W3.CSS

民数记［第二十六章］
Book of Numbers 26

文章下载 ｜ Article Download

民数记 第二十六章|Book of Numbers 26

【兴起前进的新一代】

主讲：郑伟健实习传道

26/04/2024


前言：

今天如果要送出五十张巨星演唱会的票，你会期待你是其中的一位吗？神的应许地只留给旷野里的新一代，你会期待被数入新一代的名单里吗？

一、神亲自拣选新生代

1.神吩咐再数点人数（V1-4）

这次是神第二次要求以色列人进行数点人数，这是为了备战进入应许之地，得神应许的产业。过去四十年里，有怨言、背叛和诽谤，上一代都在旷野中消亡。这一代是神拣选的，是一个预备进入应许之地的的一代，换句话来说是要去争战得着神所应许的产业的。

2.预备前进的新一代 （V5-51）

首先被统计的是南面安营的流便营，其中包括流便、西缅和迦得支派。值得注意的是，神在这次数点中记录了可拉一族的情况，即之前背叛神的一支族群。尽管如此，神的慈爱并没有将他们全灭，而是继续施恩。因此，在这次数点人数中，他们首先被数点的。

数点的结果显示西缅族的人口锐减，这是因为前一章中心利撒路的儿子，西缅一个宗族的首领公然与米甸女人行淫。通过这些结果，我们可以看到，经过四十年的时间，流便族、迦得族和西缅族的人口都没有增加，反而减少了，因为他们虚度了时间。

生活上的过失导致了他们的减少。尽管可拉族在违抗神时受到了惩罚，我们本以为他的后代已经全部灭绝，神仍然选择了保留他们的后代。我们看到，神在审判中彰显了恩典，不仅可拉的后代没有被彻底消灭，甚至让他们有机会成为敬拜者，编写诗歌，回归并被神使用和祝福。他们经历了旷野的考验，最终回归至神，而神也继续使用并祝福他们。

二、兴起前进承受产业 （V52-65）

数点也是为了分配地业。神有一个原则，就是按照人口比例来分配土地。南营的三个支派的人口都减少了，这意味着他们的后代虽然能够进入应许之地，但所分得的土地将会减少。相反，东面的犹大营（包括犹大族、以萨迦族、西布伦族）的人口都增加了，这意味着他们进入应许之地后将会分得更多的土地。

西面的以法莲支派的人数减少了，约减少了八千人，而玛拿西支派和便雅悯支派的人数都有增加，几乎抵消了减少的人数，因此进入应许之地后所得的土地基本持平。北面的拿弗他利支派的人数减少了，但亚设支派和但支派的人数增加了，同样抵消了减少的人数，使得土地的分配基本保持平衡。

总结：涌入成为被拣选的一代

即使我们可能一无所有，但当我们甘愿放下自我，积极回应，并怀着谦卑的心来到神面前时，神必定会施恩慈爱于悔改的我们。祂以永远的爱来爱我们。


Numbers Chapter 26: “A New Generation that Arises and Advances
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/4/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: IP Asher Chang

Introduction:

If fifty tickets to a superstar's concert were to be given away today, would you expect to be one of them? God's Promised Land is reserved only for the new generation in the wilderness. Do you expect to be counted in the list of the new generation?

1. God personally chooses the new generation

(1) God commanded to count the number of people again (V1-4)

This was the second time that God asked the Israelites to conduct a head count. This was to prepare for war to enter the Promised Land and receive the inheritance promised by God. Over the past forty years, there have been complaints, betrayals, and slander, and the previous generation perished in the wilderness. This generation is chosen by God. It is a generation that is ready to enter the Promised Land. In other words, it is going to fight to receive the inheritance promised by God.

(2) A new generation is ready to advance (V5-51)

The first to be counted was the camp of Reuben encamped in the south, which included the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. It is worth noting that God recorded the situation of the tribe of Korah in this number, that is, a tribe that had previously rebelled against God. Despite this, God’s love did not destroy them all but continued to show mercy. Therefore, in this counting of people, they were numbered first.

The numerical results show that the population of the tribe of Simeon has dropped sharply. This is because Zimri the son of Salu in the previous chapter, the leader of a Simeon clan, openly committed adultery with a Midianite woman. From these results, we can see that over forty years, the populations of Reuben, Gad, and Simeon did not increase but decreased because they wasted their time.

Mistakes in life contribute to their diminution. Even though Korah was punished for disobeying God, and we would have thought all his descendants were extinct, God still chose to preserve their descendants. We see that God showed grace in judgment. Not only were the descendants of Korah not completely wiped out, but they were even allowed to become worshippers, write songs, return, and be used and blessed by God. They experienced the trials of the wilderness and ultimately returned to God, who continued to use and bless them.

2. Arise and advance, receive the inheritance (V52-65)

The counting is also to allocate land property. God has a principle, which is to allocate land in proportion to population. The population of the three tribes in the southern camp has decreased, which means that although their descendants can enter the Promised Land, their allotment of land will be reduced. On the contrary, the population of the camp of Judah to the east (including the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun) has increased, which means that they will be allocated more land after entering the Promised Land.

The tribe of Ephraim in Simeon decreased in number, by about eight thousand, while the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin both increased in number, almost offsetting the decrease, so what was gained after entering the Promised Land is nearly equal. The tribe of Naphtali in the north had a decrease in numbers, but the tribes of Asher and Dan had an increase in numbers, which also offset the decrease, leaving the distribution of the land roughly balanced.

Conclusion: Flow in and become the chosen generation

Even though we may have nothing, when we are willing to let go of ourselves, respond positively, and come before God with a humble heart, God will surely show mercy and kindness to us who repent. He loves us with an everlasting love.