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出埃及记生命读经 · 第4篇

对神有用的生命

The Life Useful to God
1出埃及记启示出神在祂的经营里，为著完成祂的旨意所能使用的人。正如在本书中所看见的，神的心意是要得著一班人，在地上为祂建造一个居所。因此，在出埃及记末了，帐幕立起来成为神的居所。再者，为了完成神的旨意，还需要有军队为著神在地上的权益争战。以色列人是团体的百姓，出了埃及之后，他们立刻编组成军。从他们蒙救赎，直到取得美地，他们必须征服仇敌，尤其是霸占了所应许给他们之美地的仇敌。如果以色列人要享受那美地，并成就神的旨意，建造一个圣殿作为神在地上的见证，他们就必须争战，将那地从仇敌窃据的手中救出来。因此，对神有用乃是与建造祂的居所，并为祂在地上的权益争战有关。
1The book of Exodus reveals the kind of people God can use in His economy for the fulfillment of His purpose. God'sin tent i on as seen in this book is to have a people to build Him a dwelling place on earth. Thus, at the end of Exodus the tabernacle is erected to be God's dwelling place. Furthermore, for the fulfillment of God's purpose, there is also the need for an army to fight for God'sin te rest son earth. The children of Israel came out of Egypt as a collective people, and right away they were formed into an army. From the time of their redemption until the conquest of the good land, they had to subdue the enemies, especially the enemies who had occupied and fully possessed the land promised to them. If the children of Israel were to enjoy the good land and to fulfill God's purpose of building a temple as God's testimony on earth, they had to fight to deliver the land from the usurping hand of the enemy. Therefore, to be useful to God is related to building up His dwelling place and to fighting for His interests on earth
2在这些事上对神有用的生命乃是女人的生命。然而，按照天然的观念，对神有用的该是男人的生命。这是因为男人是优秀的战士，而女人被认为是弱者。读出埃及记第一和第二章的人，很少看见联结这两章的基本主题。第一章显示神的百姓受奴役，而第二章启示神如何豫备一个人，拯救祂的百姓脱离捆绑。基本的主题是神需要一种生命，为要保全祂的百姓；并豫备一位拯救者，拯救他们脱离捆绑。保全百姓和豫备拯救者，两者都只能藉著女人的生命得成就。
2The life useful to God in these matters is the female life. According to the natural concept, however, it should be the male life that is useful to God. This is because the males are good fighters, whereas the females are regarded as weaker ones. Not many readers of Exodus 1 and 2 have seen the underlying theme that links these chapters. Chapter one shows that the people of God were under slavery, and chapter two reveals how God prepared one to save His people out of bondage. The underlying theme is that God needs a certain kind of life both to preserve His people and to prepare a savior to deliver them from bondage. Both the preservation of the people and the preparation of the savior were accomplished only through the female life
3在圣经里，『男子』的观念意义很丰富。当然，这是指一个男人，但是它也表明独立的生命。不仅如此，它还说出基督是宇宙中独一的男子。所有结过婚的弟兄必须知道，他们只是丈夫的影儿，那真正的丈夫乃是基督。因神是独一的丈夫，所以以赛亚五十四章五节说，『造你的是你的丈夫。』在旧约里，神以祂的子民为祂的配偶。（何二。）不论一个以色列人是男是女，都是神团体妻子的一部分。
3In the Bible the concept of a “male” is rich in meaning. It refers, of course, to a man, but it also indicates an independent life. Furthermore, it refers to Christ as the unique male in the universe. All married brothers need to realize that they are simply husbands in shadow and that the real husband is Christ. Because God is the unique husband, Isaiah 54:5 says, “Thy Maker is thine husband.” In the Old Testament God regarded His people as His spouse (Hosea 2:19). No matter whether an Israelite was a male or a female, he or she was part of God's 19 corporate wife.
