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约书亚记生命读经 · 第3篇

窥探那地

Spying Out The Land
1读经：约书亚记二章。约书亚一章是说到取得美地。那么，二章的内在意义是甚么？表面看，二章是说到窥探美地，但这是天然的观念。二章真正的内在意义，乃是神得著对的人，以生出基督。
1Scripture Reading: Josh. 2 Chapter one of Joshua is on the taking of the good land. What is the intrinsic significance of chapter two? Apparently chapter two is on the spying out of the good land, but this is a natural concept. The real intrinsic significance of chapter two is that God gains the right person to bring forth Christ
2我们研读旧约历史和豫言的时候，需要考虑圣经对神永远经纶的全面看法。圣经开始于神的创造，结束于基督作大轮的轮轴以及新耶路撒冷作轮辋，以显出三一神，直到永远。所以，神永远的经纶主要包括两件事－基督和祂的配偶，为著基督的扩大、扩增和开展。基督这配偶至终要终极完成为新耶路撒冷，作三一神完满的彰显，直到永远。约书亚记这卷书的内在意义，就是取得那地，豫表我们取得基督；加上得著适当的人，以生出基督，使基督得著开展与扩增。约书亚一章是说到取得基督，而二章是说到向人开展基督、生出基督。为要取得基督，我们必须作今天的约书亚，去争战取得那地，并享受基督作我们的产业；为要开展基督，我们必须作今天的喇合。因此，我们必须同时是约书亚，也是喇合。好些圣经教师指出，约书亚一章豫表以弗所一章。约书亚一章给我们看见，一切都豫备好了。以色列藉著神数百年在埃及，以及四十年在旷野，在他们身上的对付，已经豫备好了。以色列成了团体的约书亚，蒙神拣选、呼召、救赎、拯救、训练、并豫备好，已经合格了。在摩押平原那里，他们没有任何地或产业。他们已经豫备好，与神是一，往前去得著迦南地，那地乃是豫表丰富、包罗万有的基督。
2In studying the history and the prophecies in the Old Testament, we need to consider the full scope of the Scriptures concerning God’s eternal economy. The Bible begins with God’s creation, and it ends with Christ as the hub of the great wheel and with the New Jerusalem as the rim to manifest the Triune God for eternity. God’s eternal economy, therefore, consists mainly of two things— Christ and His counterpart for the enlargement, the increase, and the spreading of Christ. This counterpart of Christ will ultimately consummate in the New Jerusalem as the full expression of the Triune God for eternity. The intrinsic significance of the book of Joshua is the taking of the land, which typifies our gaining of Christ, plus the gaining of the proper persons to bring forth Christ that Christ might be spread and increased. Chapter one of Joshua is concerned with the gaining of Christ, and chapter two, with the spreading of Christ, with the bringing forth of Christ to others. For the gaining of Christ, we need to be today’s Joshua, fighting the battle, taking the land, and enjoying Christ as our inheritance. For the spreading of Christ, we need to be today’sR ahab. Thus, we need to be both a Joshua and a Rahab. A number of Bible teachers have pointed out that chapter one of Joshua typifies chapter one of Ephesians. Joshua 1 shows us that everything was ready. Israel had been prepared through God’s dealing with them for several hundred years in Egypt and for forty years in the wilderness. Israel had become a corporate Joshua, chosen, called, redeemed, saved, trained, prepared, and qualified by God. There in the plains of Moab they did not have any land or inheritance. They were ready to go on with God as one to take the land of Canaan, which typifies the rich, all- inclusive Christ
3在以弗所一章，就是约书亚一章所豫表的，我们可以看见一切已经完成、完全了，一切在基督里的福分都在诸天界里，等待神所拣选、救赎、并成全的子民，来取用并享受，作他们的基业。根据这一章，我们已经蒙神拣选为著有分于祂的圣别性情，也被神豫定为要得著祂的生命，作祂的儿子。（4～5。）不仅如此，基督的救赎已经把我们带进基督这位三一神的具体化身里，祂乃是那个范围和元素，我们在其中并藉此就能被作成神的基业。（7，。）我们既已蒙救赎，并被摆在基督这范围和元素里，就天天被这元素重组并变化，成为作神基业的珍宝。我们取用基督，并享受祂作我们的基业时，我们就成为神的基业。此外，我们还有那灵的印涂和凭质。（13～14。）那灵的印涂就是那灵来浸润并浸透我们，为要变化我们；那灵作凭质乃是来担保神是我们的基业。一面，我们是神的基业，为祂的灵所印涂；另一面，神是我们的基业，由那灵作凭质来担保。以弗所二章指明，诸天界里有好几层。基督是在最高的一层，就是三层天上，作我们的一切，就是我们的美地。但诸天界里还有较低的一层，就是空中，在那里撒但是空中掌权者的首领，拦阻地上的人接触神、接受基督。（2。）这就是那些拦阻以色列人进入美地的迦南人所豫表的。以弗所二章也告诉我们，我们原是死了的人，（1，5，）但神使我们这些蒙拣选的喇合，成为享受基督的人。在以弗所一章我们看见约书亚，就是在基督里的信徒，领受了一切在基督里的福分；但在以弗所二章，我们看见喇合，就是一切邪恶的、死了的罪人。然而，神能藉著基督的救赎，施行祂大能的救恩，拯救这样的罪人，使这样的喇合成为享受基督的人。喇合是这样一个将自己卖给罪到极点的外邦妓女，她怎能成为神选民的一分子？又怎能接受基督，然后生出基督给人，使基督得著扩增？惟一的路乃是藉著信。信是从听福音来的。今天人需要听见好消息，知道神藉著基督成为肉体、钉死十架、复活和升天所作的事。人需要听到一切已经完成了，并且包罗万有的基督就在诸天之上，给他们接受。然而，撒但和他空中的权势却设法拦阻他们接受基督。要胜过这情形，惟一的路乃是藉著信。这就是喇合的经历。她听见神在埃及和旷野为以色列人所作的，她也听见神如何击败西宏和噩，这两个看守迦南地入口的强大的王。她听见好消息，就相信了以色列的神，想要成为祂百姓中的一员。
