Wednesday, 30th November 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-4 Receive God’s Promise
We come to know that chapters 33 and 34 were not written by Moses, but by someone, who’s been following Moses. Verses 1-3 are talking about how God led Moses on Mount Nebo and viewed the promised land for each one of the Israelites. Every land was given to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, God let Moses see everything, but did not let him enter it. 40 years Moses followed God, but he never saw the promised land. We often want to see the promise from God, but when we really want this promise, we are living in a ‘doing’ mode.
Moses lived in the vision of the Promised Land for 40 years, but what was really the best part of his life? For him to enter and dwell in the land? God told Moses that he was not able to enter it. What do we really want in life? Do we really want the end results, or this journey of experiencing God, encountering God, talking t God…? What is really the Promised Land for Moses? It is this journey with God! The things we focus on and the things we hold onto in this world will eventually fade away, only our relationship with God face to face lasts forever. Later in the history, we know that the Israelites struggled to stay in the Promised Land. The real Promised Land is not a physical place, but this journey of following God.
Section Two V5-8 Let Go and Follow
When we follow God, we will have to let go of the things we hold onto in our hands. Moses passed away in peace, and he did not leave a negative impression for the people following him. When we leave a place, what testimony do we leave behind? Moses left blessings for the people because he let go and let people see God. He died according to the Word of God, his eyes were not dim and his natural vigour did not diminished. Moses led the people with his vision and his natural vigour, he brought hope, energy, strength, etc. to the people, even though he was 120 years old.
What can we bring to the people following us? Fear, sadness, weary, regret… or hope, joy, strength? What is the image we bring to people when we follow God? If we want to finish well, then we must bring a joyful heart and positive energy!
Section Three V9-12 Raise Up Successors
Do we raise up successors, who we can pass down our strength and our experience to continue this journey? When we finish, do we allow people to follow our steps to arise and shine?
申命记 34 – Finish Well
2022年11月30日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
今天是11月的最后一天，也是申命记的最后一章。申命记的最后两章不是摩西写的，而是跟从摩西的人写的。本章的经文给我们每一个人非常震撼的启示。
一、v.1-4 领受神的应许
这里讲述神带领摩西在尼波山俯瞰神所应许给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的每一寸土地。神在这个重要的时刻对摩西说：“现在我使你眼睛看见了”。从在焚烧的荆棘遇见神直到这一刻之前，摩西都没有见过应许之地。很多时候我们很期待、很想要神的应许，但往往就会陷入doing的模式中。摩西领受应许之地的异象，“却不得过到那里去”。我们跟从神的人要的只是一个结果吗？摩西在这四十年间与神同在，亲密同行，这才是摩西真正的应许之地。摩西与神面对面的互动让他成为“神人”。以色列人后来虽然进入应许之地，但他们离弃神，最后国破家亡。我们在地上看重的是什么呢，是金钱、势力、爱情，还是能像摩西这样与神面对面？真正的应许之地不是那看得见摸得着的东西，而是在跟随神的过程中与神建立亲密的关系。
二、v.5-8 放手跟从
V5 摩西的死亡是很安详的，没有带给那些所跟从的人任何负面的影响。我们的离开 – 无论是离开世界、服事、或职场，我们带下的是什么氛围呢，是恐慌、遗憾、或伤害吗，还是留下感恩、美好的回忆和祝福？我们服事的时候不要紧紧抓住某样东西，要让人看到的不是只有我们，而是看到神，“正如耶和华所说的”。
V7 摩西是一个与神面对面的神人，年老的时候没有像迦勒那样说自己力量如何，而是“眼目没有昏花，精神没有衰败”，这说明摩西靠的不是自己的努力，而是倚靠神，靠眼睛看到的神在前方的带领。“精神”对一个领袖很重要。摩西一百二十岁时没有给人带来软弱无力或昏昏欲睡的感觉，而是“精神没有衰败”，带出正面的能量。我们若想精神没有衰败，除了积极锻炼让身体健康以外，还要在神的话语中带出神的教导和生命。我们带给别人的印象是什么呢？是让人害怕吗，还是散发正能量，让人想要跟从神？
三、v.9-12 继后有人
真正的finish well, 是继后有人，在我们离去的时候，周围的人不会恐慌。我们有神给我们的领受，也要使我们下面的人能如此继续走下去。我们都不是超人，在跟从神的时候要懂得成全别人。我们在职场或教会服事的时候，后面是否有接班人来传承？我们不是为自己建立王国，而是成为神的仆人，为神兴起一个又一个世代。我们每一个人都不是为自己活的，而是栽种在神的国度，让我们得子孙后代都领受神的应许、祝福。