馬克牧師每日聖經 Pastor Mark Daily Bible

https://www.blc.org.nz/post/luke3

https://www.blc.org.nz/post/luke3

https://www.blc.org.nz/post/luke1

https://www.blc.org.nz/post/luke1

Brothers and sisters, peace be with you! Let’s begin our study of the Gospel of Luke. This study will take the next two months as we carefully explore the life of Jesus through this Gospel. Now, let me introduce the author of this Gospel—Luke. Luke was a doctor, and although he was not one of the apostles, he had a very close working relationship with Jesus’ disciples, particularly Paul and other apostles. He traveled with Paul and spent much of his life preaching and establishing churches, thus he had access to firsthand information about the Apostle Paul and the process of evangelism. Luke was a Gentile, without a Jewish cultural background. Therefore, in contrast to the other three Gospels, he wrote from a non-Jewish perspective, which makes this Gospel especially suitable for Gentile readers. He did not use many Jewish terms or language but instead adopted the most common Greek language of the time, the "common tongue" that everyone could understand. Hence, for those without a Jewish background, this is the easiest Gospel to read. In the Gospel of Luke, we can observe several distinct characteristics. Firstly, the years mentioned in Luke are based on the official Roman calendar, not the Jewish calendar. Additionally, Luke does not place heavy emphasis on Old Testament Jewish prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus, so there are fewer Old Testament citations in his writing. This is in contrast to Matthew’s Gospel, which emphasizes how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, while Luke focuses more on the universality of the Gospel. Secondly, most of Luke’s writing is in the commonly spoken Greek language of the time, rather than Hebrew, which was the language traditionally used by the Jews. This approach made it easier for readers unfamiliar with Hebrew to understand his account. His writing style helped Gentiles engage with and comprehend the life and teachings of Jesus. Another noteworthy detail is that when recording Jesus' genealogy, Luke traces it not only back to Abraham (the father of the Jewish people) but all the way back to Adam—the ancestor of all humankind. This shows that Luke's perspective is not limited to the Jewish people but places Jesus within the broader context of human history, indicating that the Gospel is meant for all people. Therefore, in the Gospel of Luke, we see that Luke intentionally avoids focusing too much on Jewish traditions and culture and instead emphasizes the universal nature of the Gospel, making it accessible to all people, not just a privileged few. This is crucial because it highlights the core message of the Gospel—Jesus came to save all of humanity, not just one particular nation. Moreover, Luke was a highly literate doctor. His Greek is elegant and complete, demonstrating exceptional expressive ability. He was also an excellent historian, recording in precise detail everything that occurred during his time. As a result, the Gospel of Luke is not only a Gospel but also a valuable historical document. Subsequent archaeologists, in their studies, have referred to Luke’s accounts and found them to be highly accurate, greatly contributing to the advancement of biblical archaeology. Thus, Luke was not only an outstanding collaborator but also a skilled historian. In addition, we know that after completing the Gospel of Luke, he wrote his second book—Acts of the Apostles. He first fully recorded the life of Jesus, then detailed the missionary journeys of Paul and the other apostles. By reading both books together, we gain a clear historical timeline: from the ministry of Jesus, to the continuing work of the Holy Spirit, and how the Gospel gradually spread throughout the Roman Empire. This gives us an extremely accurate and complete historical record, witnessing how the Gospel changed the world. Spiritual Reflection for Today: Do I truly understand the life of Jesus? His ministry on earth lasted only three and a half years, yet it has influenced countless generations and transcended cultu

各位弟兄姊妹，平安！ 我們開始來閱讀《路加福音》。這一次，我們的學習將會花費接下來兩個月的時間，透過這本福音書仔細地來看看耶穌的生平。 現在來介紹一下這本福音書的作者——路加。路加是一位醫生，他不是使徒之一，但與耶穌的門徒，特別是保羅及其他門徒，有著非常親近的同工關係。他與保羅一同旅行，花了半輩子的時間到處宣教，建立教會，因此擁有大量關於使徒保羅及傳福音過程的第一手資訊。 路加是非猶太人，他沒有猶太人的文化背景。因此相對於另外三本福音書，他是以一個非猶太人的角度來寫作，使得這本福音書特別適合非猶太人閱讀。他沒有使用過多猶太人的名詞或語言，而是採用了當時最流行的希臘文，也就是大家都能聽得懂的「普通語」。因此，對於非猶太人背景的人來說，這是最容易閱讀的一本福音書。 在《路加福音》中，我們可以看到幾個明顯的特點。 首先，他所記載的年份都是按照當時官方標準的羅馬年曆，而不是猶太人的曆法。此外，他並沒有特別強調舊約猶太的預言與耶穌的應驗，因此在書中引用舊約經文的比例相對較少。這與《馬太福音》的寫作風格不同，馬太強調耶穌如何應驗舊約的預言，而路加則更關注福音的普及性。 其次，路加大部分的書寫都是使用當時的「通用語」——希臘文，而不是猶太人習慣使用的希伯來文。這使得即使是不懂希伯來文的讀者，也能夠輕鬆理解他的記述。他的寫作方式讓外邦人更容易接觸並明白耶穌的生平與教導。 還有一個值得注意的細節，在記錄耶穌的家譜時，路加不僅追溯到亞伯拉罕（猶太人的始祖），更一路追溯到《創世紀》中的亞當——全人類的始祖。這顯示出路加的視角不僅侷限於猶太民族，而是將耶穌放在整個人類歷史的框架中，表明福音是為所有人預備的。 因此，在《路加福音》中，我們可以看到路加的寫作風格刻意避免過多地聚焦於猶太人的傳統與文化，而是強調福音的普世性，讓所有人都能聽見並領受福音，而不只是猶太人的特權。這一點至關重要，因為它突顯了福音的核心信息——耶穌來是為拯救全人類，而不只是某一個民族。 而且，路加是一位擁有極高文學造詣的醫生。他所寫的希臘文非常優雅且完整，展現出極佳的表達能力。同時，他也是一位出色的歷史學家，以精準的文筆詳細記錄了當時歷史上所發生的一切。因此，《路加福音》不僅僅是一本福音書，更是一部值得參考的權威歷史書籍。 後世的考古學家在進行研究時，參考了《路加福音》的記載，發現其內容極為準確，並且大大幫助了聖經考古學的進展。因此，路加不僅是一位出色的同工，更是一位優秀的歷史學家。 此外，我們也知道，路加在完成《路加福音》後，寫下了他的第二本書——《使徒行傳》。他先是完整記載了耶穌的生平，接著詳細記錄了保羅及其他使徒們在各地宣教的歷程。當我們將這兩本書一起閱讀，就能看到一條清晰的歷史脈絡：從耶穌開始的事工，到聖靈的接續工作，再到福音如何一步步傳遍整個羅馬帝國。我們將獲得一個極為精準且完整的歷史記錄，見證福音如何改變世界。 今日的屬靈反思：我是否了解耶穌的生平？他在地上的事工和傳道僅僅有三年半，為何能夠影響後世千百年，而且是跨文化的各族人民？ 在接下來的兩個月，我們一同來深度閱讀這本極為優美且記載詳細的福音書，深入瞭解耶穌的生平和他所說過的話語吧。