3In Ephesians 1, which is typified by Joshua 1, we can see that everything has been finished and completed and that every blessing in Christ is there in the heavenlies, waiting for God’s chosen, redeemed, and perfected people to take and enjoy as their inheritance. According to this chapter, we have been chosen by God to partake of His holy nature and we have been predestinated by God to have His life in order to become His sons (vv. 4-5). Furthermore, Christ’s redemption has brought us into Christ as the embodiment of the Triune God to be the realm in which and the element by which we can be made God’s inheritance (vv. 7, 11). Having been redeemed and having been put into Christ as the realm and 11 the element, we are daily being reconstituted and transformed by this element to be a treasure for God’s inheritance. As we take Christ and enjoy Him as our inheritance, we become God’s inheritance. In addition, we have the sealing and the pledging of the Spirit (vv. 13-14). The Spirit’s sealing is the Spirit’ss o a king and saturating of us in order to transform us. The Spirit’s pledging is the guarantee that God is our inheritance. On the one hand, we are God’s inheritance, sealed by His Spirit; on the other hand, God is our inheritance, guaranteed by the pledging of the Spirit. Ephesians chapter two indicates that in the heavenlies there are different layers. Christ is in the highest layer, the third heaven, to be our everything as our good land. But there is a lower layer of the heavenlies—the air, where Satan as the ruler of the authority of the air is frustrating the people on earth from contacting God and from receiving Christ (v. 2). This is typified by the Canaanites, who were frustrating Israel from entering into the good land. Ephesians 2 also tells us that we were once dead persons (vv. 1, 5), but then God made us, the chosen Rahabs, the enjoyers of Christ. In Ephesians 1 we see Joshua, the believers in Christ receiving all the blessings in Christ. But in Ephesians 2 we see Rahab, all the sinners who were wicked, evil, and dead. Nevertheless, God can perform His dynamic salvation through the redemption of Christ to save such sinners, to make such Rahabs the enjoyers of Christ. How could Rahab, a Gentile harlot who had sold herself to sin to the uttermost, become a member of the chosen people of God? How could she receive Christ and then bring forth Christ to others for His increase? There was no other way but through faith. Faith comes from the hearing of the gospel. Today people need to hear the good news concerning what God has done through the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. People need to hear that everything has been finished and completed and that the all-inclusive Christ is in the heavens for them to receive. However, Satan and his powers in the air try to frustrate them from receiving Christ. The only way this situation can be overcome is by faith. This was Rahab’s experience. She heard what God had done for Israel in Egypt and in the wilderness, and she heard how God had defeated Sihon and Og, two strong kings who were the gate guards of Canaan. She heard the good news, and then she believed in the very God of Israel, wanting to be one among His people.
