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出埃及记生命读经 · 第7篇

团体的荆棘

The Corporate Thorn-Bush
1我们已经看见出埃及记第三章里的荆棘，乃是表征摩西是神所呼召的人。在神眼中，摩西是一丛荆棘。没有人会宝贵一丛荆棘。虽然摩西被人弃绝，他却为神所悦纳，神荣耀的火在他里面并在他身上焚烧。所以，摩西是一丛烧著神荣耀的荆棘。
1We have seen that the thorn-bush in Exodus 3 is a symbol of Moses as God’scall ed one. In the eyes of God, Moses was a thorn-bush. No one has much appreciation for a thorn-bush. Although Moses had been rejected by man, he was accepted by God, and the fire of God’s glory burned within him and upon him. Therefore, Moses was a thorn-bush burning with the glory of God
2然而，在出埃及记第三章里，焚烧的荆棘不单是指摩西个人，也是指成为一个团体实体的以色列人。神的百姓，就是以色列人，包括软弱的，也包括刚强的。摩西只是神团体子民当中的一个。对主而言，三章中焚烧的荆棘不仅是单个的人，还是团体的子民。我在本篇信息中的负担是要来看荆棘的团体一面。就个人而言，我们都是今日的摩西。但我们也是作为团体荆棘之教会的一部分。神对祂的百姓─以色列人的目标，乃是要得著一个合式的居所。申命记三十三章十六节说到神是住在荆棘中的那一位。这话是摩西所写的，表明神占有那丛焚烧的荆棘作为祂的居所，祂的住处。谁曾想到神在地上的居所竟是一丛荆棘？摩西定规知道，神呼召他时，他所看见那焚烧的荆棘就是象征他自己。在申命记三十三章的时候，摩西认为自己是一丛荆棘，但对神来说，他却是『神人』。（申三三1。）就个人一面来说，摩西是一丛荆棘；就团体一面来看，以色列人是一丛荆棘。然而，祝福的神却住在这样一丛荆棘中。如果神不住在我们里面，我们就完了。没有祂，我们只不过是平凡的荆棘。尽管我们是高尚的淑女和绅士，或是训练有素的专业人员，我们仍然是荆棘，因我们堕落的性情是与荆棘、与咒诅有关的。
2The burning thorn-bush in Exodus 3, however, refers not only to Moses as an individual, but also to the children of Israel as a corporate entity. God’sp eople, the children of Israel, included those who were weak and those who were strong. Moses was only one among God’s corporate people. To the Lord, the thorn-bush burning in chapter three was not only an individual, but also a corporate people. My burden in this message is to consider the corporate aspect of the thorn-bush. As individuals, we all are today’s Moses. But we are also part of the church as the corporate thorn-bush. God’s goal in dealing with His people, the children of Israel, was to obtain a proper dwelling place. Deuteronomy 33:16 speaks of God as the One who dwelt in the thorn-bush. This word, written by Moses, indicates that God possessed that burning thorn-bush as His house, His dwelling place. Who would ever have thought that God’s habitation on earth would be a thorn-bush? Moses must have realized that the burning thorn- bush he saw when God called him was a symbol of himself. At the time of Deuteronomy 33, Moses regarded himself as a thorn-bush, but to God he was “the man of God” (Deut. 33:1). In the individual aspect Moses was a thorn-bush, and in the corporate aspect the children of Israel were a thorn-bush. Nevertheless, the God of blessing dwelt in such a bush. If God does not dwell in us, we are finished. Without Him we are nothing more than ordinary thorn-bushes. Although we may be cultured ladies and gentlemen or well-trained professionals, we still are thorn-bushes because our fallen nature is related to thorns and to the curse
3论到神是住在荆棘中的那一位，摩西的心定规对神满了感谢。在他一生的后四十年中，摩西认识他只是一丛荆棘。但是他也知道神与他同在。我们都需要有这样的领会。每当我们在主面前有一个对的灵，我们就知道我们是一丛荆棘。我们知道连我们天然的美德，诸如仁慈、谦卑、忍耐等，都是『荆棘』。有时候我们甚至想要俯伏在主面前，向祂承认我们是多么可怜。当祂祝福以色列人时，摩西定规对自己有这样的感觉。
3In referring to God as the One who dwelt in the thorn- bush, Moses’ heart must have been full of thanks to God. During the last forty years of his life, Moses knew that he was just a thorn-bush. But he knew also that God was with him. We all need to have such a realization. Whenever we have a proper spirit before the Lord, we know that we are a thorn - bush. We know that even our natural virtues, such as kindness, humility, and patience, are “thorns.” Sometimes we may even feel like prostrating ourselves before the Lord and confessing to Him how pitiful we are. As he was blessing the children of Israel, Moses must have had such a sense about himself.
