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民数记生命读经 · 第19篇

行程（四）

Journeying (4)
1读经：民数记十二章。在本篇信息中，我们要论到民数记所记载的另一个失败—毁谤。
1Scripture Reading: Num. 12 In this message we will be concerned with another failure recorded in the book of Numbers—slandering
三 毁谤
C. Slandering
2在十一章和十二章，以色列人中间有一个接一个的问题。首先，那些在以色列营边界的人发怨言、说恶语扺挡摩西和神，然后搀杂的群众为吃肉而起贪欲。这事之后，米利暗和亚伦，就是摩西的姐姐和哥哥，二人都比摩西年长，他们也跟随发怨言和背叛的潮流，起来扺挡摩西且毁谤他。在那时候，以色列人中间有骚动，没有平安或安宁。百姓中间必然流传著许多闲话，这可能挑动米利暗和亚伦起来诋毁摩西。我相信他们这样作的动机已经蕴酿了很久；并不是那时才发起的意念。１摩西娶了古实女子民数记十二章一节下半告诉我们，摩西娶了古实女子。我们不知道摩西甚么时候这样作，也无法找出他在何处并为何这样作。
2In chapters eleven and twelve there was one problem after another among the children of Israel. First, those on the extremities of the camp of Israel murmured evil against Moses and against God, and then the mixed multitude lusted for meat. After this, Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, both of whom were older than Moses, followed the tide of murmuring and rebellion to stand up against Moses and slander him. At that time, there was turmoil among the Israelites; there was no peace or quiet. There must have been a great deal of gossip circulating among the people, and this might have stirred up Miriam and Aaron to speak against Moses. I believe that their motive for doing this had already been with them for quite a time; it was not something new that originated at this juncture. 1. Moses Having Married a Cushite Woman Numbers 12:1b tells us that Moses had married a Cushite woman. We are not told when Moses did this; neither do we have a way to find out where or why he did it
２ 米利暗和亚伦诋毁摩西，即神的代表权柄
2. Miriam and Aaron Speaking against Moses, the Deputy Authority of God
3在民数记十二章，以色列人那段时期似乎都在发怨言、说闲话并背叛。因此，『米利暗和亚伦，因摩西所娶古实女子的缘故，就诋毁他。』（民十二1上。）因某种原因，他们为此对摩西感到不悦。然而，圣经没有告诉我们，神因著这婚姻受搅扰，或是定罪这事。摩西、亚伦、米利暗乃是血亲。他们都已经八十多岁了。摩西蒙了神呼召，亚伦也蒙了呼召。圣经没有告诉我们米利暗蒙召，但的确告诉我们她是女申言者。（出十五20。）她是神所设立的；当以色列人过红海时，她领头赞美神。（出十五21。）他们三人在百姓中间都相当突出。他们都受过良好的教育，都很亲近神，也都对神的事有认识，并且都被看为以色列人中领头的。然而，米利暗和亚伦里面有隐藏的『细菌，』为骚动潮流吹来的『风』所挑动。我们需要由此学习，在事奉主的事上，不该让任何消极的事留藏在我们里面。凡这类没有从我们里面根除的事，迟早都要显出来。我们要儆醒并警觉一切仍在我们里面的细菌。我们也许看来很好，但当某些风开始吹来，或当某些『风暴、』骚动发生的时候，我们可能会受到影响而被卷入。那时，我们就像米利暗和亚伦一样被暴露了。
3It seems that, in Numbers 12, the children of Israel were in the season for murmuring, gossip, and rebellion. Thus, ‘‘Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married’’ (v. 1a). For some reason, they were not happy with Moses concerning this. However, the Bible does not tell us that God was bothered by this marriage or that He condemned it. Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were blood relatives. They were all over eighty years old. Moses had been called by God, and Aaron also had been called by Him. We are not told that Miriam was called, but the Bible does speak of her as a prophetess (Exo. 15:20). She had been ordained by God, and when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, she took the lead in praising God (Exo. 15:21). All three of them were quite distinctive among the people. They were well-educated, they were close to God, they were knowledgeable in the things of God, and they were considered leaders among the people of Israel. Nevertheless, there were ‘‘germs’’ hidden within Miriam and Aaron that were stirred up by the ‘‘winds’’ blowing with the tide of turmoil. From this we need to learn that in the service of the Lord we should not allow anything negative to remain hidden within us. Any such thing that is not rooted out of our being will come out sooner or later. We need to be alert and aware of any germs that may still be in us. We may seem to be very good, but when certain winds begin to blow or when a particular ‘‘storm’’ or turmoil arises, we may be affected and involved. Then, like Miriam and Aaron, we will be exposed.