4在圣经里，『丈夫』一词是指头说的，也表示独立的生命。当我们从正面的意义上说到一个男子，我们心里指的是一个丈夫，他是头，并且有独立的生命。因为神是宇宙中独一的丈夫，只有祂是头，也只有祂才有独立的生命。说神需要倚靠任何人或任何事是亵渎，宣称我们能向神独立也是亵渎。
4In the Bible the term “husband” indicates headship, and it also indicates an independent life. When we speak of a male in the positive sense, we have in mind a husband who is the head and who has an independent life. Because God is the unique husband in the universe, only He is the head and only He has an independent life. It is blasphemous to say that God needs to depend on anyone or anything. It is also blasphemous to claim that we can be independent of Him
5结过婚的姊妹们，身为女人，不该篡夺头的地位，也不该独立地生活。反而她们必须过著倚靠丈夫的生活。她们的丈夫是主作真正丈夫的影儿。虽然结过婚的弟兄，对于他们的妻子是丈夫的影儿，但实际上他们对于主乃是女人。因此，他们不该篡夺主作头的地位，也不该过独立的生活。他们应当顺服，过著倚靠的生活。
5As females, the married sisters should not usurp the headship, nor should they live in an independent way. Rather, they must live a life of dependence upon their husbands, who are but shadows of the Lord as the real husband. Although the married brothers are husbands in shadow with respect to their wives, in actuality they are females with respect to the Lord. Therefore, they should not usurp the headship of the Lord nor have an independent life. They also should be submissive and live a life of dependence
一 神是基督的头
I. GOD BEING THE HEAD OF CHRIST
6神是基督的头。（林前十一3。）说神是我们的头并不正确，因为基督才是人的头。二在神作元首之下，
6God is the head of Christ (1 Cor. 11:3). It is not accurate to say that God is our head, for it is Christ who is the head of man. II. CHRIST, UNDER THE HEADSHIP OF GOD
基督是各人的头
BEING THE HEAD OF EVERY MAN
7林前十一章三节说：『基督是各人的头。』基督在祂自己里面不是各人的头；在神作元首之下，祂才是众人的头。
7First Corinthians 11:3 says, “The head of every man is Christ.” In Himself Christ is not the head of every man; He is the head of all men under the headship of God
三在基督作元首之下，男人是女人的头
III. MAN, UNDER THE HEADSHIP OF CHRIST BEING THE HEAD OF THE WOMAN
8就如基督是各人的头，『男人是女人的头』。（林前十一3。）然而，男人不该凭自己作女人的头。只有当他自己在基督作元首之下，他才是头。一方面，基督是在神作元首之下；另一方面，祂是各人的头。同样的，一方面男人该在基督作元首之下；另一方面他该是女人的头。在元首之下，又要作别人的头，不是一件容易的事。但在基督的一生里，我们看见将这事行出来的最好榜样。四福音启示出基督总是在神作元首之下。然而，祂同时也是众门徒的头。基督决不向父独立。
8Just as the head of every man is Christ, so “the head of the woman is the man” (1 Cor. 11:3). Man, however, should not be the head of the woman in himself. He should be the head only as he himself is under the headship of Christ. On the one hand, Christ is under the headship of God, and, on the other hand, He is the head over every man. In like manner, man, on the one hand, should be under the headship of Christ, and, on the other hand, he should be the head of the woman. It is not an easy matter to be both under the headship and to be the head over others. But in the life of Christ we see an excellent example of how this is worked out. The four Gospels reveal that Christ was always under the headship of God. Nevertheless, simultaneously He was the head of all His disciples. Christ was never independent of the Father.