4当两个探子来到耶利哥，喇合与他们接触，将他们隐藏，以躲避那些寻索他们的人。探子和喇合必定有很好的交通，藉著这次交通，她与他们和谐一致，好为著神的经纶。当她求他们恩待她父家，拯救她们性命不死时，探子告诉她，要把一条朱红线绳系在窗户上。她照著探子的话，在窗户上挂著朱红线绳，作为她自己和她全家得救的记号，这豫表藉著基督流血的救赎，所带来全家的救恩。这是个有力的记号，说出约书亚记的历史，是与关于神永远的经纶，与基督藉著救赎完成救恩有关。妓女喇合后来成为基督一位超绝、显著的先祖。这迦南妇人嫁给犹大支派的首领撒门，藉著她与这犹大首领婚姻的联结，她成了以色列的一部分，并生出大卫的曾祖波阿斯。马太一章基督的家谱里包括了喇合的名字，这是何等尊荣！这是个有力的记号，说出约书亚记所记载的历史，与神关于基督的永远经纶是一致的。现在我们要更详细的来看约书亚二章。
4When the two spies came to Jericho, Rahab contacted them and hid them from those who were seeking them. There must have been a good communication between the spies and Rahab, and through this communication she became harmonious with them for God’secon o my. When she asked them to deal kindly with her father’sho use and deliver their lives from death, the spies told her to tie a line of scarlet thread in the window. According to the spies'word, she hung the scarlet thread from her window as a sign for the salvation of herself and her entire household, typifying the household salvation of Christ through His redemption by His blood. This is a strong indication that the history in the book of Joshua is related to God’s eternal economy concerning Christ in His salvation through redemption. Eventually Rahab the harlot became one of the excellent, prominent ancestors of Christ. This Canaanite woman married Salmon, a leader of the tribe of Judah, and through her union with this Jewish leader she became a part of Israel and brought forth Boaz, the great-grandfather of David. What an honor it is that Rahab’s name is included in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1! This is a strong sign that the history recorded in Joshua is in line with God’s eternal economy concerning Christ. Let us now consider chapter two of Joshua in more detail
壹 约书亚打发两个探子
I. JOSHUA’SS ENDING OF THE TWO SPIES
5约书亚打发两个探子去窥探那地，特别是耶利哥。（1上。）约书亚打发探子的真正目的，乃是把喇合找出来。贰耶和华豫备妓女喇合一节下半至二十二节说到耶和华豫备妓女喇合。神为著取得那地豫备了约书亚。然而，为著基督的开展需要一个外邦的妇人；为此神豫备了妓女喇合。
5Joshua sent the two spies to spy out the good land, especially Jericho (v. 1a). Joshua’s real purpose in sending out the spies was to find Rahab. II. JEHOVAH’S PROVIDING OF RAHAB THE HARLOT Verses 1b through 22 are concerned with Jehovah’s providing of Rahab the harlot. God provided Joshua for the gaining of the land. However, there was the need of a Gentile female for the spreading of Christ, and for this God provided Rahab the harlot.