ａ由于妒忌
a. Because of Jealousy
4米利暗和亚伦里面所隐藏的细菌，有一种就是妒忌。米利暗和亚伦都比摩西年长，米利暗可能是最大的。因著比摩西年长，在他们心里可能认为自己比摩西高，然而，摩西比他们得到更多的敬重。这叫他们起了妒忌。米利暗和亚伦说，『难道耶和华真是只藉摩西说话？祂不是也藉我们说话么？』（民十二2。）米利暗也许说，『我是女申言者，是为神说话的人。神不仅藉著摩西说话，也藉著我说话。』因此，这里真正的问题乃是谁有神的谕言。神会用你来为祂说话，但你可能没有神的谕言。在摩西的时代，神的谕言是与摩西同在。按照摩西五经，神多次对摩西说话。每当耶和华想要作甚么，祂都先对摩西说。实际上，亚伦和米利暗都不是神的发言人，只有摩西一个人有神的谕言。为此而有的妒忌，乃是民数记十二章引起『疾病』的细箘。历代以来，在为主说话的事上，神仆人中间仍存在著妒忌和争竞的细菌。
4One of the germs hidden within Miriam and Aaron was jealousy. Both Miriam and Aaron were older than Moses, with Miriam probably being the eldest. Being older than Moses, in their heart they regarded themselves higher than Moses and were jealous of the greater respect that Moses received. Miriam and Aaron said, ‘‘Has Jehovah indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’’ (Num. 12:2). Miriam might have said, ‘‘I am a prophetess, one who speaks for God. God has spoken not only through Moses but also through me.’’ Hence, the real issue here concerned the question of who had God’s oracle. You may be used by God to speak for Him, but you may not have God’s oracle. At Moses’ time the oracle of God was with Moses. According to the Pentateuch, God spoke to Moses many times. Whenever Jehovah wanted something to be done, He first spoke about it to Moses. Actually, neither Aaron nor Miriam was God’s spokesman; only one, Moses, had the oracle of God. The jealousy concerning this was the germ that caused the ‘‘sickness’’ in Numbers 12. Throughout the generations, the germs of jealousy and rivalry regarding speaking for the Lord have existed among God’s servants
5米利暗和亚伦诋毁摩西，就是诋毁神的代表权柄。摩西虽然比米利暗和亚伦年轻，神却指派他作祂的代表权柄。神呼召亚伦，也兴起米利暗，然而看不出来神嘱咐他们作祂的代表。但神清楚的告诉摩西，神已拣选他作神在地上的代表权柄。（出三10～17，七1。）由于摩西胆怯，神将亚伦赐给摩西作助手。（出四10～16，六30～七1。）这并不表示神指派亚伦作祂的权柄。按照神行政的管理，米利暗和亚伦都该服从摩西。但他们却背叛了。
5In speaking against Moses, Miriam and Aaron were speaking against the deputy authority of God. Although Moses was younger than Miriam and Aaron, God had appointed him to be His deputy authority, His representative authority. God had called Aaron and had raised up Miriam, but there is no hint that God charged them to be His representative. But God told Moses clearly that He had chosen Him to be His representative authority on earth (Exo. 3:10-17; 7:1). Because of Moses’ timidity, God gave Aaron to Moses as his helper (Exo. 4:10-16; 6:30—7:1). However, this does not mean that He appointed Aaron to be His authority. According to God’s governmental administration, Miriam and Aaron should have submitted themselves to Moses. But they rebelled.