9在约翰五章三十节祂说：『我凭著自己不能作甚么。』在五章十九节祂说：『我实实在在的告诉你们，子凭著自己不能作甚么，惟有看见父所作的，子才能作；父所作的事，子也照样作。』子总是在父神作元首之下。然而，祂也在别人之上行使元首的职权。例如，每当彼得自己出头，并过独立的生活时，祂就非常严厉地对待彼得。主纠正彼得是藉著使他了解基督是头。基督是在父神作元首之下，彼得也必须在基督作元首之下。由此我们看见，神是基督的头，而基督在神作元首之下是各人的头。照样，男人在基督作元首之下是女人的头。
9In John 5:30 He said, “I can do nothing from Myself,” and in John 5:19 He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing from Himself except what He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, this also the Son does in like manner.” The Son was always under the headship of God the Father. However, He also exercised the headship over others. For example, He dealt with Peter very strictly whenever Peter acted as if he were the head and lived an independent life. The Lord corrected Peter by causing him to realize the headship of Christ. Just as Christ was under the headship of God the Father, so Peter had to be under the headship of Christ. In this we see that God is the head of Christ and that Christ, under the headship of God, is the head of every man. Likewise, man, under the headship of Christ, is the head of the woman
四 男人豫表基督，
IV. MAN, TYPIFYING CHRIST
表明独立的生命
SIGNIFYING THE INDEPENDENT LIFE
10在神与人之间的关系这幅图画上，男人是代表神，女人则代表人。在这种意义上，男人豫表基督，表明独立的生命。在神作元首之下这一面，基督有倚靠的生命；但是在作各人的头这事上，基督有独立的生命。这意思是说，基督倚靠神，但向我们独立。对于神，基督的生命是倚靠的生命，但对于我们，祂的生命是独立的。男人代表具有独立生命的基督。结过婚的弟兄们，向著基督有倚靠的生命，但向著他们的妻子则有独立的生命。
10As a picture of the relationship between God and man, man represents God, and woman represents man. In this sense man, typifying Christ, signifies the independent life. With respect to being under the headship of God, Christ has a dependent life. But with respect to being the head of every man, Christ has an independent life. This means that Christ is dependent on God, but independent of us. In relation to God, Christ's life is a dependent life, but in relation to us, His life is independent. Man typifies Christ as the One with an independent life. With respect to Christ, the married brothers have a dependent life, but with respect to their wives, they have an independent life
V. WOMAN, TYPIFYING MAN
五 女人豫表人，表明倚靠的生命
SIGNIFYING THE DEPENDENT LIFE
11在神与人的关系上，正如男人代表神，女人则代表人；所以在这种意义上，女人表明倚靠的生命。男人有倚靠和独立两方面，但女人只有倚靠的这一面。不容女人有独立生命的乃是神，并非男人。
11Just as man represents God, woman represents man in his relation to God. In this sense woman, typifying man, signifies the dependent life. With man there are two aspects, both dependence and independence. But with woman there is only dependence. It is God, not man, who has not allowed the woman to have an independent life
六 男人倚靠神过生活，成为真正的『女人』
VI. MAN TO BE A REAL “FEMALE,”
LIVING A LIFE DEPENDENT ON GOD
12男人不该是男人，而该是『女人』，就是倚靠神过生活的人。惟有这样的『女人』生命对神才能有用。在出埃及记这卷图画的书里，描绘这种女人生命的，有第一章里的收生婆，和第二章里所有的女人─摩西的母亲和姐姐、婢女、法老的女儿，以及米旬祭司的七个女儿。所有的男人都该是这样的『女人』。
12Man should not be a male, but a “female,” one who lives a life of dependence on God. Only such a “female” life is useful to God. In Exodus, a book of pictures, this female life is portrayed by the midwives in chapter one and by all the females in chapter two—Moses' mother and sister, the female slave, Pharaoh's daughter, and the daughters of the priest of Midian. All men should be such “females.”