4有一首著名的福音诗歌说：『我是个罪人蒙主恩』。摩西的感觉是更深刻，甚至比这个还要柔细，还要甜美，因他认识他是一丛被神的荣耀所烧著的荆棘。今天，作为在基督里的信徒，我们不仅是蒙恩得救的罪人；我们还是一丛被神荣耀的火所烧著的荆棘。摩西对自己，对作为神团体子民的以色列人都有这样的体认。他在深处知道他个人和团体的以色列人都是一丛荆棘。
4A well-known gospel song says, “I’m only a sinner saved by grace.” The sense Moses had was much deeper, even more tender and sweet than this, for he realized he was a thorn-bush burned by the glory of God. Today, as believers in Christ, we are not merely sinners saved by grace; we are a thorn-bush burning with the fire of God’s glory. Moses had this realization both about himself and about the children of Israel as God’s corporate people. Deep within he knew that both he personally and the Israelites corporately were a thorn-bush
一 创世记第三章中的荆棘和火焰
I. THE THORN AND THE FLAME OF FIRE IN GENESIS 3
5我们需要看见在创世记第三章和出埃及记第三章之间的关联。两章都有荆棘与火。创世记第三章的荆棘代表人在咒诅之下，（17～18，）而火焰表征人被赶逐，离开作为生命树的神。（22～24。）根据创世记第三章，荆棘来自因罪而有的咒诅。因此，荆棘表征在咒诅之下堕落的人类。宣布咒诅以后，马上就在伊甸园的东边安设发火焰的剑，『要把守生命树的道路』。（24。）故此，罪带来咒诅，而咒诅带来火焰。在创世记第三章中，火的功用是赶逐罪人离开生命树，那就是离开作为生命源头的神。如果圣经结束在创世记三章二十四节，我们的光景就永远没有盼望了。照著创世记第一章和第二章，我们的被造特别是为了接受神作生命。神所造的人被安置在生命树面前。到了第三章罪进来了，人落在咒诅之下，神圣洁的烈火赶逐被咒诅的罪人，不得直接接触神作生命树。
5We need to see that there is a connection between Genesis 3 and Exodus 3. In both chapters we have the thorn and the fire. The thorn in Genesis 3 indicates that man is under a curse (vv. 17-18), and the flame of fire indicates that man is excluded from God as the tree of life (vv. 22-24). According to Genesis 3, thorns came from the curse due to sin. Hence, thorns are a symbol of fallen man under the curse. Immediately after the curse was pronounced, a flaming sword was placed at the east of the garden “to keep the way of the tree of life” (v. 24). Thus, sin brought in the curse, and the curse brought in the flame of fire. The function of fire in Genesis 3 is to exclude sinners from the tree of life, that is, from God as the source of life. If the Bible had ended with Genesis 3:24, our situation would be forever hopeless. According to chapters one and two of Genesis, we were created specifically to receive God as life. The man created by God was placed in front of the tree of life. Then in chapter three sin came in, man fell under the curse, and the fire of God’s holiness excluded the cursed sinners from any direct contact with God as the tree of life
6二出埃及记第三章中的荆棘与火焰人的光景在出埃及记第三章与在创世记第三章的大不相同。在出埃及记第三章，被咒诅的荆棘成了神的器皿，而火焰与荆棘合而为一。藉著救赎，就是由为著堕落人类被杀并献给神的羔羊所表征的，（创四4，）咒诅除去了，并且火与荆棘合而为一。
6II. THE THORN AND THE FLAME OF FIRE IN EXODUS 3 Man’s situation in Exodus 3 is much different from that in Genesis 3. In Exodus 3 the cursed thorn becomes the vessel of God, and the flame of fire becomes one with the thorn - bush. Through redemption, signified by the lamb slain and offered to God for fallen man (Gen. 4:4), the curse has been taken away, and the fire has become one with the thorn.
