五月十二日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0512.mp3″]
经文: 你下埃及不要害怕,因为我必使你在那里成为大族。我要和你同下埃及去,也定带你上来。(创世记四十六:3~4)
当雅各想到要离开他父亲之地,去居住在外邦陌生人当中时,他必是害怕颤栗。那是一幅新的景像,且似乎是令人难堪的地方。但是,他已被明确地指派要走这条路,因此他决心去走。今日,信徒有时会遇到危险和试探。在这些时候,他门应当效法雅各,向上帝献上祷告,求祂引导。他们必须等待主的祝福才能开始行动。这样,雅各的同行者也将成为他们的朋友和帮助者。主屈尊下降进入卑微的人中间与我们同在。耶和华应许有祂同在之处,我们就不应犹豫不敢前往。因为有上帝确据的照耀,即使死亡的幽谷也充满光明。在上帝里面,靠着信心前进吧!信的人会从生命中的困境和死亡的暗室中被带上来。时候到了,雅各的后裔从埃及出来了。一切有信心的人,将通过生命的苦难和死亡的恐惧,不受伤害。让我们操练雅各的信心。主的命令是“不要害怕”,对于服从祂的旨意而出航到新海域的人,这话鼓励了他们。上帝的同在与保守,不允许人存有些微的恐惧或不信。没有上帝,我们不敢移动一步;但是当祂命令我们去的时候,停止不动也是危险的。前进吧,不要害怕!
Evening, May 12
Scripture: “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.”(Genesis 46:3,4)
Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his father’s sojourning, and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a new scene, and likely to be a trying one: who shall venture among couriers of a foreign monarch without anxiety? Yet the way was evidently appointed for him, and therefore he resolved to go. This is frequently the position of believers now-they are called to perils and temptations altogether untried: at such seasons let them imitate Jacob’s example by offering sacrifices of prayer unto God, and seeking his direction; let them not take a step until they have waited upon the Lord for his blessing: then they will have Jacob’s companion to be their friend and helper. How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our ways, and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments with us! Even beyond the ocean our Father’s love beams like the sun in its strength. We cannot hesitate to go where Jehovah promises his presence; even the valley of deathshade grows bright with the radiance of this assurance. Marching onwards with faith in their God, believers shall have Jacob’s promise. They shall be brought up again, whether it be from the troubles of life or the chambers of death. Jacob’s seed came out of Egypt in due time, and so shall all the faithful pass unscathed through the tribulation of life, and the terror of death. Let us exercise Jacob’s confidence. “Fear not,” is the Lord’s command and his divine encouragement to those who at his bidding are launching upon new seas; the divine presence and preservation forbid so much as one unbelieving fear. Without our God we should fear to move; but when he bids us to, it would be dangerous to tarry. Reader, go forward, and fear not.