Brothers and Sisters, Peace to You All! Today, we will discuss a topic that has likely caused confusion and questions over the past several chapters. In the recent chapters, we have witnessed a series of battles and read descriptions like "completely destroyed," "exterminated," "not sparing anyone that breathed," and "both men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys, were killed with the sword." The brutality of war is something we all recognize, but what perplexes us here is that these events were commanded by God. Why would a loving God issue such commands, leading to the complete annihilation of these people? I would like to approach this question from several perspectives. This explanation may take some time, but I hope you find it helpful. Point 1: The Wickedness of the Canaanites First, we must understand the condition of the Canaanite people. Who were the Canaanites living in this region? A closer look at Deuteronomy and Leviticus gives us some insights. In Leviticus 18, God explicitly forbids the Israelites from following the detestable practices of the people who inhabited the land before them. These practices included gross immorality, especially regarding sexual conduct. In Deuteronomy 18:9–13, God warns the Israelites: "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord." The Canaanites even practiced human sacrifice, offering their children as burnt offerings to their gods. This behavior is utterly abhorrent and demonstrates the depth of their moral corruption. In contrast, God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, replacing the boy with a ram—a profound foreshadowing of Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. This substitution points to the truth that God does not demand human sacrifices. Instead, He offered His own Son as the one perfect sacrifice for humanity’s salvation. Archaeological records and historical writings reveal the depravity of the Canaanite culture—rampant immorality and deeply rooted idolatry. Such a corrupt culture would only continue to grow, spreading destruction and influencing surrounding nations, including Israel. Point 2: God's Patience and Justice Was there no mercy from God? In Genesis 15:16, God says, “In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” God delayed Israel’s conquest for over 400 years, allowing the Canaanites time to repent. But rather than improving, their sins only worsened over time. Even in these battles, there were instances of mercy. Rahab and the Gibeonites were spared because they recognized God’s presence and chose to align themselves with Israel. God, as the ultimate Judge, has the authority to bring judgment upon wickedness. If He does not act against sin, He would be permitting evil to flourish unchecked. Furthermore, God’s judgment comes after long periods of patience and mercy. His delay in judgment is a reflection of His desire for repentance, but this patience is not indefinite. When the time for judgment arrives, it is executed in full righteousness. Should humanity, as sinners, critique the just God? Humanity’s history is filled with far greater brutality. Wars fueled by greed, pride, and sin have claimed countless lives. Humanity has developed tools of destruction in the name of progress, often misusing innovation to harm rather than help. In comparison, God’s judgments in Canaan resemble a surgeon’s precise excision of a cancerous tumor—a necessary action to preserve the health of the whole. His actions demonstrate both justice and mercy. Moreover, God does not spare Israel from discipline. T