73:13这幅图画的实际，可在加拉太三章十三和十四节中看见。十三节说：『基督既为我们受了咒诅，就赎出我们脱离律法的咒诅。』这意思是说，藉著基督在十字架上的死，咒诅被除去了。十四节继续说：『这便叫亚伯拉罕的福，因基督耶稣可以临到外邦人，使我们因信得著所应许的灵。』所以，根据这些经节，可知咒诅已被除去了，而灵，就是火，已赐给了我们。行传二章三节和四节指出，浇灌下来的圣灵是由火焰的舌头所代表。圣灵的浇灌像火一样，这事主耶稣在路加福音十二章四十九节曾豫言到：『我来要把火丢在地上，倘若已经著起来，不也是我所愿意的么？』在五旬节那天，藉著基督的救赎除去了咒诅，赐下所应许的灵，以火焰的形状降在门徒身上。这火不再赶逐我们离开神，反而它乃是神眷临的火焰。
7The reality of this picture is seen in Galatians and 14. Verse 13 says, “Christ has redeemed us out of the curse of the law, having become a curse on our behalf.” This means that through the death of Christ on the cross the curse has been taken away. Verse 14 continues, “That the blessing of Abraham might come to the nations in Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Therefore, according to these verses the curse has been taken away, and the Spirit, the fire, has been given to us. Acts 2:3 and 4 indicate that the outpoured Spirit is symbolized by tongues of fire. This outpouring of the Spirit as fire was predicted by the Lord Jesus in Luke 12:49: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and what can I desire if it has already been kindled?” On the day of Pentecost the promised Spirit, given through the redemption of Christ which took away the curse, came upon the disciples in the form of fire. This fire no longer excludes us from God; instead, it is the flame of God’s visitation.
8从出埃及记第三章图画的光中来看这事，我们就看见荆棘与火焰是一个。在创世记第三章，堕落的人在荆棘所表征的咒诅底下。那里的火焰赶逐这堕落的人离开作为生命树的神。但在出埃及记第三章，可以当作器皿豫表的荆棘与火是一个。在创世记第三章，火使那在咒诅底下的人离开生命3树，离开作为生命源头的神。但在出埃及记第三章，火焰临到荆棘并住在其中。这表明藉著基督，就是神自己的救赎，那圣者，就是以祂的圣洁赶逐罪人离开祂面的圣者，能来眷顾我们，与我们同在，甚至住在我们里面。阿利路亚！基督已除去了咒诅，并把圣灵的火降到地上来！既然咒诅已经除去了，我们就不再被赶逐离开生命的神。赞美主，创世记第三章里赶逐的火焰，已成了出埃及记第三章里眷顾和内住的火焰！曾经被咒诅的荆棘如今能成为神的住处。
8Considering this in the light of the picture in Exodus 3, we see that the thorn and the flame are one. In Genesis 3 fallen man was under the curse signified by the thorn. There the flame of fire excluded this fallen man from God as the tree of life. In Exodus 3, however, the thorn-bush, which can be considered a type of vessel, and the fire are one. In Genesis 3 the fire keeps the man who is under the curse away from the tree of life, away from God as the source of life. But in Exodus the flame of fire visits the thorn-bush and indwells it. This indicates that through the redemption of Christ the very God Himself, the holy One whose holiness excludes sinners from His presence, can come to visit us, to stay with us, and even to dwell in us. Hallelujah, Christ has taken away the curse and has cast down to earth the fire of the Holy Spirit! Now that the curse has been taken away, we are no longer excluded from God as life. Praise the Lord that the excluding flame of Genesis 3 has become the visiting and indwelling flame of Exodus 3! Now the once - cursed thorn can become God’s dwelling place.
9许多人基督徒作了多年，有时候还会受试探，认为自己相当善良，相当圣洁。如果你跟随主，在你基督徒的生活中经历了一些成功，你也许会暗中认为自己是一个杰出的『圣徒』，比其他的圣徒更属灵。然而，我们该认识我们仍旧是一个满了荆棘的树丛。不要以为你自己是这样美好，也不要太高估你所称羡的人。我们仍然是荆棘。我非常了解我是一丛荆棘的事实。
9Those who have been Christians for years may sometimes be tempted to regard themselves as rather good or holy. If you have followed the Lord and have experienced some success in your Christian life, you may secretly consider yourself an outstanding “saint,” one who is more spiritual than other believers. However, we should realize that we are still a bush full of thorns. Do not think that you yourself are so marvelous, and do not appreciate too highly those you may admire. We all are still a thorn-bush. I am very much aware of the fact that I am a thorn-bush.
