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民数记［第二十二章］
Book of Numbers 22

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民数记 第二十二章|Book of Numbers 22

【治死自我，活出无我】

主讲：郑伟健实习传道

19/04/2024


一、世界的诱惑 – 使我们忘神（V1-20）

1.摩押王巴勒 – 因惧怕选择自己的方式（V1-7）

摩押人看到以色列如何击败亚摩利王西宏和巴珊王噩，感到非常恐惧，觉得自己受到了威胁，于是开始密谋对付以色列人。摩押人并不知道，如果他们没有主动招惹以色列人，其实他们不会遭受以色列人的攻击，因为以色列人的目的地是进入迦南地。然而，由于恐惧，摩押王巴勒却选择成为以色列人的敌人，并采取了当时世界闻名的方式，即请来了巴兰。因为当时人们都认为巴兰很“灵”，他为谁祝福，谁就会得到祝福；他对谁咒诅，谁就会受到咒诅。

弟兄姐妹们，实际上，巴勒本来不会受到以色列人的攻击，只是因为他自己的恐惧而开始疑神疑鬼，结果采取了自己的方法来解决问题，但其实是自己陷入了困境。我们今天是否因为恐惧而紧张地做出了许多决定来解决问题呢？如果每个人都在使用这种方式，我也可以这样做吗？我们真的应该留心世界的潮流，因为这可能会让我们远离神。

2.巴兰 – 心中的贪婪大过神 （V8-20）

巴兰是一个认识耶和华名的人，他知道耶和华是以色列人的神。神的话也向巴兰显现，他能听到神与他交谈。巴兰看起来似乎很正义，但他没有打发那些使他得到极大尊荣的使者离开，反而请他们留宿，并且在心中期望着神或许会改变主意。巴兰心里是有神的，他知道只有以神的名行事才会成功！但他心里更是想要满屋的金银！他舍不得放弃满屋的金银，他想要得到满屋的金银，也想要更大的尊荣，因此他舍不得让这些人离开。

我们需要留心，因为若我们不定义放下我们自己的自我时，世界的诱惑会继续来向我们进攻。也要小心当我们常说要“等待神的旨意”时，心里是否会和巴兰一样，已经心知肚明神的旨意，只是因为神的旨意不符合我们的心愿，所以我们想“等待”神改变祂的心意！甚至还期待神按照我们的意愿行事！

让我们真实来到神的面前，谦卑放下自己，完全跟随神的旨意

二、内心的自我 – 使我们蒙蔽（V21-33）

巴兰不理会神的话，仍然坚持要去。神的使者三次站在巴兰的路上拦阻他，并且要夺取他的命。尽管面对三次阻挠，巴兰仍然无法意识到神的阻拦，没有意识到是神在对付他，甚至以为是那只驴在戏弄他。神让巴兰的驴看见神的使者，但先知巴兰却‘看不见’！尽管巴兰明知道神不想让他去，但他的内心仍然被金钱所驱使，以至于连驴都能看见的危险，巴兰却视而不见。贪婪使得巴兰成为了‘属灵的瞎子’！当人不顺从神时，他注定会走向死路。

三、无心的悔改-使我们堕落（V34-41）

当巴兰终于看见神的使者时，他向使者承认自己有罪，但他并没有真正地认罪！因为他仍然想随着自己的心意去行动！尽管明知道神不喜欢他去，他仍然说：“你若不喜欢我去，我就转回。”

当他的心不顺从神，而是顺从世界时，最终他成为破坏者（巴勒名字的原意）的假先知！但在人的面前却无所作为，甚至还为以色列祝福。眼前那些诱人的丰厚名利很容易让人忽视真理，把神的话放在脑后！愿主帮助我们，不要被诱惑所迷惑，成为最终随从世界的有名无实的基督徒！

总结：人的肆意改变不了神的旨意，让我们可以至死自我，进入无我的生命跟随神。


Numbers 22: "Die to oneself, live a selfless life "
GK611 Morning Devotion
19/4/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: IP Asher Chang

1. The temptation of the world – makes us forget God (V1-20)

(1) Balak, King of Moab – Choosing his own way out of fear (V1-7)

When the Moabites saw how Israel had defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, they were so frightened that they felt threatened, and began to plot against the Israelites. The Moabites did not know that if they had not actively provoked the Israelites, they would not have been attacked by the Israelites because the Israelites’ destination was to enter the land of Canaan. However, out of fear, Balak, the king of Moab, chose to become the enemy of the Israelites and took a method that was world-famous at the time to invite Balaam. Because people at that time believed that Balaam was very “spiritual”. Whoever he blessed would be blessed; whoever he cursed would be cursed.

Brothers and sisters, Balak would not have been attacked by the Israelites, but because of his fear, he became suspicious and ended up taking his approach to solving the problem, but he got himself into trouble. Are we nervously making many decisions today to solve problems because of fear? If everyone is using this, can I do the same? We should be vigilant to the trends of the world because they can lead us away from God.

(2) Balaam – The greed in his heart is greater than God (V8-20)

Balaam was a man who knew the name of Jehovah. He knew that Jehovah was the God of Israel. The Word of God also appeared to Balaam, and he could hear God speaking to him. Balaam seemed to be righteous, but instead of sending away the messengers who had brought him great honour, he invited them to stay overnight, hoping in his heart that God might change his mind. Balaam had God in his heart, and he knew that only by acting in the name of God would he succeed! But in his heart, he wanted a house full of gold and silver! He was reluctant to give up the house full of gold and silver. He wanted to get the house full of gold and silver and also wanted greater honour, so he was reluctant to let these people leave.

We need to be careful because if we don't define and let go of our ego, the temptations of the world will continue to attack us. We must also be careful when we often say we need to "wait for God's will." In our hearts, we are like Balaam. We already know God's will, but because God's will does not conform to our wishes, we want to "wait" for God. Change His mind! We even expect God to do what we want!

Let us truly come before God, humbly let go of ourselves, and fully follow God’s will.

2. The inner self-centredness – blinding us (V21-33)

Balaam ignored God’s Words and still insisted on going. Three times the angel of God stood in Balaam’s way to stop him and try to take his life. Although he faced three obstacles, Balaam still could not realize God’s obstruction, did not realise that God was dealing with him, and even thought it was the donkey teasing him. God allowed Balaam’s donkey to see the messenger of God, but the prophet Balaam could not see it! Although Balaam knew God did not want him to go, his heart was still driven by money, so much so that even the donkey could see the danger, but Balaam turned a blind eye. Greed made Balaam ‘spiritually blind’! When man disobeys God, he is destined to die. 3. Unintentional repentance-making us fall (V34-41) When Balaam finally saw the messenger of God, he admitted his sin to the messenger, but he did not confess his sin! Because he still wants to act according to his own heart! Although he knew that God did not like him to go, he still said: "If you don't like me to go, I will turn back."

When his heart obeyed not God but the world, he eventually became a false prophet of the Destroyer (the original meaning of Balak’s name)! But he did nothing in front of people and even blessed Israel. The tempting fame and fortune in front of us can easily make people ignore the truth and put God’s Words behind their heads! May the Lord help us not to be tempted and become nominal Christians who end up following the world!

Conclusion: Man’s wantonness cannot change God’s will, which allows us to die to ourselves and enter a selfless life to follow God.