13七人向神独立就是背叛
13VII. MAN'SIN DEPENDENCE OF GOD BEING REBELLION
14人向神独立就是背叛。我们一独立，就是背叛神。因著男人的生命是独立和背叛的，神就无法用来成就祂的旨意。
14Man'sin dependence of God is rebellion. The moment we become independent, we become rebellious against God. Because the male life is independent and rebellious, God cannot use it for the accomplishment of His purpose
八女人过独立的生活，成为真正的『男人』
VIII. WOMAN, LIVING AN INDEPENDENT LIFE BECOMING A REAL “MALE
15如果女人过独立的生活，她就成为真正的『男人』。今天许多女人已成了『男人』。这是许多分居和离婚的主要原因。
15If a woman lives an independent life, she becomes a real “male.” Today a great many women have become “males.” This is the main reason for the many separations and divorces
九 只有真正的『女人』生命
IX. ONLY THE REAL “FEMALE” LIFE
对神才有用
BEING USEFUL TO GOD
16无论我们是姊妹或是弟兄，我们都必须是『女人』，并且凭著那惟一于神有用的生命而活。要成为『女人』，我们需要倚靠主。在创世记第二章里，生命树表明倚靠，而知识树表明独立。生命总是使我们倚靠，而知识总是使我们独立。比方说，在你教导一个小孩某件事以前，在那件事上他倚靠你。然而一旦他学会那件事，他就变得骄傲而独立。相反地，生命使我们倚靠神。神愿意我们拣选生命，而非知识。这意思是说，祂要我们拣选倚靠，而不是独立。
16Whether we are sisters or brothers, we all need to be “females” and live by the only life that is useful to God. In order to be “females” we need to depend upon the Lord. The tree of life in Genesis 2 signifies dependence, and the tree of knowledge signifies independence. Life always makes us dependent, whereas knowledge always makes us independent. For example, before you teach a child something, he depends on you concerning that matter. But as soon as he learns that particular thing, he becomes proud and independent. Life, on the contrary, makes us dependent on God. God desires that we choose life instead of knowledge. This means that He wants us to choose dependence rather than independence
17过独立的生活，意思是凭知识树而活；然而过倚靠的生活，意思是凭生命树而活。凭生命树而活，实际上就是凭主自己而活。约翰十五章的葡萄树就是对倚靠的生命一个最好的说明。约翰十五章五节说：『我是葡萄树，你们是枝子；住在我里面的，我也住在他里面，这人就多结果子；因为离了我，你们就不能作甚么。』（另译。）葡萄树所有的枝子都倚靠葡萄树。住在葡萄树里面就是倚靠葡萄树。因此，就著住来说，是无法独立的。
17To live an independent life means to live by the tree of knowledge, but to live a dependent life means to live by the tree of life. Living by the tree of life is actually living by the Lord Himself. The vine in John 15 is an excellent illustration of the dependent life. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” All the branches of the vine are dependent upon the vine. To abide in the vine is to be dependent upon the vine. Thus, as far as abiding is concerned, there can be no independence.
18不仅属世的人过著独立的生活，许多基督徒也过著向神独立的生活。故此，绝大多数的基督徒在神看来无何用处。所以，无论我们是男是女，我们必须恒久靠神而活。不管我们与主同在有多长久，今天仍然必须倚靠祂过生活。例如，我们的吃、喝与呼吸是不能毕业的。若是一个人说他已经呼吸了七十年，所以不需要再呼吸了，这是何等愚昧！生命是没有毕业的。神的策略是将我们放在必须倚靠祂的地位上。我们需要祷告说：『主，离了你，我就不能作甚么。我必须住在你里面，接受你作我的生命。我每天都需要吃生命树。主，我要过「女人」的生活，就是一直倚靠你的生活。』这就是神能用来完成祂旨意的生命。摩西四十岁时，过著独立的『男人』生活。他行事向神独立，用他天然的力量打死了一个埃及人。摩西真是一个独立的『男人』。然而，在第二个四十年间，摩西被摆在一边，神教导他，不用他『男人』的生命。要训练一个男人过『女人』的生活不是一件容易的事。然而，在摩西一生的第二个四十年间，他学习作一个女人。在他的第三个四十年，从八十岁到一百二十岁，摩西过的是『女人』的生活。惟有一件事例，当他第二次击打盘石的时候，他向神独立。（民二十7～13。）因著摩西在那个场合的举动像男人，他激怒了主，因此被剥夺进入美地的特权。通常读圣经的人以为摩西是以色列人的首领，然而，摩西对自己没有这种观念，他从不擅取首领的地位。当以色列人背叛他，他认为是背叛神，而不是背叛他。摩西只有到主面前，把难处告诉祂。摩西这样作，便是尊荣主作元首，是那独一的男子。这表示摩西过著『女人』的生活，就是倚靠神的生活。
18Not only do the worldly people live an independent life, but many Christians also live a life that is independent of God. For this reason, the vast majority of Christians have become useless to God. Therefore, we must learn that, whether we are males or females, we must live a life in constant dependence on God. No matter how long we have been with the Lord, we still must depend upon Him for life today. For example, we cannot graduate from eating, drinking, and breathing. How foolish for a person to say that because he has been breathing for seventy years he no longer needs