一 她信了以色列人的神
A. She Having Believed in the God of Israel
6喇合信了以色列人的神。（书二8～11，来十一31上。）她告诉探子说，她知道耶和华已经把那地赐给以色列人，并且那地的一切居民，在他们面前心都销化了。她接著说，他们听见以色列人出埃及的时候，耶和华怎样在以色列人前面使红海的水干了；并且以色列人怎样待两个亚摩利王西宏和噩，将他们尽行毁灭。然后喇合宣告说，『耶和华你们的神，本是上天下地的神。』（书二11下。）因著她相信神，她『就不与那些不信从的人一同灭亡。』（来十一31下。）
6Rahab believed in the God of Israel (vv. 8-11; Heb. 11:31a). She told the spies that she knew that Jehovah had given the land to the people of Israel and that all the inhabitants of the land melted before them. She went on to say that they had heard how Jehovah had dried up the water of the Red Sea before Israel when they came out of Egypt and what they did to the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, whom they utterly destroyed. Then Rahab declared, “Jehovah your God, He is God in heaven above and upon earth beneath” (Josh. 2:11b). Because of her faith in God, she “did not perish with those who were disobedient” (Heb. 11:31a
二 她转向以色列人和他们的神，并信靠祂和祂的百姓
B. She Turning to Israel and Their God and Trusting in Him and His People
7喇合转向以色列人和他们的神，并信靠祂和祂的百姓。（书二12～。）她求探子恩待她的父家，并给她一个可信靠的凭据，好救活她的父母、弟兄和姐妹，拯救他们的性命不死。她把自己交给他们，恳求他们施怜悯。这指明她不只全人转向神，也转向神的百姓。
7Rahab turned to Israel and their God, and she trusted in Him and His people (Josh. 2:12-13). She asked the spies to deal kindly with her father’sho use and to give her 14 some token of trust that they would preserve her father, mother, brothers, and sisters and deliver their lives from death. She committed herself to them and was pleading with them for mercy. This indicates that she turned her whole being not only to God but also to God’sp eople.
三 她藉著本于信心的行为，乐意接待两个探子，将他们藏起来，又释放他们
C. She Being Willing to Receive the Spies, Hide Them, and Deliver Them by Her Acts out of Her Faith
8喇合藉著本于信心的行为，乐意接待两个探子，将他们藏起来，又释放他们。（书二1下～7，15～16，22，雅二25。）她接待、隐藏并释放探子，都是信心的行为。这指明她的信心是积极的。她接待两个探子后，就与他们有很好的交通，说到神所要作的事。四喇合与她全家得救的记号约书亚二章十七至二十一节说到喇合与她全家得救的记号。
8Rahab was willing to receive the spies, hide them, and deliver them by her acts out of her faith (vv. 1b- 7, 15-16, 22; James 2:25). Her receiving, hiding, and delivering the spies were acts of faith. This indicates that her faith was active. After receiving the spies, she had good fellowship with them concerning what God intended to do. D. The Sign for Rahab and Her Household to Be Saved Joshua 2:17-21 speaks of the sign for Rahab and her household to be saved
１ 挂在她房子窗户上的
1. A Line of Scarlet Thread
一条朱红线绳
Hanging in the Window of Her House
9探子告诉喇合，要在她房子窗户上挂一条朱红线绳。（18。）照著他们的话，她『把朱红线绳系在窗户上』。（21。）
9The spies told Rahab to hang a line of scarlet thread in the window of her house (v. 18). According to their word, “she tied the scarlet line in the window” (v. 21).
