Exodus 33:9-11 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshipped, each man in his tent door. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
Moses was given a challenging mandate of leading His people—a group of Israelites who were stubborn and had sinned against God by worshipping the golden calf—from the land of Egypt to the Promised Land. If God had not been merciful and gracious towards them when Moses pleaded for them, these people would have been struck dead because they were so obstinate. Nonetheless, God did not abandon them despite their sin and rebelliousness. Not only did He provide them with manna and water, but He also accompanied them in the presence of the pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day.
Today, many of us are caught in a difficult position in the marketplace like Moses. Moses was wise enough to seek the wisdom of God because God had called him to lead the people. He set up a tent to meet with God. Since God is the one who placed us in our position, we should do likewise and seek the wisdom of God by making time to be in his presence.
This passage records how Moses met God face to face and showed us the presence of God and the blessing of being in His presence. His presence came when Moses chose a time to meet with Him. Did you know we are so blessed to be in an even better position than Moses? Jesus was made sin for us, has redeemed us with His blood, and made a new and living way for us to approach God freely. Even though there will still be consequences for the sins we commit because we will reap what we have sown, there is forgiveness for our sins, and the blood of Jesus Christ enables us to come before the Heavenly Father with boldness because we are hidden in Christ.
Since God created us to have fellowship with Him, we should expect Him to speak to and minister to us when we enter into His presence through worship and the teaching or preaching of the Word. We can also be assured that He will show up when we want to know Him better through studying His Word and worshipping Him. Therefore, let’s be encouraged to seek God diligently, because we have faith in His promise in His Word that He will draw near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:8a).
Sermon Series:The Presence of God
进入神的同在
出埃及记 33:9-11:摩西进会幕的时候,云柱降下来,立在会幕的门前,耶和华便与摩西说话。众百姓看见云柱立在会幕门前,就都起来,各人在自己帐棚的门口下拜。耶和华与摩西面对面说话,好像人与朋友说话一般。摩西转到营里去,惟有他的帮手,一个少年人嫩的儿子约书亚,不离开会幕。
摩西被赋予了一项具有挑战性的任务,要带领以色列百姓– 一群顽固不化、因崇拜金牛犊而得罪神的以色列人, 从埃及地到应许之地。若不是摩西为他们向神恳求,神满有怜悯和恩典,他们早已因自己的悖逆而被击杀。然而,尽管他们犯罪悖逆,神仍未曾离弃他们。祂不仅赐下吗哪和水供应他们的需要,更以云柱昼夜同行,白日引导他们,夜间以火柱保护他们。
如今,许多人在职场中面临着与摩西相似的困境。摩西因深知自己是蒙神的呼召来带领百姓的,因此他有智慧地寻求神的引导,搭建会幕,与神相会。同样,既然将我们放在各自的岗位上,我们也当效法摩西,寻求神的智慧,腾出时间进入祂的同在。
这段经文记载了摩西如何与神面对面相会,向我们展现了神的同在以及住在祂同在中的祝福。神的同在临到,是因为摩西选择了特定的时间来寻求祂。你是否知道,今天的我们比摩西处在一个更美好的位置?耶稣为我们成了罪,祂用自己的宝血救赎了我们,并为我们开辟了一条又新又活的道路,使我们可以坦然无惧地来到神的面前。虽然我们所犯的罪仍会带来后果,因为“人种的是什么,收的也是什么”,但在基督里,我们的罪可以得着赦免。耶稣基督的宝血使我们能够坦然无惧地来到天父面前,因为我们已经藏身在基督里。
神创造我们是为了与祂相交,因此,当我们借着敬拜以及聆听和研读神的话语进入祂的同在时,我们理当期待祂对我们说话,并在我们心中动工。我们也可以确信,当我们渴望更深地认识祂,专心研读祂的话语并敬拜祂时,祂必定向我们显现。因此,让我们满怀信心地殷勤寻求神,因为我们相信祂在话语中的应许——当我们亲近神,祂必亲近我们(雅各书4:8上)。
讲道系列: 神的同在
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