信心（4）Faith IV

吴绍伟牧师

 Faith IV.                    Hebrews 11:29-40                  08232020

信心IV. 希伯來書11：29-40

I. 出埃及一代的信心 希伯來書11：29-31

希伯來書11：29因著信，他們走過了紅海，好像走過旱地一樣；埃及人也試著要過去，就被淹沒了。30因著信，耶利哥的城牆被圍繞了七天，就倒塌了。31因著信，妓女喇合和和平平接待了偵察的人，就沒有和那些不順從的人一起滅亡。

在以色列人因為神殺了埃及人的長子而可以逃離埃及之後，法老感到後悔放了以色列人離開，因此他派遣軍隊去追捕以色列人，希望把他們俘擄回來，使以色列人再次成為他的奴隸。 以色列人來到紅海之前，無處可去。 他們就害怕起來，因為他們沒有辦法可以越過前面的大海。他們沒有想過要為渡過海而做準備，但埃及軍隊緊跟著他們後面追上來。以色列人能做什麼呢？ 他們面對的是一個死胡同，在他們後面的是想要殺死他們或把他們擄回去作奴隸的敵人。  

出埃及記14：21摩西向海伸手，耶和華就用極強的東風，一夜之間使海水退去；他使海變成乾地，海水也分開了。22以色列人下到海中走乾地，水在他們的左右作了牆垣。23埃及人追趕過來，法老所有的馬匹、馬車和馬兵，都跟著以色列人下到海中去。24到了晨更的時候，耶和華透過雲柱火柱向下觀看埃及人的軍兵，並且使埃及人的軍兵大起混亂。25又使他們的車輪脫落，行駛困難，因此埃及人說：“我們從以色列人面前逃跑吧，因為耶和華為他們爭戰，攻擊埃及人了。”26耶和華對摩西說：“你要向海伸手，使水回流到埃及人身上，流到他們的戰車和馬兵身上。”

有些人不相信，以色列人過紅海是一件真實發生的事，水可以像兩面牆一樣分開，以色列人可以在乾地上行走並且逃脫了埃及人的追捕。 這些人認為以色列人只是越過一條可能只有膝蓋高的小河，所以根本不是一個神蹟。 如果你相信這樣的越過紅海的解釋，你的信心比起相信神把水分開，使以色列人可以在乾地上行走來得更大，如果以色列人過的水只有膝蓋的高度，那將是一個更大的神蹟，因為淹死所有試圖追捕以色列人的埃及人是在那淺水裡被溺斃。  

在我們相信耶穌之後，我們在生活中仍然會面臨一些的問題，就像以色列人一樣。以色列人在離開埃及後，仍然遇到困難。 信心意味著即使我們面臨問題時，也要繼續信靠神。 祂會做一些我們認為不可能的事情。

約書亞記6：1耶利哥的城門因以色列人的緣故，就緊緊地關閉，沒有人出入。2耶和華對約書亞說：“看，我已經把耶利哥和耶利哥的王，以及英勇的戰士，都交在你的手中了。3你們所有能作戰的男丁要圍繞這城，一天圍繞一次，六天都要這樣行；4並派七個祭司拿著七個羊角，走在約櫃的前面；到第七天，你們要繞城七次，祭司也要吹角。5當羊角吹起長號，你們聽見角聲的時候，全體人民要大聲呼喊，那時城牆就必塌陷；你們各人要向前直衝。”

由於以色列人的叛逆和不信的心，從埃及出來的第一代人都死在沙漠中。在沙漠中徘徊四十年後，約書亞將第二代的以色列人帶入應許之地。他們來到了一個名叫耶利哥的城市，在那裡他們進行了他們的第一次戰爭。神要他們在城外走了七天。前六天，他們只圍城走一個圈，但到了第七天，他們要走七次，並在走完最後一次之後他們要大聲喊叫。然後，城牆就倒塌，以色列人不需要費很大的力氣就可以進入並佔領了這座城市。 

我知道，各國正在研發新型的武器，例如據稱比許多傳統武器都要好的激光槍和電磁槍。我知道有一種聲波技術可以震撼人的身體並將人擊倒。 但是在約書亞時代，他們沒有這樣可以摧毀牆壁的技術或武器。當神要求約書亞只需要在城外走，來準備他們的第一次戰爭時，約書亞和他的士兵們會怎麼想？

他們都不是戰士。他們在埃及的時候都是奴隸或是後裔。記住，他們都是第二代。從身體上講，他們可能是很強壯，但是在戰爭當中，他們誰都不知道應如何作戰。甚至在戰事中，約書亞也都沒有經驗。約書亞如何能對神有信心？