to breathe! With life, there is no graduation. God's strategy is to put us in a position where we must depend upon Him. We need to pray, “Lord, apart from You, I can do nothing. I must abide in You and take You as my life. Daily I need to eat the tree of life. Lord, I want to live a ‘female' life, a life that always depends on You.” This is the kind of life God can use for the fulfillment of His purpose. At the age of forty, Moses lived an independent “male” life. Acting independently of God, he exercised his natural strength to smite an Egyptian. Moses was truly an independent “male.” However, during the forty years Moses was set aside, God taught him that He would not use his male life. It is not an easy matter to train a male to live a female life. Nevertheless, in the second forty years of his life, Moses learned to be a female. During his third forty years, from the age of eighty to the age of one hundred twenty, Moses lived the life of a female. Only in one instance, when he struck the rock the second time, was he independent of God (Num. 20:7-13). Because Moses acted as a male on that occasion, he offended the Lord and thus was denied the privilege of entering into the good land. Readers of the Bible usually regard Moses as the leader of the children of Israel. Moses, however, did not have this concept about himself; he never assumed a position as the leader. When the children of Israel rebelled against him, he considered it rebellion against God, not against himself. Moses simply went to the Lord and presented the problems to Him. In doing so, Moses honored the Lord as the head, as the unique male. This indicates that Moses was living a female life, a life of dependence on God
19『女人』的生命不仅在出埃及记第一章和第二章中见到，在以后的各章中也可见到。我们已经指出摩西被训练，过『女人』的生活。不但如此，所有的战士都过著倚靠神的『女人』生活。倘若你没有学会作女人，你就无法为神的国争战。神只使用女战士。这意思是说，如果你过著独立的男人生活，你就在属灵的争战上毫无用处。
19The female life is seen not only in chapters one and two of Exodus, but also throughout the following chapters. We have pointed out that Moses was trained to live a female life. Moreover, all the warriors were living a female life of dependence on God. If you have not learned to be a female, you will not be able to fight for the kingdom of God. God uses only female warriors. This means that if you are living an independent male life, you are useless as far as spiritual warfare is concerned
20我愿意强调男人向神独立这一点。例如，丈夫可能以向神独立的方式待妻子，妻子也可能以同样的方式待丈夫。这意思是说，在消极的意义上，丈夫和妻子都可能是『男人』。但我们不该是这样向神独立的『男人』。我们应该是倚靠神的『女人』，离了祂就不作甚么。凡我们所说所作的一切，都该倚靠祂。我们的光景若是这样，我们就是真正的『女人』，过著倚靠的生活。教会历史说出，无论何时有这样一个『女人』的生命，神就能彀为著祂的旨意作些事。以马丁路德作例子。他是一个学会倚靠神的人。无疑地，路德生来就有坚强的意志，然而他学习倚靠主。他的生活行动不是一个刚强的『男人』，而是一个倚靠的『女人』。
20I wish to emphasize the point that to be a male is to be independent of God. For example, a husband may deal with his wife in a way that is independent of God, and a wife may deal with her husband in the same manner. This means that both the husband and wife may be males” in the negative sense. But we should not be such “males,” those who are independent of God. We should be “females,” those who depend upon God and do nothing apart from Him. In all that we say or do we should depend on Him. If this is our situation, then we are true “females” living a dependent life. The history of the church reveals that whenever there is such a “female” life, God is able to do something for His purpose. Take Martin Luther as an example. He was a man who learned to depend on God. No doubt, Luther was born with a strong will. Nevertheless, he learned to depend on the Lord. He did not live and act as a strong “male,” but as a dependent “female