10如果我们像神人摩西一样，我们将有双重的感觉。一方面，我们知道我们是荆棘的事实；另一方面，我们知道神的荣耀像焚烧的火焰住在我们里面。摩西成了神人，但他仍然认为自己是一丛荆棘。同样的原则，神的荣耀住在以色列人中间，使他们成为祂荣耀的居所，但他们还是一丛荆棘，甚至是一丛团体的荆棘。
10If we are like Moses, the man of God, we shall have a twofold consciousness. On the one hand, we shall be conscious of the fact that we are thorn-bushes; on the other hand, we shall be conscious of God’s glory dwelling within us as a burning flame. Moses became a man of God, but he still considered himself a thorn- bush. In the same principle, God’s glory dwelt among the children of Israel and made them His glorious dwelling place, but they were still a thorn-bush, even a corporate thorn-bush
三 摩西是个人的荆棘
III. MOSES AS AN INDIVIDUAL THORN-BUSH
11作为个人的荆棘，摩西蒙救赎、得成圣，并被变化。有些人会希奇我们凭甚么说摩西被变化。虽然在摩西的著作中找不到『被变化』或『变化』的字眼，但他所写的经书却启示了摩西被变化的事实。我们已指出，根据申命记三十三章一节，摩西是一个神人。这表明变化。若非经过变化的过程，天然生命这样刚强活跃的摩西，如何能变成神人呢？惟有藉著变化，他才能成为这样的人。摩西在山上对主的经历是他被变化的一个例子。摩西在山上与主同在四十天之后，他的脸面发光，因神圣洁的火焰已经烧到他里面。摩西就像钢铁插进火中，留在那里，直到钢铁因火烧进它的素质里而发红。当摩西在山顶上时，神的荣耀烧到他里面去。他从山上下来时，脸面发光。因此，『亚伦和以色列众人看见摩西的面皮发光』。（三四30。）那岂不是变化的记号么？那是摩西被变化的明确表示。照著他在王宫里的训练，摩西能成为埃及一切学问的专家。但因为他蒙了救赎、呼召、成圣，并且被变化，最终他成了一个神人。
11As an individual thorn - bush, Moses was redeemed, sanctified, and transformed. Some may wonder what ground we have to say that Moses was transformed. Although the words “transformed” or “transformation” are not found in the writings of Moses, the books written by him nonetheless reveal the fact that Moses was transformed. We have pointed out that, according to Deuteronomy 33:1, Moses was a man of God. This indicates transformation. Apart from the process of transformation, how could Moses, a man so strong and active in his natural life, become a man of God? Only through transformation could he become such a person. One example of Moses’ transformation was his experience with the Lord on the mountaintop. After Moses had been with the Lord on the mountain for forty days, his face was shining because the flame of God’sho ly fire had been burned into him. Moses was like steel that is thrust into fire and kept there until the steel glows with the fire that has been burned into its very essence. When Moses was on the mountaintop, God’s glory was burned into his being. When he came down from the mountain, his face was shining. Thus, “when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone” (34:30). Was that not a sign of transformation? It was a sure indication that Moses was being transformed. According to his training in the palace, Moses could have become an expert in all the Egyptian knowledge. But because he had been redeemed, called, sanctified, and transformed, instead he eventually became a man of God.
12在整本圣经里可以找出某些重要的成分或主题。对这些事若没有正确的领会，我们就无法透彻地明白圣经。这些重要的成分包括救赎、成圣和变化。摩西蒙了救赎、成圣，并且被变化；今天我们蒙了救赎，而且成圣、被变化。摩西成了神人，我们也要成为神人。根据新约的启示，我们在基督里的信徒要成为神人，甚至与三一神合一，并与祂调和。日子将到，我们都要在实际里成为神人。在主的恢复里，我们不在意人数多寡；我们在意真实的经历变化。我很喜乐，我们在神圣的焚烧之下，这焚烧变化我们，并使我们在性情上与属世的人有分别。因神的成分已被烧进我们的性情里，我们就成了神人。这就是焚烧的荆棘在个人一面的意义。按我们的性情，我们仍是一丛荆棘，但照著神在我们里面的焚烧，我们是被变化的人。一面说，我们是荆棘；另一面说，我们是神人。
12Certain essential elements or themes can be traced throughout the Scriptures. Without a proper understanding of these matters, it will be impossible for us to know the Bible adequately. These crucial elements include redemption, sanctification, and transformation. Moses was redeemed, sanctified, and transformed; we today are redeemed and we are being sanctified and transformed. Moses became a man of God, and we too are becoming men of God. According to the revelation of the New Testament, as believers in Christ, we are even becoming God-men, those who are one with the Triune God and mingled with Him. The day is coming when we all shall be men of God in reality. In the Lord’s recovery we do not care for a large number; we care for the genuine experience of transformation. I am happy that we are under the divine burning, the burning that transforms us and makes us dispositionally different from the worldly people. Because the element of God is being burned into our nature, we are becoming men of God. This is what it means to be a burning thorn-bush in an individual sense. According to our nature, we are still a thorn-bush, but according to God’s burning within us, we are transformed people. On the one hand, we are a thorn-bush; on the other hand, we are men of God
13四以色列是团体的荆棘以色列人是一丛团体的荆棘。作为这样一丛荆棘，他们蒙了救赎、（十三14～16、）成圣、（十三2、）、变化，并且被建造。也许你发觉很难相信以色列人被变化了。当我年轻时，我也发觉这事难以相信。但在一九四年初，在上海的一次祷告聚会中，某件事的发生帮助我来看神的百姓，就如神看他们一般。在那次聚会中，一位有经历的同工姊妹，因著教会下沉的光景而烦扰，就为教会向主呼求。她祷告时，为著教会可怜的光景叹息、呻吟。当她祷告完后，倪弟兄向主发出赞美，并感谢祂，教会决不软弱或下沉，却一直是高昂的。全会众都震惊。然后倪弟兄帮助我们认识巴兰论到以色列人豫言的意义。巴勒雇巴兰去咒诅以色列人，然而巴兰不但没有咒诅神的百姓，反而祝福他们。巴兰代表神说：『祂未见雅各中有罪孽，也未见以色列中有奸恶。』（民二三21。）不仅如此，24:5在民数记二十四章五节巴兰说：『雅各阿，你的帐棚何等华美；以色列阿，你的帐幕何其华丽。』根据这些经节，神未见以色列中有罪孽和奸恶。反之，祂只看见美好、华美和华丽。论到今天的教会也是这样。