約書亞記5：13約書亞走近耶利哥的時候，抬頭觀看，看見一個人站在他對面，手裡拿著拔出來的刀。約書亞走到他那裡，對他說：“你是我們的人，還是我們的仇敵呢？”14那人回答：“不是的；我現在來是作耶和華軍隊的元帥。”約書亞就臉伏在地，向他下拜，對他說：“我主有甚麼事要吩咐僕人呢？”15耶和華軍隊的元帥對約書亞說：“把你腳上的鞋脫下來，因為你站的地方是聖地。”約書亞就照著行了。

約書亞遇見了神，並願意將自己的權交給神，讓神掌管。約書亞不了解神會做什麼，但他對神充滿了信心。 信心意味著將神作為我們的指揮官，而不是相信我們的理解和經驗。今天很多人都會說自己是相信神的，但誰是我們的掌管者是自己還是神？

約書亞記2：1於是，嫩的兒子約書亞從什亭祕密地差派兩個探子，對他們說：“你們去窺探那地和耶利哥。”二人去了，來到一個名叫喇合的妓女家中，就在那裡住宿。2有人向耶利哥王報告：“今夜從以色列人那裡有人進來，要窺探這地。”

II. 其他僕人的信心 希伯來書11：32-40

希伯來書11：32我還要再說甚麼呢？如果再要述說基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳和眾先知的事，時間就不夠了。33他們藉著信，就戰勝了敵國，伸張了正義，得到了應許，堵住了獅子的口，34消滅了烈火的威力，逃脫了刀劍的鋒刃，軟弱變成剛強，在戰爭中顯出大能，把外國的軍隊擊退。35有些婦女得回從死裡復活的親人；但也有些人忍受了酷刑，不肯接受釋放，為的是要得著更美的復活。36又有些人遭受了戲弄、鞭打，甚至捆鎖、監禁；37被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，被刀殺死。他們披著綿羊山羊的皮到處奔跑、受窮乏、遭患難、被虐待；38原是這世界不配有的人。他們飄流無定，在曠野、山嶺、石洞和地穴棲身。39所有這些人都藉著信得了稱許，卻還沒有得著所應許的；40因為神已經為我們預備了更美的事，使他們若不跟我們在一起，就不能完全。

聖經告訴我們，在整個歷史中，神曾用很多人來完成祂的工作。當他們相信神時，他們不是信心的偉人，而是當他們親自遇到神後，神改變了他們並使他們對神的工作有用。他們為神做了偉大的事情，例如基甸，大衛和撒母耳。他們的生活並不完美。他們在遇見神之前和之後都犯了錯誤。但是神仍然使用他們來實現祂的旨意。

但是，當他們相信神時，並不是所有人都得到好的結果。第三十五節下半段告訴我們，在某些情況下，他們的信心並沒有幫助他們改變壞的處境。相反的，他們面臨更多苦難，例如失去生命和財產。有些人甚至因為相信耶穌而慘死。信心並不取決於我們的結果。信心並不意味著我們將免受所有疾病甚至死亡的傷害。我們的想法是，如果我們生病了，那麼我們就是沒有足夠的信心，或者當我們物質上貧窮時，我們就是沒有信心，如果我們有足夠的信心神就一定會保守我們。這是我們的想法，不是神的標準。事實上，對神的信心應該是超越了這個世界。

對神有信心意味著世俗的事物對我們不再重要，因為它們有一天會消失。對神有信心意味著我們知道我們有一個更好的家，等待著我們回家。

約翰福音14：1 “你們心裡不要難過，你們應當信神，也應當信我。2在我父的家裡，有許多住的地方；如果沒有，我怎麼會告訴你們我去是要為你們預備地方呢？3我若去為你們預備地方，就必再來接你們到我那裡去，好使我在哪裡，你們也在哪裡。

當我們接受耶穌進入我們的心時，信心就從那一刻就開始，但是那一刻僅僅是開始，而不是結束。 在與神同行的整個旅程中，信心是會繼續增長的。 這是一個成長的過程。 關於信心的全部事情就是我們與神一起工作，我們永遠無法憑藉自己的能力來實現信心。 如果你仔細看第四十節，聖經告訴我們，我們將變得完全。 這並不意味著是因為我們自己所做的。 當我們每天與神緊密同行時，我們的生命就會轉變為完全。 只有神是完全和聖潔的。 信心的最後是神看著我們，祂不只看到我們單獨的，同時也是看到祂的完全和聖潔在我們裡面。這就是我們在神是完全而且聖潔的原因。

I. The Faith of the Exodus Generation                  Hebrews 11:29-31

Hebrews 11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.  

