the Lord Jesus says, “To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna.” Manna is a type of Christ as heavenly food enabling God’sp eople to go His way. A portion of that manna was preserved in a golden pot concealed in the ark. The open manna was for the enjoyment of the Lord’sp eople in a public way; the hidden manna, signifying the hidden Christ, is a special portion reserved for the overcoming believers. In the past we pointed out that the open manna was the manna gathered by the children of Israel every morning, the manna that was public. But the omer of manna placed in the pot and kept within the ark in the Holy of Holies was hidden. This manna was not for the congregation in a public way. However, from the viewpoint of our experience it is also possible to say that open manna is manna which we have not eaten, whereas hidden manna refers to manna which we have eaten, digested, and assimilated. Whenever we eat manna, this manna spontaneously becomes hidden manna
13我们需要记住，我们就等于旧约的帐幕。我们里面深处的灵乃是至圣所。在我们的灵中有基督作为神的约柜。我们没有吃过的吗哪仍然公开在天空之下。但我们所吃进去的吗哪就隐藏在我们里面。许多基督徒只认识公开的吗哪。因为他们没有吃基督作他们的吗哪，他们就没有隐藏的吗哪。但对我们天天吃吗哪的人而言，公开的吗哪正变作隐藏的吗哪。
13We need to remember that we are identical to the tabernacle in the Old Testament. Our spirit deep within is the Holy of Holies. In our spirit we have Christ as the ark of God. The manna not eaten by us remains open, under the sky. But the manna we eat becomes hidden within us. Many Christians know only the open manna. Because they do not eat Christ as their manna, they do not have the hidden manna. But to those of us who are daily eating of the manna, the open manna is becoming the hidden manna
（一） 一俄梅珥─一伊法的十分之一
A. An Omer—the Tenth Part of an Ephah
14我们已经指出，作为记念所保存吗哪的数量是一俄梅珥。十六章三十六节告诉我们：『俄梅珥乃伊法十分之一。』如果你读民数记十八章二十六至三十节，你将看见十分之一表示为祭司所存留特别的一分。这指明隐藏的吗哪不是为著一般的会众，乃是特别为著事奉的祭司。倘若作为神的儿女，我们不吃吗哪，我们就只有公开的吗哪，没有隐藏的吗哪。没有隐藏的吗哪，我们就不能像祭司一样地尽功用。反之，我们仅仅是在一般的大众中间，就是会众的一部分。但若是我们吃吗哪，消化并吸收它，我们就有隐藏的吗哪。我们所吃的吗哪自然而然使变化发生，把我们从一般的会众变成祭司。
14We have pointed out that the manna kept as a memorial was an omer in measure. In 16:36 we are told, “Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.” If you read Numbers 18:26-30, you will see that the tenth part denotes a special portion that was reserved for the priesthood. This indicates that the hidden manna was not for the congregation in general, but for the serving priests in particular. If as children of God we do not eat manna, we shall have only open manna, not hidden manna. Without the hidden manna, we shall not be able to function as priests. On the contrary, we shall simply be among the general public, part of the congregation. But if we eat manna, digest it, and assimilate it, we shall have hidden manna. Spontaneously the manna we eat causes a transformation that transfers us from the general congregation to the priesthood
15当圣徒们在教会生活中不尽功用时，他们的生活就不像祭司。因著他们没有吃吗哪，他们仅仅是会众的一分子。然而，你若吃公开的吗哪，这吗哪将成为隐藏的吗哪，使你能在教会生活中尽功用。因此，你愈吃基督，你就愈尽功用。这样你将在实际和实行上成为一个祭司。从前你只是一般会众的一分子﹔但如今你是一个尽功用的祭司。以前你在会幕之外，现今你活在至圣所里。吃吗哪的确有所不同。吗哪把我们组成另一种的人。如果我们不吃吗哪，我们仅仅是在会众中间。但如果我们吃吗哪，我们将变化成为祭司，有隐藏的吗哪作我们特殊的分。我们所享受并经历的基督自然而然就成为我们特殊的分。祂是隐藏在我们里面的吗哪。在本篇信息中我一直是按著经历来说，而不是按著道理来说的。说到公开的吗哪很容易。然而，要了解隐藏吗哪的意义却很难。但如果我们从经历的观点来看隐藏的吗哪，就会对它有正确的领会。每当我们吃基督作为公开的吗哪时，这吗哪就隐藏在我们里面。这使我们成为不一样的百姓。从前我们是一般会众的一分子，但如今我们是在祭司体系中。作为尽功用的祭司，我们藉著享受基督作我们特殊的分而事奉神。
15When the saints do not function in the church life, they are not living as priests. Because they have not been eating manna, they are merely part of the congregation. However, if you eat the open manna, this manna will become the hidden manna which enables you to function in the church life. Thus, the more you eat of Christ, the more function you will exercise. In this way you will become a priest in reality and practicality. Formerly you were simply part of the congregation in general; now you are a functioning priest. Once you were outside the tabernacle; now you are living in the Holy of Holies. Eating manna really makes a difference. Manna constitutes us into a different kind of people. If we do not eat manna, we shall simply be among the congregation. But if we eat manna, we shall be transformed into priests with the hidden manna as our specific portion. The Christ we enjoy and experience spontaneously becomes our specific portion. He is the manna hidden within us. In this message I have been speaking according to experience, not according to doctrine. It is rather easy to talk about open manna. However, it is difficult to understand what is meant by hidden manna. But if we consider the hidden manna from the standpoint of our experience, we shall gain a proper understanding of it. Whenever we eat Christ as the open manna, this manna becomes hidden within us. This causes us to become a different kind of people. Once we were part of the general congregation, but now we are in the priesthood. As functioning priests, we serve God by enjoying Christ as our specific portion.