13IV. ISRAEL AS THE CORPORATE THORN-BUSH The children of Israel were a corporate thorn-bush. As such a thorn-bush, they were redeemed (13:14-16), sanctified (13:2), transformed, and built up. Perhaps you find it difficult to believe that the children of Israel were transformed. When I was young, I also found this difficult to believe. But something happened in a prayer meeting in Shanghai in the early 1940st hat ○ helped me to see God’sp eople as He sees them. In that meeting an experienced sister co-worker, troubled by the low state of the church, cried out to the Lord on behalf of the church. As she prayed, she sighed and groaned because of the poor condition of the church. When she finished praying, Brother Nee broke forth in praise to the Lord and gave Him thanks that the church is never weak or low, but always high. The congregation was shocked. Then Brother Nee helped us to understand the significance of Balaam’s prophecy regarding the children of Israel. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse the children of Israel. But instead of cursing God’sp eople, Balaam blessed them. Speaking on behalf of God, Balaam said, “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel” (Num. 23:21). Furthermore, in Numbers Balaam said, “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” According to these verses, God did not see iniquity or perverseness in Israel. Instead, He saw only goodness, fairness, and beauty. The same is true regarding the church today.
14不要说教会下沉或发死。你愈这样说，你自己就愈受咒诅。然而，你若为著教会生活赞美主，称赞教会生活，你自己就要蒙神的祝福。这多年来，我在教会生活中从未见过一个说教会消极话的人是在神的祝福之下。相反的，所有说教会贫穷、下沉、发死的人都在咒诅之下。凡说教会积极话的，宣告教会是可爱的，教会是神的家，那些人都蒙了祝福。这不仅仅是道理，它乃是一个见证，在许多圣徒的经历中可以得到证实。有时候我对教会失望，没有积极的想法，主就在里面警告我要小心。我立刻求主洁净我，并且开始宣告教会是何等美好。即使教会令我烦恼，我仍然爱教会。我愈这样说积极的话，我就愈在神的祝福之下。
14Do not say that the church is low or dead. The more you say this, the more you put yourself under a curse. However, if you praise the Lord for the church life and speak well concerning it, you will put yourself under God’s blessing. During all the years I have been in the church life, I have not seen one person who spoke negatively about the church who was under God’s blessing. On the contrary, all who have said that the church was poor, low, or dead have been under a curse. Those who speak positively about the church, declaring that the church is lovely and that it is God’sho use, receive the blessing. This is not mere doctrine; it is a testimony that can be verified by the experiences of many saints. Sometimes when I am disappointed over the church and do not think positively about it, the Lord within warns me to be careful. Immediately I ask the Lord to cleanse me, and I begin to declare how wonderful the church is. Even though the church may cause me trouble, I still love the church. The more I speak this positive way, the more I am under God’s blessing
15论到教会，谁的话是正确的？是你的呢，还是主的？在永世里，将证实主的话是正确的，因为在永世里，教会将是美妙、荣耀、高超的。仇敌对教会所有的控告都是谎言。说教会贫穷或发死就是说邪恶的谎言。教会外表的光景是虚假的。说教会冷淡、发死或下沉是谎言。教会是拔高的，满了生命。我很感谢倪弟兄对巴兰的豫言所说强而有力的话。那番话完全改变了我对教会目前光景的观念。从我接受那些话语开始，我便一直在完全不同的光中来看教会。不要看得比主更深。照著民数记里巴兰的话，主未见雅各中有罪孽。那么你如何能见到呢？你比神更智慧或看得更多么？圣经宣告主未见以色列中有奸恶，你却说你看见了教会中的奸恶。你相信那一个？主的眼光呢，还是你的？如果在对教会的评估上，我们与主站在一起，我们就要蒙保守，不从祝福中落到咒诅里。愿我们都谨慎如何对待教会。
15Whose word about the church is right, yours or the Lord’s? In eternity, the Lord’sword will prove to be right, for in eternity the church will be marvelous, glorious, and transcendent. All the enemy’s accusations regarding the church are lies. To say that the church is poor or dead is to utter a devilish lie. The apparent situation of the church is a lie. It is a lie to say that the church is cold or dead or low. The church is uplifted and very living. I am thankful for Brother Nee’s strong word concerning Balaam’s prophecy. That word fully changed my concept concerning the present state of the church. From the time I received that word, I have seen the church in a completely different light. Do not see deeper than the Lord sees. According to Balaam’s word in Numbers, the Lord did not see iniquity in Jacob. How, then, can you see it? Are you wiser or more perceptive than God? The Bible declares that the Lord does not behold perverseness in Israel. But you claim to see perverseness in the church. Which do you choose to believe, the Lord’ss ight or yours? If we stand with the Lord’s estimation of the church, we shall be kept from falling from the blessing into the curse. May we all take heed how we deal with the church.