２ 豫表公开承认基督救赎的宝血
2. Typifying an Open Confession of the Redeeming Blood of Christ
10系在喇合房子窗户上的朱红线绳，是公开的挂在那里，每一个人都看得见。因此，系在窗户上的朱红线绳，豫表公开承认基督救赎的宝血。（彼前18～19。）喇合这样公开的承认，并且相信藉著这个记号，她和她一家都要蒙拯救。
10The scarlet thread tied in the window of Rahab’sho use was hung out in the open; it was there for everyone to see. Thus, the scarlet thread tied to the window typifies an open confession of the redeeming blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Rahab made such an open confession and believed that by this sign she and her household would be delivered
３ 指明神对外邦罪人的全家救恩
3. Indicating God’sHo use hold Salvation to the Gentile Sinners
11这个给喇合与她全家得救的记号，指明神对外邦罪人的全家救恩。（徒十六31。）我们赞美主，为著祂拯救全家的奇妙救恩。行传十六章三十至三十一节启示，主的救恩是为著个别信徒的，但祂的救恩却是以家为单位。挪亚全家的事例，（创七1，13，）和以色列人全家的事例，（出十二3～，）也可说明这点。喇合全家的事例，印证家乃是神救恩的单位。在新约里，撒该一家的事例，（路十九5～6，9，）哥尼流一家的事例，（徒十一13～，十24，44，48，）吕底亚一家的事例，（十六14～15，）以及腓立比禁卒一家的事例，（十六32～33，）都说明了全家得救的原则。
11This sign for Rahab and her household to be saved indicates God’s house hold salvation to the Gentile sinners (Acts 16:31). We praise the Lord for His marvelous household salvation. Acts 16:30 and 31 reveal that whereas the Lord’s salvation is for the individual believer, the unit of His salvation is the household. This is also illustrated by the cases of the whole house of Noah (Gen. 7:1, 13) and of the houses of Israel (Exo. 12:3-4). The case of the whole house 4 of Rahab confirms that the family, the household, is the unit of God’s salvation. In the New Testament the principle of household salvation is illustrated by the cases of the house of Zaccheus (Luke 19:5-6, 9), 14 the house of Cornelius (Acts 11:13-14; 10:24, 44, 48), the house of Lydia (16:14-15), and the house of the Philippian jailer (16:32-33).
五一 个被定罪、只配灭亡的迦南人，成了基督一位主要的先祖
E. A Condemned Canaanite Qualified to Be Destroyed Becoming One of the Main Ancestors of Christ
12喇合是一个被定罪、只配灭亡的迦南人，但她藉著转向神和神的子民，并藉著嫁给以色列领头的犹大支派中一个首领的儿子，（代上二10～11，）或许是两个探子之一的撒门，（太一5上，）成了基督的一位主要的先祖，在基督的成为肉体里与祂联结，为著完成神永远的经纶。
12Rahab was a condemned Canaanite qualified to be destroyed, but she became one of the main ancestors of Christ, associated with Christ in His incarnation for the fulfillment of God’s eternal economy, by turning to God and His people and by being married to Salmon (Matt. 1:5a), the son of a leader of Judah, a leading tribe of Israel (1 Chron. 2:10-11), and probably one of the two spies
参 两个探子回来并报告
III. THE TWO SPIES'RETURN AND REPORT
13约书亚二章结束时说到两个探子回来并报告。（23～24。）他们向约书亚述说所遭遇的一切事，又告诉他说，耶和华果然将那地交在以色列人手中；并且那地的一切居民，在以色列人面前心都销化了。探子的报告是在信心里正确的话，但以色列人仍然需要藉著相信神去取得那地，为著神的权益牺牲自己，使他们能有分于神所得著的，以完成神永远的经纶。
13Joshua 2 concludes with the two spies'return and report (vv. 23-24). They related to Joshua all that had happened to them and told him that Jehovah had given the land into the hand of Israel and that all the inhabitants of the land had melted before Israel. The report of the spies was a right word in faith, yet Israel still needed to take the land by faith in God, sacrificing themselves for God’sin te rest that they might share in what God had gained for the accomplishment of His eternal economy