各位平安，我們今天來討論一個過去好幾章都讓我們困惑和疑惑的題目。 在過去這幾章我們都看到了一段爭戰的歷史。也看到了約書亞作者的記載是：“全然毀滅”，”消滅淨盡”，“凡有氣息的一個都沒有留下”，“不拘男女老少，牛羊和驢，都用刀殺盡”。 戰爭的慘酷我們都清楚，但這一段歷史是出自上帝的命令。這一段就令人感到有點疑惑：慈愛的上帝為何要下這種命令，讓這些人完全被滅絕呢？ 我想嘗試從幾個層面去分享跟回答這個問題。這一講可能會比較長一點。歡迎你參考我的觀點。 第一點：迦南人的罪惡 首先，我們先來了解一下迦南民族的情況。在這裡居住的迦南人是什麼樣的人呢。我們在申命記中可以做一點觀察。來自於利未記18章的記載中，這些人有相當多可憎的習俗，對於性關係，男女關係上相當混亂。在利未記中上帝特別把關於淫亂的禁令訂出，利未記18:30 免得你們隨從那些可憎的惡俗，就是在你們以先的人所常行的，以致玷污了自己。我是耶和華－你們的神。」 申命記18章也記載，9「你到了耶和華－你神所賜之地，那些國民所行可憎惡的事，你不可學着行。 10你們中間不可有人使兒女經火，也不可有占卜的、觀兆的、用法術的、行邪術的、 11用迷術的、交鬼的、行巫術的、過陰的。 12凡行這些事的都為耶和華所憎惡；因那些國民行這可憎惡的事，所以耶和華－你的神將他們從你面前趕出。 13你要在耶和華－你的神面前作完全人。」 這裡的異教讓人相信要以兒女來做獻祭，人獻祭的事情不斷。用人獻祭的信仰一定都是錯誤且邪惡的。在上帝試驗亞伯拉罕用以撒獻祭的時候，上帝在最後一刻阻止了這件事情發生，並且用一頭羊代替了以撒。這一個代替不是隨意的，而是一個深刻的預表：基督教唯一一次成功的活人獻祭是上帝自己的親生兒子耶穌基督。他是唯一一個被獻祭，並且死在十字架上。上帝從未要人獻人為祭物，反而是祂把自己的兒子捨了作為祭物，成為萬國萬民的救贖。 在其他的考古紀錄中和其他文獻裡，都有記載這些民族的風俗習慣相當淫亂和邪惡。整體文化和國家極度敗壞。這樣的文化如果持續下去，只會繼續擴散並且更多地破壞周圍的民族，最終污染以色列人。 第二點：上帝對以色列更為嚴厲 上帝沒有憐憫？ 我們從創世紀15:16 章就看到上帝說過：到了第四代，他們必回到此地，因為亞摩利人的罪孽還沒有滿盈。上帝早就說過亞伯拉罕的後代要回到迦南地。從雅各全家移民到埃及，到今天約書亞帶領以色列人後裔回到迦南，相隔了430年。這麼長的時間，上帝一直等待著迦南地的人能夠迴轉和悔改。但事實證明，人類罪惡的本性終究只能越久越糟糕，而不會越來越好。 在這戰役之中間有沒有得救的迦南人？有的，妓女喇合，基遍人，關鍵是他們看見了上帝的同在，並且做出了選擇。這些人依然得著了救贖和赦免。 公義的審判官，慈愛的執法者 就如警察，法院和軍隊的義務是維持秩序，保護社會的安全，以及懲罰罪惡，身為公義的本身的上帝，當然更有權柄作出審判，懲罰罪惡，消除罪惡。如果上帝不執行公義的懲罰，那麼反而是任憑罪的成長，反而是縱容罪惡。 而上帝沒有立刻執行公義的審判，就是因為他有慈愛與憐憫，等待罪人悔改。而這忍耐和等待是有期限的，當期限到了，審判依然會來的。 不義的人如何有資格批評公義的上帝 當我們研讀聖經，我們會看到上帝施行這樣懲罰的範圍和人數相當有限，而看人的歷史中，我們看到更多更殘酷的人殺人，你會發現人類的科技進步都是因為戰爭的需要，人類的發展史就是一個人類不斷發明更有效率殺人工具的過程。每一次文明的進步，冶煉技術的提升首先不是用來做農具，而是用來做武器。火藥的發明不是為了開山洞，而是為了做殺人武器。 反觀，上帝使用手段把已經完全墮落的文化消除掉，從人類歷史的角度來看，更像是一場精準的外科手術，把人類文明中的癌細胞去除掉，保持了人類文明暫時停止墮落的救贖手段。由此可見，人類因自身的私慾和罪性，以公義之名發起的戰爭是何等虛假。任何一個個人，民族或國家發起對上帝慈愛公義的質疑之聲，指責上帝的同時，只需要回頭看看自己民族的歷史，就會發現比上帝的作為更殘忍千百倍，罄竹難書的戰爭歷史。 我們看到以色列對迦南這些民族施行的懲罰，而對以色列只有慈愛而已嗎？當我們回到列王記上下，耶利米書，以賽亞書這些記載中，我們看到上帝對漸漸敗壞的以色列也是嚴厲，並且施行懲罰。而且上帝對自己的子民施行的懲罰還更嚴格，從亞述，巴比倫，波斯到後來的羅馬帝國，以及兩千年之久在各國之間的漂泊和流浪，歷史證明了上帝管教自己的子民比管教外邦人更為嚴厲許多。 第三：上帝是掌管主權的終極主宰 有一些解經的學者和基督徒說毀滅迦南人的記載是誇大的修辭，並且舉了一些證據說，很多上帝說要毀滅的地方後來還有人居住，而且迦南文化還是有持續下去。像是亞納族人，非利士人，還有一些記載的城市說是要全然毀滅，但我們也可以相信說多多少少還是會有一些逃走的人，還是會有一些倖免於戰爭的人。所以雖然約書亞記記載的是 “全然滅淨“ 但終究是有一部分的人活著。 雖然我同意這樣的說法，也可能是為了要讓未信者對這段歷史更可以接受。這樣的說法可以用於某些場合，對這些比較困難的經文做出一些比較可以接受的解釋。 但我個人覺得不應該這樣減少強調關於上帝公義的本性。就如我們剛剛所說，上帝執行懲罰是公義的舉動，雖然在人的眼中看來可能有殘酷的畫面，但就是外科醫生執行手術的過程，有流血和痛苦，但結局是為了醫治和祝福。 再舉一個更極端的例子來證明這一點。在創世紀中記載的大洪水，上帝選擇是執行全地的清潔，只剩下最後挪亞一家人和各種動物生物的存留。而方舟就是這一場清洗中的恩典，即使是這樣的懲罰，上帝也還是公義的，也還是有恩典的。 我們需要了解的事情是，上帝既是創造者，也是救贖者，也是審判者。祂是 “天地的主宰，萬軍之耶和華”。雖然聖經中有許多難解的經文，有許多我們不是立即可以明白和了解的經文，我相信有許多的基督徒，學者，甚至窮一生研究聖經的人，都依然會有未解之謎，未能了解的經文和記載。有這樣的情況的存在，並非是我們信心不足，或是聖經有誤區等等。 我們在讀聖經的時候，得要了解一件事情：我們不能夠完全明白了解上帝，我們無法完全了解他的旨意。羅馬書11:33 深哉，神豐富的智慧和知識！他的判斷何其難測！他的蹤跡何其難尋！誰知道主的心？誰做過祂的謀士呢？ 在約伯記也有類似的經文，在11:7 節 你考察就能測透神嗎？你豈能盡情猜透全能者嗎？他的智慧高於天，你還能做什麼？深於陰間，你還能知道什麼？ 所以最終的解釋權在上帝手中，最終的裁決權也在上帝手中。我們看到的上帝的本意是平安和永遠的生命，因為在耶穌基督裡祂已經完全啟示祂自己的意思了。約翰福音3:16 所說的是：神愛世人，甚至將祂獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信祂的不致滅亡，反得永生。耶穌在十字架上流的血證明了神的愛。這是最重要的啟示，其他的部分，願我們懷著對這一信息的信心來更深地了解上帝的心意。 這邊，是我對於約書亞記中可能比較殘酷的經文所做的個人分享。盼望你也可以更深度地去研究聖經，並且以整體去看整本聖經的啟示。願我們能夠了解聖經中記載的總原則，並且懷著學習和敬畏的心情繼續跟隨上帝。 感謝各位的聆聽，我們接續講約書亞記第十二章的故事。