ｂ以摩西表面看来的错误为藉口
b. Taking Moses’ Apparent Mistake as an Excuse
6米利暗和亚伦以摩西娶古实女子这表面的错误为藉口，诋毁摩西。然而，事实上他们是在为神说话的事上，与摩西争竞。他们是在与摩西竞争。他们诋毁摩西的真正因素是这事，而不是古实女子。
6Miriam and Aaron took Moses’ apparent mistake in marrying a Cushite woman as an excuse to speak against him. However, the fact was that they were competing with Moses in speaking for God. They were in rivalry with Moses. This, not the Cushite woman, was the real factor in their speaking against Moses
３ 摩西这人极其谦和，胜过世上的众人
3. Moses Being Very Meek, More Than All Men Who Were on the Face of the Earth
7『摩西这人极其温柔（原文），胜过世上的众人。』（民十二3。）按神的辞典，属灵的辞典，温柔就是不扺抗，受到别人的攻击也不反击。在诸天之国的宪法里，九福中有一福是赐给温柔的人：『温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。』（太五5。）不是那些争斗或扺抗的人会拥有地土；乃是温柔的人承受地土。提后二章二十四节说，『主的奴仆不该争竞，总要温温和和的待众人。』摩西就是这样的人；他不争斗，也不扺抗。民数记十二章三节乃是摩西写的。摩西要这样的写自己并不容易。这显示摩西的忠信。（民十二7，来三2，5。）凡是神要摩西写的，他都写，即使是说到自己的长处，他也写。他若拒绝，就是不忠信，且是耍手婉，玩弄政治。我们在人类社会中，处处可见政治的手腕。我们很难找到一个人，坦率忠信，按神所说的服事主。
7Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men who were on the face of the earth’’ (Num. 12:3). In God’s lexicon, in the spiritual dictionary, to be meek is not to strive, not to fight back, when others are against you. In the constitution of the kingdom of the heavens, one of the nine blessings is given to the meek: ‘‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth’’ (Matt. 5:5). It is not those who fight or strive who will possess the earth; the meek will inherit the earth. Second Timothy 2:24 says, ‘‘A slave of the Lord must not contend, but be gentle toward all.’’ Moses was such a person; he did not fight or strive. Numbers 12:3 was written by Moses. It was not easy for Moses to write such a word about himself. This shows Moses’ faithfulness (v. 7; Heb. 3:2, 5). Whatever God told him to write, he wrote, even if it was something good about himself. If he had refused, he would have been unfaithful, and he would have been political. He would have been playing politics. In every area of human society, we can see the playing of politics. It is difficult to find the frank faithfulness of one who serves God according to what God says
４ 神的干豫
4. God Intervening
8在民数记十二章五至九节，神干豫了。
8In Numbers 12:5-9 God intervened
ａ在云柱中降临，站在会幕门口，对亚伦和米利暗说话
a. Coming Down in a Pillar of Cloud and Standing at the Entrance of the Tent, Speaking to Aaron and Miriam
9『耶和华在云柱中降临，站在会幕门口，召亚伦和米利暗，二人就向前来。』（民十二5。）神将米利暗和亚伦的毁谤看得很严重，因为这事摸到神的权柄。摸著、违抗、或反对神的权柄，就是摇动神的宝座。这是非常严重的，比发怨言、说恶语，和为肉起贪欲严重得多。
9‘‘Jehovah came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward’’ (v. 5). God took the slander of Miriam and Aaron seriously because this matter touched God’s authority. To touch, defy, or challenge God’s authority is to shake God’s throne. This is very serious, much more serious than murmuring evil and lusting for meat.