 

            After the Israelites fled Egypt because of the killing of the firstborn Egyptians, Pharaoh regretted that he let the Israelites go, so he sent his troops to pursue and try to capture them and bring them back as slaves again.  The Israelites came before the Red Sea and there was nowhere to go.  They were afraid because they couldn’t cross over the sea. They weren’t prepared for crossing the sea and the army was behind them.  What could they do?  It was a dead-end in front of them and behind them were the enemies that wanted to kill them or capture them and take them back as slaves again.

 

Exodus 14:21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." 26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

 

            Some people don’t believe that it really happened that the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and that the waters were divided like two walls so that they could walk on the dry land and escape the Egyptians.  They think that the Israelites just crossed over a small river that was maybe only knee high so there was no miracle at all.  If you believe such an explanation of crossing the Red Sea, you need to have a bigger faith than just believing God divided the water and the Israelites walked on the dry land because if the water was only knee high, then it would be a bigger miracle to drown all the Egyptians that crossed over the river as they tried to capture the Israelites.

 

            After we believe in Jesus we still face some problems in our lives, just like the Israelites did.  After they left Egypt they still encountered difficulties.  Faith means to keep on trusting God even when we are facing problems. He will do something that we may think is impossible.  

 

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."

 

            Because of their rebelliousness and unbelieving hearts, the first generation that came out of Egypt died in the desert.  After 40 years of wandering in the desert, Joshua took the second generation into the Promised Land.  They came to a city called Jericho where they had their first battle.  God asked them to walk around the city for seven days. The first six days they just walked one time, but on the seventh day, they walked seven times and shouted after the last time around.  Then the wall collapsed and the Israelites went in and took the city without much effort.

 

            I know that countries are developing new weapons, such as laser guns and an electromagnetic gun that supposedly is better than a lot of traditional weapons. I know that there is Sound wave technology that can shock people and knock them down.  But in Joshua’s time, they didn't have this technology or weapons that could knock down the walls.  When God asked Joshua to just walk around the city to prepare to flight their first battle, what would Joshua and his men think?  

 

            None of them were warriors. They were slaves. Remember that all of them were the second generation too.  Physically they were strong but when it came to battle none of them had the knowledge nor experience of how to fight.  Even Joshua was inexperienced when it came to wars.  How could Joshua have faith in God?

 

Joshua 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15 The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

 

            Joshua encountered God and was willing to surrender his rights to God and let God be in charge.  Even Joshua did not understand what God would do, but he trusted in God.  Faith means putting God as our Commander in life, not trusting our understanding and experiences.  

 

Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land."

 

II. The Faith of Other Servants            Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11:32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

 

            The Bible tells us that throughout history God had used a lot of people to finish His works. They were not giants when they put their faith in God, but after they encountered God personally, God transformed them and made them useful for His work.  They had done great things for God--ones such as Gideon, David, and Samuel.  They were not perfect in their own lives. They made mistakes before and after they met God.  But God still used them to accomplish His will.

 

            But not all of them had a good outcome when they put their faith in God. Verse 35b tells us that for some their faith didn’t help them to turn bad to good. Rather they faced a lot of suffering, such as losing their lives and properties. Some even died horribly for believing in Jesus. Faith is not depending on our outcomes.  Faith does not mean that we will be protected from all illnesses or even death.  If we get sick then we don’t have enough faith, or when we are poor materially, then we don’t have faith or God does not bless us.  This is our standard, but not God’s standard.  As a matter of fact, faith in God is beyond this world.

 

            Faith in God means the worldly things are no longer important for us because they will be gone one day.  Faith in God means we know that we have a better home waiting for us in the future. 

 

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

 

            Faith begins when we accept Jesus into our heart, but that moment is only the beginning, not the end. Faith continues to grow throughout our entire journey walking with God.  It is a growing process.  The whole thing about faith is we are working with God, we will never be able to achieve faith all by our ability.  If you look carefully at verse 40, the Bible tells us that we will be made perfect. It means we cannot do it by ourselves. When we walk closely with God every day, then our lives will be transformed to become perfect.  Only God is perfect and holy. Faith at the end is when God looks at us and He no longer sees us alone but His perfection and holiness are in us. That is the reason that we are perfect and holy.