21使徒保罗也是这样的『女人』。他的著作证明这个事实。保罗不以向神独立的方式作任何事，因为他是一个『女人』。他的工作、行为，和动作，都是出自倚靠神的生命。
21The Apostle Paul also was such a “female.” His writings bear witness to this fact. As a “female,” Paul did not do anything in a way that was independent of the Lord. His work, his behavior, and his actions issued from a life of dependence on God
（一） 神待以色列如祂的妻子
A. God Dealing with Israel as His Spouse
22在圣经中，神的子民被比作女人。在旧约里，神告诉祂的子民说，祂是他们的丈夫，而他们是祂的妻子；连大卫王这么一位大能的勇士，也是这个团体妻子的一部分。大卫不是以色列人的丈夫，神才是。每当以色列人背叛神时，他们就僭取了丈夫的地位，彷佛与神离婚了一样。他们与主分开，行动向祂独立。但神有怜悯，呼召他们归向祂这位真实的丈夫。
22In the Bible God'sp eople are likened to a female. In the Old Testament God told His people that He was their husband and that they were His spouse. Even King David, a mighty warrior, was part of this corporate wife. David was not the husband of the children of Israel; God was. Whenever the Israelites rebelled against God, they assumed the position of the husband, and it was as if they divorced themselves from God. By separating themselves from the Lord in this way, they were acting independently of Him. But God was merciful and called them back to Himself as the true husband
（二） 基督把祂的信徒当作童女
B. Christ Regarding His Believers as Virgins
23新约中认为在基督里的信徒是童女。马太二十五章一节，主耶稣把祂的门2徒比喻为童女。此外，在林后十一章二节保罗说：『我为你们起的愤恨，原是神那样的愤恨，因为我曾把你们许配一个丈夫，要把你们如同贞洁的童女，献给基督。』身为信徒，我们的地位该是童女的地位，我们的生命也该是童女的生命。基督是那独一的
23In the New Testament the believers in Christ are considered virgins. In Matthew 25:1 the Lord Jesus likens His disciples to virgins. Furthermore, in Corinthians 11:2 Paul says, “For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one Husband, to present a pure virgin to Christ.” As believers, our position and our life should be that of a virgin. Christ is the unique husband, and in His eyes we all are virgins.
24丈夫，在祂眼中我们都是童女。
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（三） 基督爱教会如同祂的配偶
C. Christ Loving His Church as His Counterpart
25以弗所五章二十五节说：『作丈夫的，要爱你们的妻子，正如基督爱教会，为教会舍己。』在此我们看见基督爱教会如同祂的配偶，祂的妻子。所以，教会决不该独立，她决不该是『男人』，她应该一直是『女人』。这就是在英文里说到教会时，使用阴性代名词的原因。教会必须一直倚靠基督过生活。
25Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” Here we see that Christ loves the church as His counterpart, His wife. Therefore, the church should never be independent; she should never be a “male,” but always be a “female.” This is why we use the feminine pronoun when speaking of the church. The church must always live a life of dependence upon Christ
（四） 基督在千年国度里娶新耶路撒冷作祂的新妇
D. Christ Marrying the New Jerusalem as His Bride in the Millennium
26启示录十九章七节说：『我们要欢喜快乐，将荣耀归给祂，因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了，新妇也自己豫备好了。』这是指在千年国度里基督娶新耶路撒冷作祂的新妇。当基督回来时，祂不是娶一个『男人』，而是娶一个『女人』，一个新妇。
26Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.” This refers to Christ's marrying the New Jerusalem as His bride in the millennium. When Christ comes back, He will marry not a “male,” but a female, a bride
（五） 神享受新耶路撒冷作祂的妻子直到永远
E. God Enjoying the New Jerusalem as His Wife for Eternity
27新耶路撒冷将是神的妻子，直到永远。（启二一2～3，9。）这说出在新天新地中，我们将一直过著倚靠的生活，直到永远。
27For eternity the New Jerusalem will be the wife of God (Rev. 21:2-3, 9). This indicates that for eternity in the new heaven and new earth we shall be living a dependent life
28今天我们在地方教会中都必须过这种倚靠的生活。我们的行动不该像『男人』。基督徒与教会中的难处，就在于弟兄姊妹过著独立的『男人』生活。每当在教会中有弟兄或姊妹生活像『男人』时，麻烦就来了。我们何等需要学习不向神独立生活！如果我们学这功课，就会知道某些事我们不能作，不是因为这些事不对，而是因为作这些事我们就向神独立了。如果我们都害怕独立，教会生活中就没有难处了。不仅如此，结了婚的夫妻间也没有难处了。在教会生活、婚姻生活，以及众圣徒间所有的难处都来自一个根源，那根源就是独立。我们必须像出埃及记中的收生婆，需要祷告说：『主，我不要作一个刚强的『男人』，不要满了意见，总是坚持自己的办法。主，我要像出埃及记第一章中的收生婆，以及第二章中的女子。』