ｂ为摩西表白
b. Vindicating Moses
10神为摩西表白，说摩西是祂的仆人，在祂全家是忠信的。（民十二7。）神也为摩西表白，说祂与摩西是口对口的说话，乃是明说，不用隐语，并且摩西看见了耶和华的形像。（民十二8上。）
10God vindicated Moses as His servant, one who was faithful in all His house (v. 7). God also vindicated Moses as one with whom He spoke mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in obscure words, and as one who beheld the form of Jehovah (v. 8a
ｃ斥责亚伦和米利暗
c. Rebuking Aaron and Miriam
11神斥责亚伦和米利暗。祂问他们说，『你们诋毁我的仆人摩西，为甚么不惧怕？』（民十二8下。）耶和华就向他们发怒而去。（民十二9。）
11God rebuked Aaron and Miriam. He asked them, ‘‘Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?’’ (v. 8b). The anger of Jehovah burned against them, and He departed from them (v. 9
５ 米利暗受惩罚
5. Miriam Being Punished
12在十至十二节，我们看到米利暗受惩罚。为甚么二人背叛，只有一人受罚？为甚么神只惩罚女子，不惩罚男子？我们可能认为，男子担的责任较多，该受惩罚，女子不该受惩罚。我相信神惩罚米利暗而不惩罚亚伦，有两个原因。首先，在这次的背叛中，可能是米利暗带头的。她是发起者，鼓动者，把亚伦挑动起来。主要的源头不是亚伦，乃是米利暗。其次，女子背叛根本是不合宜的。论到背叛，男子也许还可以被宽容，女子却绝不被宽容。神惩罚米利暗，以警告并警戒以色列中间所有的女子，不可跟随米利暗。
12In verses 10 through 12 we see that Miriam was punished. Why is it that although two rebelled, only one was punished? Why did God punish the female but not the male? We may think that the male had borne more responsibility and that he should have been punished instead of the female. There were, I believe, two reasons why God punished Miriam but not Aaron. First, it is likely that Miriam took the lead in this rebellion. She was the instigator, the initiator, who stirred up Aaron. Miriam, not Aaron, was the main source. Second, it is not at all seemly for a female to rebel. Concerning rebellion, some allowance may be given to a male, but none should be given to a female. God punished Miriam to warn and alarm all the females among the children of Israel so that they would not follow Miriam
ａ患了痲疯病
a. Being Made Sick of Leprosy
13米利暗受惩罚患了痲疯病。『云彩从会幕上挪开了。看哪，米利暗患了痲疯，其白如雪。亚伦转向米利暗,见她患了痲疯.』（民十二10。）这是神行政的对付。
13Miriam was punished by being made sick of leprosy. ‘‘The cloud removed from over the tent; and behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam, and she was leprous’’ (v. 10). This was God’s governmental dealing
ｂ亚伦为她向摩西求
b. Aaron Begging Moses for Her
14亚伦为米利暗向摩西求。（民十二11～12。）亚伦受了他姐姐的鼓动，现在却成了他姐姐的中保、代祷人。我们该由此学习，不要跟随鼓动者。我们若跟随这样的人，至终可能要为他恳求。
14Aaron begged Moses for Miriam (vv. 11-12). Aaron had been instigated by his sister, and now he became her mediator, her intercessor. We should learn from this not to follow an instigator. If we follow such a one, we may eventually have to beg on his behalf.
15亚伦为米利暗恳求，承认他们的愚昧。亚伦『就对摩西说，我主阿，不要因我们愚昧犯罪，便将这罪加在我们身上。』（民十二11。）然后他接著求，不要让米利暗像死人一样。『不要让她像那一出母腹，肉已烂了一半的死胎。』（民十二12。）亚伦求，不要让米利暗这样可怜的死去。
15In begging for Miriam, Aaron confessed their folly. ‘‘Aaron said to Moses, Oh, my lord, do not lay upon us the sin in which we have done foolishly and have sinned’’ (v. 11). Then he went on to plead that she would not be as one dead. ‘‘Let her not be as one dead, the flesh of whom is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb’’ (v. 12). Aaron begged that Miriam would not die in such a pitiful way
６ 摩西为米利暗祷告求医治
6. Moses Praying for Miriam’sHe al ing
16摩西为米利暗祷告求医治，说，『神阿，求你医治她。』（民十二。）这再一次指明摩西的谦和。他若不谦和，就不会为她祷告，反而要让她死于痲疯。若有人背叛你，你会为那人祷告求医治么？你曾这样的祷告过么？神听了摩西的祷告，只审判米利暗，把她关在营外七天。（民十二14～上。）百姓迟延出发，直等到把米利暗再带进来。（民十二15下。）『以后百姓从哈洗录出发，在巴兰的旷野安营。』（民十二16。）
16Moses prayed for Miriam’she al ing, saying, ‘‘Heal her, O God, I beg You’’ (v. 13). This is a further indication of Moses’ meekness. If he had not been meek, he 13 would not have prayed for her but instead would have let her die in her leprosy. If someone rebelled against you, would you pray for the healing of that one? Have you ever prayed in this way? God heard Moses’ prayer and judged her by shutting her up outside the camp for seven days (vv. 14-15a). The people were delayed on the march until 15 Miriam was brought in again (v. 15b). ‘‘After that, the people set out from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran’’ (v. 16).
17米利暗和亚伦的事例，对我们今天，原则是一样的。我盼望主对你们说话，比我说的更多，使我们都学到功课。
17The principle in the case of Miriam and Aaron is the same with us today. I hope that the Lord will speak more to you than I have spoken so that we all may learn the lesson