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you! Today, we come to Joshua Chapter 11, which records a monumental battle—the largest conflict thus far, surpassing even the scale of the events in Chapter 10. The enemy coalition is more formidable and unified than ever. At the beginning of the story, we see Jabin, king of Hazor, alarmed by Israel's conquests of surrounding nations. Realizing the threat posed by Israel, he assembles not just a few city-states but mobilizes forces from across Canaan. He unites the kings of the highlands, the hill country, and other regions of Canaan to form a massive alliance against Israel. This coalition is not only vast in numbers but also well-equipped. The text describes their forces as numerous as the sands on the seashore, with an impressive array of horses and chariots. This formidable military alliance represents the combined strength of Canaan, united to resist the seemingly unstoppable Israelites. Initially, Israel was a small, foreign nation—a people who had been enslaved in Egypt with no military power to speak of. Yet, through God’s presence and help, they rose from obscurity to become a nation that shook the entire region, forcing the kingdoms of Canaan to band together against them. Although this battle was immense in scope, Joshua 11 succinctly describes it in just two verses: “The LORD gave them into the hand of Israel.” Despite the massive scale of the conflict, the text offers no detailed accounts of battle strategies or tactics. Instead, the focus is on giving all the glory to God, emphasizing that this victory came entirely from Him. Key Insights from the Text 1. Victory is God's Work The brief description of such a large-scale battle underscores that the victory was not Israel’s doing but the work of God. It serves as a reminder to give all glory to Him in our successes. 2. Perseverance and Patience Verse 18 states that “Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time.” While the account may seem like a rapid sequence of conquests, the reality was that these victories were achieved over many years. This highlights the need for perseverance and patience in following God’s plan, as His timing is often different from ours. 3. God’s Battles Require Our Participation God indeed fought for Israel, intervening supernaturally by sending hailstones and halting the sun and moon. However, He still required Joshua and the Israelites to fight with all their might. Similarly, in our spiritual battles, while we rely on God’s power, we are also called to actively participate and exert effort. Spiritual Reflection for Today In your life, is there something you are waiting for God to fight on your behalf? It could be the restoration of a relationship, recovery from illness, a breakthrough at work, or growth in your spiritual journey. Are you willing to be patient, trust God’s timing, and actively follow His guidance, just as Joshua did? As we transition into Joshua Chapter 12, we will take a moment to address a challenging question many of you may have pondered: “Was it truly God’s will to utterly destroy the inhabitants of Canaan?” This is a deeply thought-provoking topic that deserves careful exploration. We will dive into this question in our next session. Thank you for listening, and may God bless you and guide you with strength and peace in the week ahead.

各位弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們來到了《約書亞記》第11章的大決戰。這場戰役比昨天第10章的戰爭規模更大，敵人更為龐大且團結。 故事一開始，我們看到夏瑣王耶賓聽到了以色列人征服周圍民族的消息。他意識到以色列人的威脅，不再像前幾場戰役那樣只是幾個城邦的聯盟，而是動員了整個迦南地的勢力。他聯合了所有的高原地區的王、山地裡的王，以及迦南地各地的所有王，一同聯軍對抗以色列人。 這次的聯軍不僅規模龐大，還裝備齊全。經文描述，他們的人數多如海邊的沙，馬匹和戰車的數量更是驚人。這場大規模的軍事集結，匯聚了當時迦南地區幾乎所有的王國和部隊。他們齊心合力，為的是要共同對抗這群來自曠野的以色列人。 以色列人原本是一個外來的小國，一個曾經在埃及為奴、毫無實力的民族。但在短短的時間內，他們依靠上帝的同在和幫助，從一個不起眼的民族，震動了整個迦南地，讓當地所有的王國不得不聯合起來對抗他們。 這場戰爭雖然規模巨大，但《約書亞記》僅僅用了兩節經文來描述：「耶和華將他們交在以色列人手裡。」 這麼大的戰役，經文沒有詳細記載具體的戰鬥過程或策略，約書亞書的焦點並不在於戰爭的細節，而是將一切榮耀歸給上帝，強調這場勝利完全來自上帝的手。 第18節提到一個很重要的事實：「約書亞和諸王征戰了許多年日。」 雖然經文中看似連續描述了一場接一場的勝利，但實際上，這些戰爭並不是在短時間內完成的，而是經歷了許多年的努力。以色列人一步步攻城略地，將迦南地逐漸納入掌控，這是長期持久戰的結果，而非一蹴而就。 這裡還有一個關鍵點：「除了基遍的希未人之外，沒有一座城與以色列人講和。」 除了基遍人因為看清形式，選擇與以色列講和，保全了自己的性命和家園，其他的迦南城邦選擇了抗拒和爭戰，最終導致滅亡。這表明，基遍人的選擇是極具智慧的，也反映了其他迦南民族的頑固和對上帝能力的藐視。 第11章的最後一節：「約書亞照著耶和華吩咐摩西的一切話奪了那賽全地，於是國中太平，沒有爭戰了。」這句話為以色列在迦南地的大規模征戰畫上了一個階段性的句號。 總結來看，這場「平定天下」的大勝雖然記載簡短，但其背後的屬靈意義極為深刻： 1. 榮耀歸於上帝：勝利的關鍵不在於以色列人的軍事能力，而在於上帝的帶領和應許的實現。 2. 持久的信心與順服：征服不是一蹴而就 雖然我們看到約書亞的征戰記錄顯得迅速且高效，但經文中提到「約書亞和諸王征戰了許多年日」，這表明過程需要耐心與堅持。上帝的計劃有祂的時間表，我們需要學習像約書亞一樣，耐心等候和持續努力，而不是期望立刻看到結果。 3. 上帝的爭戰需要我們的參與 上帝確實為以色列爭戰，從天上降下冰雹，讓日月停住，但祂同時也要求約書亞和以色列軍隊全力以赴參與其中。同樣地，我們在屬靈生命中的得勝，不僅僅是仰望上帝的作為，也需要我們的行動和付出。 今天的靈性反思 在你的生命中，有沒有什麼事情是你正在期待上帝為你爭戰的？這可能是人際關係的修復、身體健康的恢復、工作上的突破，或者屬靈生命的成長。你是否願意耐心等候，並且積極地按照上帝的指引去行動，就像約書亞一樣？ 接下來，我們將進入《約書亞記》第12章。在進入新的一章之前，我先嘗試回答一個大家可能心中都有的問題：「上帝的旨意真的是要將迦南地的居民全部殲滅嗎？」這是一個帶有挑戰性且值得深入思考的問題。 我們將在下一講中詳細探討這一主題。感謝各位的聆聽!