28We all need to live such a dependent life in the local churches today. None of us should behave as “males.” The problems among Christians and in the churches are due to brothers or sisters living an independent “male” life. Whenever there are brothers or sisters in a local church living like “males,” there will be trouble. How we must learn not to live independently of God! If we learn this lesson, we shall realize that we must not do certain things; this is not because these things are wrong, but because in doing them we would be independent of God. If we all have a healthy fear of independence, there will be no problems in the church life. Furthermore, there will be no problems among married couples. All problems in the church life, in married life, and among the saints come from one source, and that source is independence. We need to be like the midwives in Exodus; we need to pray, “Lord, I don't want to be a strong ‘man,' full of opinions and always insisting on my way. Lord, I want to be like the midwives in Exodus 1 and like the females in Exodus 2.”
29我们将要看见，当摩西面对法老时，他不是一个『男人』。在他与法老办交涉时，他是一个倚靠神的『女人』。摩西不自作主张，他也不出任何建议。他所作的每一件事都是神发起的。摩西尊荣神作独一的创始者。神所发起的工作在建造帐幕的事上可以清楚看见。摩西不是在某天早晨醒来，突然有个意念要为神建造一个帐幕。相反的，神召他上山，在那里向他启示祂的心意，然后嘱咐他照著山上指示他的样式建造帐幕。（二五40。）神没有给摩西地位独自作决定。摩西必须在每一个细节上都倚靠神。这就是神为著祂的旨意所能使用的生命。
29As we shall see, when Moses confronted Pharaoh, Moses was not a “male.” In his dealings with Pharaoh, he was a “female” depending on God. Moses made no decisions nor did he make any proposals. Everything he did was initiated by God. Moses honored God as the unique initiator. God'sin it i at ing work is seen very clearly in the building of the tabernacle. Moses did not wake up one morning with an idea to build a tabernacle for God. On the contrary, he was called by God to ascend the mountain where God revealed to him what was on His heart and then charged him to build the tabernacle according to the pattern shown him on the mountain (25:40). God gave Moses no room to make independent decisions. Moses had to depend on God for every detail. This is the life God can use for His purpose
30在这些日子里，我们多次说到成全圣徒，为著建造基督身体的事。如果我们被用来成全别人，我们自己必须有倚靠的生命。主渴望看见被成全的惟一生命乃是倚靠的生命。倘若我们的生活、工作向神独立，我们工作的结果就是把别人的生命作成完全独立的生命。只有倚靠的生命才能产生倚靠的生命。只有在凡事上倚靠神的生命才能成全别人作『女人』。假定某人的己很强，信靠自己的才能、建议和断定；这样的人只能产生独立的生命，就是能干而向神独立的人。这种工作的结果不是新耶路撒冷，却是大巴比伦─向神独立且背叛祂的城。然而，教会是女人。作为女人，她没有头的地位，也没有独立的生命。她的头乃是基督，她的生命乃是倚靠的生命。这该是今天教会中的情形。如果我们要正确地成全别人，并建造教会，我们就需要这种『女人』的生命。
30In these days we have been speaking much about the perfecting of the saints for the building up of the Body of Christ. If we would be used to perfect others, we ourselves must have a dependent life. The only life the Lord desires to see perfected is the dependent life. If we live and work independently of God, the result of our work will be that other lives will be perfected to be independent. Only a dependent life can produce a dependent life. Only a life that depends on God for all things can perfect others to be “females.” Suppose a certain person is very strong in himself, confident of his abilities, proposals, and decisions. Such a one can produce only independent lives, capable persons who are independent of God. The result of such work will not be the New Jerusalem— it will be Babylon the Great, a city independent of God and rebellious against Him. The church, however, is a female. As a female, she does not have the headship, nor does she have an independent life. Her head is Christ, and her life is a dependent life. This should be the situation in the church today. If we would perfect others in a proper way and build up the church, we need such a “female” life.