16以色列人能彀成为团体的荆棘，因为他们已被变化，并且被建造。神相信这事，我们也必须同意祂。帐幕表示以色列人是神的居所。不要把帐幕当作以色列人之外的东西。实际上，它就是成为神居所的以色列人。帐幕仅是一个表征。
16The children of Israel could be a corporate thorn-bush because they had been transformed and built up. God believed this, and we need to agree with Him. The tabernacle signified the children of Israel as God’s dwelling place. Do not regard the tabernacle as something apart from the children of Israel. Actually, it was the children of Israel who were God’s dwelling place. The tabernacle was merely a symbol
17每次我对领头的人不以积极的话说到教会时，后来总是懊悔。在我说这些话以前，我在天上；但说过之后，我就失去了平安。倘若我试图为自己找藉口，说我不是定罪教会，只是讲述事实，我里面就更加困扰。我愈原谅自己，我就愈被定罪。所以，我能从经历中作见证，摸教会不是一件容易的事。每当我们摸教会时，我们必须是积极的，那么我们就要得著祝福。旧约启示神多次进来责备以色列人。但是当外邦人攻击神的子民时，他们迟早都要受亏损。在神眼中，以色列人蒙了救赎、成圣、被变化，并被建造，而且神在他们中间得著居所。我们都需要看见并相信这事。同样的原则，我们必须相信今天教会是奇妙的。小心你的天然眼光。若是神未见教会中有罪孽或奸恶，你如何能见到？当神怜悯时，祂的怜悯是丰盛的。虽然以色列人罪孽众多，神却能说祂未见以色列中有罪孽。今天的教会也是这样。正如以色列人一样，教会乃是一丛团体的荆棘。
17Whenever I speak to the leading ones concerning the church in a way that is not positive, I have regrets later. Before I speak such words, I am in the heavenlies, but afterward, I lose my peace. If I try to excuse myself by saying that I was not condemning the church but simply speaking the facts, I am even more troubled within. The more I excuse myself, the more I am under condemnation. Therefore, I can testify from experience that it is not an easy matter to touch the church. Whenever we touch it, we must do so in a positive way. Then we shall receive the blessing. The Old Testament reveals that many times God came in to rebuke and to reprove the children of Israel. But when the Gentiles attacked God’sp eople, the Gentiles suffered loss sooner or later. In His eyes, the children of Israel were redeemed, sanctified, transformed, and built up, and God had His dwelling place among them. We all need to see this and to believe it. In the same principle, we need to believe that the church today is wonderful. Be careful of your natural sight. If God does not see iniquity or perverseness in the church, then how can you see it? When God is merciful, He abounds in mercy. Although the Israelites had many iniquities, God could say that He did not behold iniquity in Israel. The same is true of the church today. Like the children of Israel, the church is a corporate thorn-bush
18照著我们人的本性，我们在教会中有许多软弱、过错、失败和挫折。然而，我们需要感谢主，我们是教会，已被变化并建造。不仅神同意这事，连神的仇敌撒但也必须承认。
18According to our human nature, we in the church have many weaknesses, mistakes, failures, and defeats. Nevertheless, we need to thank the Lord that as the church we have been transformed and built up. Not only does God agree with this, but even God’se ne my, Satan, must acknowledge it
19作为团体的荆棘，教会被变化了，但她还是一丛荆棘，没有改变。我们怎能说某件事物被变化却没有改变呢？看一看出埃及记第三章中焚烧的荆棘。火在荆棘里面和上面焚烧，荆棘却没有改变。然而，它是藉著焚烧的火而起了变化。
19As a corporate thorn-bush, the church is transformed, but it is still a thorn-bush; it does not change. How can we say that something is transformed without changing? Consider the burning thorn-bush in Exodus 3. The fire was burning within it and upon it, but the bush was not changed. However, it was transformed through the burning fire.