Brothers and sisters, peace to you all. Today, we are reading Joshua chapter 9, and the story continues to grow more intriguing. In this passage, we see how the nation of Israel, after entering the land of Canaan, gained a reputation that spread far and wide. They had already conquered Jericho and Ai, and news of these victories sent shockwaves throughout the Canaanite tribes. We first observe that six nations formed an alliance to resist the Israelites. These were the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (their kings are mentioned in Deuteronomy 20 as well). This passage reveals that God had determined to drive these nations out of Canaan because of their corrupt customs, which were contrary to His holy standards. God’s command was intended to protect the Israelites from cultural influences that could lead them astray. Therefore, He instructed them to completely drive out or destroy these nations (see Deuteronomy 20). The Strategy and Spiritual Significance of the Gibeonites’ Treaty In this story, the Gibeonites clearly understood the majesty and power of Israel’s God. They likely had some knowledge of Him and realized their own precarious situation. Though Gibeon was located just north of Jerusalem and close to the Israelites’ encampment, making them part of the Canaanite region, they decided to use a strategy to surrender and preserve their lives. The Gibeonites’ Strategy The Gibeonites disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land. They wore worn-out clothes, carried dry and cracked bread, and brought old and patched wineskins. They attempted to convince the Israelites that they were not local residents. Claiming they had come from far away out of reverence for Israel’s God, they sought to make a treaty. The Israelites, seeing their worn-out attire and supplies, believed their story and made a covenant with them, promising not to harm them. However, the Israelites soon discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their nearby neighbors within the land of Canaan. Despite this revelation, the Israelites could not break their oath due to the covenant they had made, and they spared the lives of the Gibeonites. The Impact of the Treaty with the Gibeonites Deuteronomy’s Rules for Warfare Deuteronomy 20:10 specifies that before attacking a city, the Israelites should first offer terms of peace. If the inhabitants accept and surrender, they are to serve the Israelites. The Gibeonites took advantage of this provision and successfully secured a treaty, becoming servants to Israel and serving them for generations. The Gibeonites’ Role in Service In 1 Samuel 7, we see the Gibeonites mentioned again. They preserved the Ark of the Covenant in Kiriath Jearim for 20 years. This responsibility arose after the Philistines captured the Ark and caused devastation, eventually returning it. The Ark remained with the Gibeonites until King David moved it to Jerusalem. A Lasting Covenant Across Generations The treaty with the Gibeonites had long-term effects. In 2 Samuel 21:2, we learn that King Saul violated the treaty by killing Gibeonites, committing a bloodshed that angered God and brought punishment upon Israel. This reminds us that humans may forget their promises, but God does not. Even generations later, the Gibeonites declared their continued service to Israel, but the sin of murder still required atonement. Spiritual Reflections 1. The Importance of Honesty and Reverence While the Gibeonites’ strategy was driven by self-preservation, their choice demonstrated reverence for Israel’s God. They humbled themselves and became servants to ensure survival. This teaches us that reverence for God is the first step toward receiving His grace. This is another example of Gentiles receiving salvation through repentance. 2. The Value of Keeping Promises Even though the Israelites were deceived, they honored their covenant with the Gibeonites, demonstrating the integrity expected of God’s people. The enduring

各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們來到《約書亞記》第十章，記載了一場關鍵性的戰役——以色列對抗五王聯軍的故事。約書亞征戰迦南地，這一場是最為規模龐大的大型戰役。 當你看歷史的時候，以色列似乎一直很擅長以少擊多。在聖經中的戰役如此，在近代的戰役也是如此。當有人說 “以色列侵犯別人” 的時候，如果你從歷史的角度去看，你會發現他們總是人少的那一邊。不像是中國歷史中動不動就 “幾十萬大軍壓境” 這種以多打少的戰爭。這是一個挺有趣的情況。人的戰爭總是喜歡以多打少，但你看聖經中的戰役，當上帝為我們爭戰時，幾乎都是以少打多的。士師記中基甸三百勇士更是其中最有名的故事。 這五個王的聯軍起初的目標是基遍人。因為基遍人先與以色列簽訂了和平協議，這些王國便決定聯手攻擊基遍。基遍人在面臨危機時，立刻向以色列求助，懇請約書亞施以援手，說：「請不要不管你的僕人，我們被攻擊了！」 作為盟友，以色列沒有退縮。約書亞帶領大軍迅速前往救援，而上帝也對約書亞說：「不要怕他們，我已將他們交在你手中。」這句話顯示了上帝的應許和主權。 上帝親自為以色列爭戰 當以色列的軍隊抵達戰場時，他們目睹了上帝早已開始的介入：上帝從天上降下大冰雹，擊打敵軍，被冰雹打死的比以色列士兵所殺的更多。這是一場超自然的干預，明確地顯示了上帝為以色列爭戰的能力。 此外，這一章還記載了一個更為震撼的神蹟——日頭與月亮停在基遍，整整延長了白晝的時間，使以色列得以徹底擊潰敵軍。這一奇蹟讓人再次看到上帝的全能，祂掌管天地萬物，也為祂的子民開路。 五位敵軍之王落敗了，被迫逃跑，最終躲進了一個洞穴。然而，上帝吩咐以色列人將洞穴封住並派人看守，而其他士兵則繼續追擊敵軍，直到完全滅絕敵人。約書亞遵命繼續追殺，直到殘兵敗將逃回自己的城中。然後約書亞回頭來先收拾這五個王，將他們處置了。 接下來，我們看到《約書亞記》中一段極具行動力的描述——約書亞率領以色列軍隊逐一征討迦南地的各個城邑，從馬基大城開始，一路過關斬將，直至完全掌控這片應許之地。 每場戰役的過程清晰而直接：從擊敗馬基大城開始，約書亞帶領以色列軍隊進攻立拿，隨後是拉吉、伊矶倫、希伯倫，最後是底壁。每一座城都在以色列軍隊的攻擊下淪陷，城中的人口全部被清除，正如經文所描述的「沒有留下一個」。 這樣的記錄讓人聯想到《三國演義》中關羽的「過五關斬六將」。約書亞則是斬五王，拔六城，這一場酣暢淋漓的大勝，一路把五王的聯軍殺到片甲不留。 全面的毀滅 《約書亞記》的記載直接而令人震撼——以色列軍隊在每座城池中都執行了全然的毀滅。這樣的征戰方式並不只是軍事行動，更帶有深刻的屬靈意義。上帝賜給以色列人的命令是清除這片土地上的所有異教影響，以確保以色列民不被當地的偶像崇拜和敗壞習俗所污染。 等我們讀完第十一章的戰役之後，我們會一次來特別嘗試講解這段歷史中的殘酷之處，以及為何上帝要約書亞來執行這一切的命令。我們也看到，其中上帝親自擊殺的人比約書亞擊殺還要多。這又是為什麼呢？ 在這裡我們先注意一個點：戰爭中是不是真的把敵方全部 “滅淨” ，其實在第二十節有一點提示：20約書亞和以色列人大大殺敗他們，直到將他們滅盡；其中剩下的人都進了堅固的城。 既然是 “滅盡”，又怎麼會有 “剩下的人” 呢？所以關於戰爭的結果和實際發生的事情，等到我們讀完十一章再來詳聊。 這裡還有一個值得注意的地方。我們看到後來的聖城耶路撒冷的王，亞多尼‧洗德，是發起五王聯盟的主導者之一，他聯合了其他四個城邦的王一起對抗以色列人。然而，在《約書亞記》第十章的記載中，雖然這五位王被擊敗並被處死，但耶路撒冷城本身卻並未在這次戰役中被攻破，也沒有經歷像其他城池那樣的毀滅性攻擊。約書亞在這時候也還沒有打下耶路撒冷城作為首都。以色列人真正把耶路撒冷城拿下並重建成為自己的首都要到大衛王的時代才發生。 這一場大勝仗，在42節，約書亞歸一切的戰果和榮耀給上帝：約書亞一時殺敗了這些王，並奪了他們的地，因為耶和華－以色列的神為以色列爭戰。 接下來我們看第十一章，也是約書亞 “平定天下” 的最後一章，這場迦南地的征服故事就暫告一段落。感謝各位的聆聽！