31历代以来，教会没有被建造反而被拆毁的原因，在于所谓的建造者太独立了。他们始终是男人，而不是女人。然而，我们感谢主，总有少数人甘心倚靠主，一直过著『女人』的生活。关键不在于我们能作多少，乃在于我们倚靠主有多少。我们已经指出在约翰十五章五节主15:5耶稣说，离了祂，我们就不能作甚么。虽然我们很熟悉这些话，但在我们的日常生活中，我们经常把它忘了，或者把它搁在一边。然而，使徒保罗是照著这话实行的人。在林前二章三节他说：『我在你们那里，又软弱，又惧怕，又甚战兢。』保罗害怕他会向神独立、凭自己作一些事。今天我们何等需要这样的惧怕！愿主怜悯我们，给我们这样正当的惧怕。若是我们有这样的惧怕，我们就会害怕凭自己说些甚么或作些甚么向神独立的事了。
31The reason the church throughout the years has been torn down instead of built up is that the so - called builders have been too independent. They have been males instead of females. Nevertheless, we thank the Lord that there have been a small number who were willing to live a “female” life in dependence on the Lord. The crucial point is that it is not a matter of how much we can do, but of how much we depend upon the Lord. We have pointed out that in John the Lord Jesus says that apart from Him we can do nothing. Although we are familiar with this word, in our daily living we frequently forget it or set it aside. The Apostle Paul, however, was one who practiced it. In 1 Corinthians 2:3 he said, “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.” Paul was fearful that he might do something in himself independently of the Lord. How we need such a fear today! May the Lord be merciful to us and grant us this proper kind of fear. If we have it, we shall be afraid to say or do anything in ourselves, anything that is independent of God.
32我们向主独立所作的任何事都是背叛。甚至连我们的传福音或帮助圣徒也可能是一种背叛。我们可以作许多事来帮助教会，然而很可能我们所作的一切是背叛，因为是向主独立而作的。我感谢主，光照我们出埃及记这卷书中的『女人』生命。『女人』的生命是惟一对神有用的生命。我们都必须知道，神绝不使用男人的生命。第一章里的女人被用来保全以色列人，第二章的女人被用来豫备主所兴起的器皿。最终，连摩西自己也被训练成一个『女人』，就像第一章的收生婆和第二章中不同的女人。因他是一个『女人』，他就能被神使用，为著完成神的旨意。但即使像他这样，当他在旷野被以色列人激怒时，还是有一度像男人，这样一来便失去了神的祝福。今天在主的恢复里，在祂的经营和行动中，我们都必须儆醒，恐惧战兢，行事不向神独立。愿我们都看见，只有我们在每一个时刻，在一切事上，都是倚靠祂的『女人』，神才能使用我们。我们从主得知，惟有『女人』的生命才对祂有用；这是极其重要的。
32Anything we do independently of the Lord is rebellion. Even our preaching of the gospel or our helping of the saints may be a form of rebellion. We may do many things to help the churches; yet all that we do may be rebellion because it is done independently of the Lord. I am thankful for the light the Lord has shown us concerning the female life in the book of Exodus. The only life useful to Him is the female life. We all must learn that God never uses the male life. The females in chapter one were used to preserve the children of Israel, and the females in chapter two were used to prepare the vessel the Lord had raised up. Eventually, even Moses himself was trained to be a “female”; he became like the midwives in chapter one and like the different females in chapter two. Because he was a “female” for the fulfillment of God's purpose, he could be used by God. But even Moses, when he was provoked by the children of Israel in the wilderness, once acted like a male and in so doing lost God's blessing. In the Lord'secon o my and in His move today in His recovery, we all must be watchful with fear and trembling not to act independently of God. May we all see that God can use us only if we are “females” depending on Him at all times and for all things. It is crucial that we learn of the Lord that only the “female” life is useful to Him