20有些人会怀疑我们凭甚么说我们是主的恢复。我们承认我们有许多荆棘，也许比其他『树丛』有更多的荆棘。但虽然我们满了荆棘，我们却无法否认神圣的火在我们里面焚烧。其它的『树丛』也许荆棘较少，但他们没有火。所以，主恢复的记号就是这个焚烧。使在主恢复里的团体荆棘与其它一切荆棘不同的，乃是火焰的焚烧。只有这丛荆棘是烧著的。帐幕立起来以后，充满了主的荣耀。（四十34～35。）在夜间，荣耀的云彩形状如火。（民九15～16。）火在帐幕之上烧著，表明以色列人是团体被火烧著的荆棘。人的眼目很容易看教会中的缺点。特别注意长老和领头的人。一旦某位弟兄作了长老，他就成了别人详细审察的对象，许多圣徒的眼睛迅速侦察他有无任何缺点。但是神没有这样的眼睛。请记得巴兰的话：『祂未见雅各中有罪孽，也未见以色列中有奸恶。』当巴兰说豫言时，神似乎在说：『以色列人在我眼中非常美好，他们是我的居所。』若有人说以色列人仅仅是一丛荆棘，神会回答说，对祂而言，他们不是普通的荆棘，而是一班被变化并建造成为祂居所的人。
20Some may wonder what ground we have for saying that we are the Lord’s recovery. We admit that we have many thorns, more thorns perhaps than other “bushes.” But although we are full of thorns, we cannot deny that the divine fire is burning within us. Other “bushes” may have fewer thorns, but they do not have the fire. Thus, the sign of the Lord’s recovery is this burning. What makes the corporate thorn-bush in the Lord’s recovery different from all other thorn-bushes is the burning of the flame of fire. Only this thorn-bush is burning. After the tabernacle was erected, it was filled with the glory of the Lord (40:34-35). At night, the cloud of glory had the appearance of fire (Num. 9:15-16). The fire burning upon the tabernacle signified that the people of Israel were a corporate burning thorn-bush. It is easy for human eyes to see defects in the church. In particular, these eyes are set upon the elders, the leading ones. As soon as a brother becomes an elder, he becomes subject to the scrutiny of many saints whose eyes are quick to detect any shortcoming. God, however, does not have this kind of eyes. Remember Balaam’sword: “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel.” As Balaam was prophesying, it seemed that God was saying, “The children of Israel are very pleasant in My sight. They are My dwelling place.” If someone had said that the Israelites were merely a thorn-bush, God would have replied that to Him they were not just a common thorn-bush, but a people transformed and built up to be His dwelling place
21当摩西说神是住在荆棘中的那一位时，很难说他指的是四十年前所看见的那丛真正荆棘，还是他自己和以色列人分别为个人和团体的荆棘。我信他的话包含这一切。一方面，我们仍然是荆棘；另一面，藉著救赎、成圣、变化和建造，我们成为神的居所。阿利路亚，今天神在地上有一个居所！撒但也许会对神说：『你的百姓只是一丛荆棘。』但神会回答说：『撒但，退我后边去罢！你岂不知这百姓已蒙救赎、成圣，并且被变化了么？他们已经同被建造，如今他们是一。所以，我住在他们中间。你说他们是荆棘，但我宣告他们是我的居所。』
21When Moses spoke of God as the One who dwelt in the thorn-bush, it is difficult to tell whether he was referring to the actual thorn-bush he had seen forty years before or to himself and to the children of Israel respectively as an individual and a corporate thorn- bush. I believe that his word includes all this. On the one hand, we are still a thorn-bush; on the other hand, through redemption, sanctification, transformation, and building, we are God’s dwelling place. Hallelujah, today God has a dwelling place on earth! Satan might say to God, “Your people are merely a thorn-bush.” But God would reply, “Satan, get behind Me. Don’ty ou know that this people has been redeemed, sanctified, and transformed? They have also been built up, and now they are one. Therefore, I am dwelling among them. You say that they are a thorn-bush, but I declare that they are My dwelling place.”