Brothers and sisters, peace to you all. Today, we are reading Joshua chapter 9, and the story continues to grow more intriguing. In this passage, we see how the nation of Israel, after entering the land of Canaan, gained a reputation that spread far and wide. They had already conquered Jericho and Ai, and news of these victories sent shockwaves throughout the Canaanite tribes. We first observe that six nations formed an alliance to resist the Israelites. These were the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (their kings are mentioned in Deuteronomy 20 as well). This passage reveals that God had determined to drive these nations out of Canaan because of their corrupt customs, which were contrary to His holy standards. God’s command was intended to protect the Israelites from cultural influences that could lead them astray. Therefore, He instructed them to completely drive out or destroy these nations (see Deuteronomy 20). The Strategy and Spiritual Significance of the Gibeonites’ Treaty In this story, the Gibeonites clearly understood the majesty and power of Israel’s God. They likely had some knowledge of Him and realized their own precarious situation. Though Gibeon was located just north of Jerusalem and close to the Israelites’ encampment, making them part of the Canaanite region, they decided to use a strategy to surrender and preserve their lives. The Gibeonites’ Strategy The Gibeonites disguised themselves as travelers from a distant land. They wore worn-out clothes, carried dry and cracked bread, and brought old and patched wineskins. They attempted to convince the Israelites that they were not local residents. Claiming they had come from far away out of reverence for Israel’s God, they sought to make a treaty. The Israelites, seeing their worn-out attire and supplies, believed their story and made a covenant with them, promising not to harm them. However, the Israelites soon discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their nearby neighbors within the land of Canaan. Despite this revelation, the Israelites could not break their oath due to the covenant they had made, and they spared the lives of the Gibeonites. The Impact of the Treaty with the Gibeonites Deuteronomy’s Rules for Warfare Deuteronomy 20:10 specifies that before attacking a city, the Israelites should first offer terms of peace. If the inhabitants accept and surrender, they are to serve the Israelites. The Gibeonites took advantage of this provision and successfully secured a treaty, becoming servants to Israel and serving them for generations. The Gibeonites’ Role in Service In 1 Samuel 7, we see the Gibeonites mentioned again. They preserved the Ark of the Covenant in Kiriath Jearim for 20 years. This responsibility arose after the Philistines captured the Ark and caused devastation, eventually returning it. The Ark remained with the Gibeonites until King David moved it to Jerusalem. A Lasting Covenant Across Generations The treaty with the Gibeonites had long-term effects. In 2 Samuel 21:2, we learn that King Saul violated the treaty by killing Gibeonites, committing a bloodshed that angered God and brought punishment upon Israel. This reminds us that humans may forget their promises, but God does not. Even generations later, the Gibeonites declared their continued service to Israel, but the sin of murder still required atonement. Spiritual Reflections 1. The Importance of Honesty and Reverence While the Gibeonites’ strategy was driven by self-preservation, their choice demonstrated reverence for Israel’s God. They humbled themselves and became servants to ensure survival. This teaches us that reverence for God is the first step toward receiving His grace. This is another example of Gentiles receiving salvation through repentance. 2. The Value of Keeping Promises Even though the Israelites were deceived, they honored their covenant with the Gibeonites, demonstrating the integrity expected of God’s people. The enduring

各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們讀到《約書亞記》第九章，故事越來越精彩了。在這一段經文中，我們看到以色列民族進入迦南地後聲名大噪。他們先後拿下了耶利哥城和艾城，這個消息迅速傳遍了迦南地各族之間，引起了極大的震動。 首先我們看到，有六族聯軍組成聯盟，想要共同對抗以色列人。他們是赫人、亞摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人（這些民族的諸王）。同樣，這幾個民族在《申命記》第20章中也有提到。這段經文表明，上帝定意要將他們趕出迦南地，因為他們的風俗敗壞，與上帝的聖潔標準相悖。 上帝的命令是為了保護以色列人，避免他們與這些民族有文化上的往來或受到影響，因此祂命令以色列人徹底趕走或滅絕這些民族。（參考《申命記》20章） 基遍人的計謀與盟約的屬靈意義 在這一段故事中，我們看到基遍人非常清楚以色列神的威嚴與能力。他們可能對以色列的神有一定程度的認識，明白自己的情況已經岌岌可危。基遍位於耶路撒冷以北，離以色列人的駐地不遠，屬於迦南地的其中一族，而且他們其實並不是弱小的一族，在第十章我們看到基遍人得城池比艾城更大，裡面的人民也都是勇士。而他們對現況有一個清楚的認識，知道以色列的上帝一直在幫助他們，在這生死存亡的關頭，他們決定以計謀向以色列人投降以求保命。 基遍人的計謀 基遍人裝扮成來自遙遠之地的旅人，穿著破舊的衣服，攜帶乾裂的麵包和破爛的酒袋，試圖說服以色列人他們並非本地居民。他們聲稱是因敬畏以色列的神而遠道而來，希望能與以色列人立約。 以色列人看到他們的裝扮，以為他們的話屬實，於是與他們立約，答應不傷害他們。然而，很快以色列人便發現基遍人其實是住在附近的鄰國，屬於迦南地的一部分。此時雖然真相大白，但基於立約的承諾，以色列人無法毀約，只能遵守諾言，保留基遍人的性命。 與基遍人立約的影響 • 申命記的宣戰條例 《申命記》20章10節提到，攻打一座城之前，應先對城中的居民宣告和睦之言。如果對方願意求和，就應接受他們的降服，並讓他們成為服事者。基遍人利用了這一律法條例，成功與以色列人締結盟約，成為他們的僕役，世世代代服侍以色列人。 • 基遍人的服侍角色 在《撒母耳記上》第7章中也再次提到基遍人。他們在基列‧耶琳保存了約櫃長達20年。這是在非利士人奪走約櫃造成災難後，基遍人承擔了保護約櫃的責任，直到大衛時代將約櫃迎回耶路撒冷。 • 世世代代的盟約 基遍人與以色列人立的盟約，對後來的歷史產生了深遠影響。在《撒母耳記下》21章2節中提到，掃羅王及其家族曾因殺害基遍人犯下流血罪，違背了當初立約的承諾，導致上帝的懲罰臨到以色列全地。這提醒我們，人可能會忘記承諾，但上帝卻不會忘記。基遍人在當時仍然表示自己是以色列人的僕人，但流血罪依然需要被清算。 屬靈的反思 1. 誠實與敬畏的重要性 基遍人的行動雖然是出於自保的計謀，但他們的選擇也顯示了對以色列神的敬畏。他們願意放下自我，成為僕人，以換取性命。這教導我們，敬畏上帝是蒙恩的第一步。這又是一次外邦人因為悔改蒙恩得救的故事。 2. 信守承諾的價值 即便是被基遍人欺騙，以色列人仍遵守了立約的承諾，這彰顯了上帝的百姓應有的誠信。立約的影響跨越世代，提醒我們對上帝與人的約定需持守到底。 3. 上帝主權的彰顯 基遍人原本是該被趕出的迦南民族之一，但因著他們的順服與投降，他們不僅存活下來，還成為以色列歷史的一部分。這體現了上帝的憐憫與主權，祂能將人放在祂的計劃中，無論人的背景或過去如何。 基遍人的故事提醒我們，上帝的計劃往往超越我們的理解。即使在計謀與人的軟弱中，祂仍掌權，成就祂的旨意。讓我們在生活中學習敬畏、順服，並以誠實與信心行在祂的道路上。 感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續看約書亞記第十章的故事。

弟兄姊妹平安！ 今天我們一起來到《約書亞記》第8章，一段關鍵的經文，展示了以色列人在失敗後如何重新得勝。 在昨天的經文中，我們看到以色列人在艾城遭遇了一場慘敗，這次敗仗不僅讓百姓心驚膽顫，更讓約書亞這位領袖深感挫敗。為什麼會失敗呢？因為他們在行動之前，並沒有先尋求上帝的指引，反而依靠自己的力量去打仗。而且，營中還隱藏著罪——亞干偷藏了當滅之物，導致上帝的同在離開了他們。 然而，我們的上帝是憐憫的神。當百姓徹底悔改並清除罪惡後，上帝對約書亞說：「不要害怕，也不要驚惶。你起來，重新攻打艾城，我已經把它的王、百姓和城都交在你手中了。」（約書亞記8:1） 這次的戰役，上帝親自指引了一個策略。他們採用了「伏兵」的戰術：先派前軍假裝敗退，引誘艾城的人出城追擊，而後軍則埋伏在城後，趁機攻佔艾城。結果，艾城的百姓被夾擊，整座城被徹底毀滅，陣亡者超過12,000人。 在這次戰役中，我們也看到了艾城有很淒慘的結局。他們全城的人都出動來追擊以色列人，完全沒有留下任何防守的人。這一舉動反映出他們對以色列人的評估錯誤，因為之前他們的勝利，反而感覺驕傲，看到以色列人逃跑，覺得自己又可以有一場大勝，所以全軍出動追擊以色列人。 艾城的空虛，最終成了他們滅亡的關鍵。當所有的士兵被引誘出城後，埋伏的以色列軍隊迅速進城攻擊，使整座城淪陷。這讓我們看見，驕傲與輕敵往往是失敗的開始。正如《箴言》16:18所說：「驕傲在敗壞以先，狂心在跌倒之前。」 在這裏，可能有人有同樣的疑問：這場戰役有需要做到把一切居民進行殺滅嗎？這真的是上帝的命令嗎？我們馬上就會回答這一個問題。在這裡我們看到，古代的戰爭往往相當慘烈，不是你死就是我活，如果今天以色列人沒有上帝幫助，那麼艾城的人所做的也會是一樣的。 在戰後，約書亞按照神的吩咐，用未經人工打磨的石頭築了一座祭壇，向神獻上燔祭和平安祭。這不僅是感謝神的帶領，也是重新將百姓的心歸向神的行動。這祭壇象徵著以色列人與神之間的盟約，是他們再次確認神為他們的主、他們為神的子民的重要時刻。 更值得注意的是，約書亞還當著全體百姓的面，將摩西所寫的律法抄寫在石頭上，並且不分祝福與咒詛，將律法的全部內容宣讀給所有人聽。他沒有避重就輕，也沒有只挑選好聽的經文，而是完整地呈現了神的話語——包括那些我們可能覺得嚴厲或困難的部分。 屬靈反思與應用 1. 獻祭與感恩 約書亞在得勝後第一時間為神築壇獻祭，這提醒我們，當我們經歷神的恩典與帶領時，應該首先將感恩歸給神，而不是歸功於自己或他人。這種獻祭的行動也是在將榮耀歸給神，並宣告對祂的敬畏與順服。 2. 全面的聖經觀 約書亞宣讀律法時，既提到祝福，也提到咒詛。他並未避開任何艱難的真理，而是忠實地將神的話語傳遞給百姓。這讓我們反思：身為基督徒，我們是否有時只喜歡選擇那些聽起來美好、容易接受的經文，而忽略了那些挑戰我們信仰與行為的話語？ 聖經是神完整的啟示，其中的每一部分都有它的意義，即使是那些不易接受的經文，也在幫助我們更深刻地認識神的屬性與心意。正如《提摩太後書》3:16所說：「聖經都是神所默示的，於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的。」 3. 真誠傳遞神的話語 約書亞沒有對律法進行任何修改或美化，而是忠實地將祝福與咒詛都宣讀出來，讓所有人明白神的指示。這提醒我們，作為神的僕人與見證人，我們需要忠實地傳遞祂的話語，不因害怕冒犯人或取悅人而隱瞞或扭曲真理。 我們繼續跟著約書亞記更深入迦南地，深刻去瞭解學習這一段歷史。明天我們繼續閱讀約書亞記第九章，感謝各位的聆聽！