22今天教会是神的居所。你或许认为教会不俊美，但对神说来，她是可爱的。你也许批评教会的缺点，神却说祂未见祂的百姓中有罪孽。论到祂的百姓，神说：『我在他们里面找不著过失。我在他们中间，他们是我在地上的居所。』这就是作为团体荆棘的教会。
22The church today is God’s dwelling place. You may think that the church is uncomely, but to God it is lovely. You may criticize the church for its shortcomings, but God says that He sees no iniquity in His people. Regarding His people, God says, “I find no fault in them. I am in their midst, and they are My dwelling place on earth.” This is the church as the corporate thorn-bush
五 在复活里
V. IN RESURRECTION
23在荆棘里的神，就是呼召摩西的那一位，乃是复活的神。这可由马可十二章十八至二十七节中主对撒都该人所说的话中得到证实。当撒都该人与祂辩论复活时，主说：『论到死人复活，你们没有念过摩西的书，荆棘篇上所载的么？神对摩西说，我是亚伯拉罕的神，以撒的神，雅各的神。神不是死人的神，乃是活人的神。』主在这里将圣经中关于荆棘的那一段话，指给不信的撒都该人看。『亚伯拉罕的神，以撒的神，雅各的神』这个称呼的含义乃是复活的神。亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各都死了。如果神是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神，而没有复活的话，神就是死人的神。然而神不是死人的神，祂是活人的神，复活的神。复活的神住在荆棘中的事实，说出今天团体的荆棘作为神的居所，完全是一件在复活里的事。那圣者能眷临我们并住在我们中间，是因为祂在复活里。祂是复活的神，而我们这些祂的子民乃是在复活里。
23The very God in the thorn-bush, the One who called Moses, was the God of resurrection. This is proved by the Lord’sword to the Sadducees in Mark 12:18-27. As the Sadducees were arguing with Him concerning resurrection, the Lord said, “But concerning the dead, that they are raised, did you not read in the book of Moses, at the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Here the Lord pointed the unbelieving Sadducees to the section in the Scriptures concerning the thorn-bush. The title, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” implies the God of resurrection. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob have all died. If God were the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and there were no resurrection, then God would be the God of the dead. But God is not the God of the dead; He is the God of the living, the God of resurrection. The fact that the God of resurrection dwelt in the thorn-bush indicates that being a corporate thorn- bush as God’s dwelling place today is a matter altogether in resurrection. The holy One can visit us and dwell among us because He is in resurrection. He is the God of resurrection, and we, His people, are in resurrection
24因我们仍在肉体中，就很难相信或知道我们是在复活里。倘若我问你，你是在天然的生命里呢，还是在复活的生命里？你也许会说，你大部分是在天然的生命里。然而，你若说这话，就是没有信心。我们需要在信心里刚强，并宣告我们是在复活里，因为我们的神不是死人的神，而是活人的神。在我自己里面，我是在肉体和天然生命里；但在我的神里面，我是在复活中。今天我们享受神作复活的神。在复活里，祂是那伟大的『我是』。我们都需要凭信心说，我们是在复活里。我们愈凭著信心如此说，它就愈成为我们的经历。
24As those who are still in the flesh, it may be difficult for us to believe or to realize that we are in resurrection. If I were to ask you whether you are in the natural life or in the resurrection life, you would probably say that, for the most part, you are in the natural life. However, if you say this, you do not have faith. We need to be strong in faith and declare that we are in resurrection because our God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living. In myself, I am in the flesh and in the natural life, but in my God, I am in resurrection. Today we enjoy God as the God of resurrection. In resurrection He is the great I Am. We all need to say in faith that we are in resurrection. The more we speak this in faith, the more it will become our experience.
25我们所说的就是我们所经历的。我们若说我们在肉体里，我们就要在肉体里。但我们若说我们在复活里，我们就要在复活里。因为住在我们里面的神是复活的神，我们就有根据宣告我们是在复活里。在复活里，荆棘能蒙祝福成为神的居所。我们知道我们再好也只是一丛荆棘。然而，那位伟大的『我是』，复活的神，亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神住在我们里面，并且我们享受祂。我们各人是一丛荆棘，但我们在一起是一丛团体的荆棘，有复活的神在其中焚烧。这就是今日教会生活的一幅图画。
25What we say is what we experience. If we say that we are in the flesh, then we shall be in the flesh. But if we say that we are in resurrection, then we shall be in resurrection. Because the very God who indwells us is the God of resurrection, we have a basis for declaring that we are in resurrection. Here, in resurrection, the thorn-bush can be blessed to be God’s dwelling place. We realize that, at best, we are just a thorn-bush. Nevertheless, the great I Am, the God of resurrection, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, dwells within us, and we enjoy Him. Individually we are a thorn- bush, and together we are a corporate thorn-bush burning with the God of resurrection. This is a picture of the church life today