Brothers and Sisters, Peace to You! Today, we delve into Joshua 8, a pivotal chapter that demonstrates how the Israelites recovered and achieved victory after their earlier failure. In yesterday’s passage, we witnessed the Israelites’ devastating defeat at Ai. This loss not only filled the people with fear but also deeply disheartened their leader, Joshua. Why did they fail? Because they acted without first seeking God's guidance and instead relied on their own strength. Moreover, sin was hidden within their camp—Achan had stolen what was devoted to destruction, causing God’s presence to depart from them. However, our God is merciful. After the people fully repented and removed the sin from their midst, God spoke to Joshua: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.” (Joshua 8:1) This time, God provided a clear strategy. They employed an ambush tactic: the main force pretended to retreat, luring the people of Ai out of the city, while another group lay in wait behind the city. Once the army of Ai was drawn out, the Israelites seized the opportunity to overtake the city. The people of Ai were caught in a pincer movement, and the city was utterly destroyed, with over 12,000 casualties. In this campaign, we also see the tragic end of Ai. Every able-bodied person in the city went out to chase the Israelites, leaving no one behind to defend it. This reckless confidence stemmed from their earlier victory, leading them to believe another triumph was certain. Their pride blinded them to the danger, and their unguarded city became their downfall. The emptiness of Ai ultimately sealed its fate. Once all their soldiers had been drawn out, the ambushing Israelite troops swiftly attacked, taking the city and destroying it completely. This reminds us that pride and underestimating our enemies often lead to failure. As Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Some might ask: Did it really need to be so devastating? Was it truly God’s command to destroy everyone in the city? We’ll address these questions shortly. In ancient times, war was often brutal—it was a matter of survival. If Israel hadn’t had God’s help, the people of Ai would likely have treated them no differently. After the battle, Joshua obeyed God's command to build an altar using uncut stones and offered burnt and peace offerings to God. This act not only expressed gratitude for God’s guidance but also reaffirmed the people’s covenant with Him. The altar symbolized their commitment to God as their Lord and their identity as His chosen people. What’s more, Joshua publicly wrote a copy of the law of Moses on stones and read it aloud to all the people. He did not omit anything—neither blessings nor curses—but presented God’s word in its entirety. This demonstrated his faithfulness in conveying the fullness of God’s revelation, including the parts that might seem harsh or challenging. Spiritual Reflections and Applications 1. Worship and Gratitude After the victory, Joshua immediately built an altar and offered sacrifices to God. This reminds us that when we experience God’s grace and guidance, our first response should be to give thanks to Him, not to credit ourselves or others. This act of worship declares our reverence and submission to God. 2. A Holistic View of Scripture When Joshua read the law, he included both blessings and curses. He didn’t shy away from the harder truths but faithfully delivered God’s word to the people. This challenges us: as Christians, do we sometimes focus only on uplifting passages while ignoring the ones that challenge our faith and behavior? The Bible is God’s complete revelation, and every part has its purpose—even the difficult passages help us understand God’s character and will. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you! Today we are studying Joshua Chapter 7. In Chapter 6, we witnessed Joshua leading the Israelites to a great victory. By the power of God, the mighty walls of Jericho collapsed, and they successfully captured this highly symbolic city. It was their first triumph after entering the Promised Land—a truly miraculous and resounding victory. However, when we turn to Chapter 7, the story takes a dramatic turn. When attacking the next city, Ai—a much smaller and weaker city compared to Jericho—the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat. Thirty-six men died in the battle, and this unexpected loss left the Israelites terrified and confused. How could such a small city pose a greater challenge than Jericho? This defeat not only impacted the Israelites militarily but also deeply shook Joshua's faith. The newly established leader of Israel expressed words of doubt reminiscent of the complaints often voiced by the Israelites in the wilderness. He questioned God, saying, "Lord, wouldn’t it have been better for us to stay on the other side of the Jordan? Did we cross here just to be destroyed?" A single defeat drained the morale of both Joshua and the Israelites, who had been riding high on their earlier victory. Fortunately, God quickly revealed the cause of the defeat to Joshua, saying, “Israel has sinned and broken my covenant. They have stolen some of the devoted things, lied about it, and hidden the items among their belongings.” Despite God’s clear commandments and miraculous demonstrations of His power—the parting of the Jordan River and the fall of Jericho’s walls—someone had acted against His explicit instructions. Joshua had explicitly commanded that all spoils from Jericho were to be devoted to God and nothing was to be taken for personal use. Yet, driven by greed, someone disobeyed this command. This serves as a stark reminder of one of humanity’s greatest weaknesses: greed. Greed is exceedingly dangerous because it places personal desires above God, prioritizing self-interest over obedience. Scripture equates greed with idolatry because it reveals a heart that turns away from God and focuses solely on material gain. As I’ve mentioned in discussions on financial stewardship, human greed often becomes the greatest obstacle in our relationship with God. What’s even more troubling is that Achan’s sin did not just affect him individually; it brought calamity upon the entire nation. One man’s disobedience led to Israel’s humiliating defeat at Ai. This underscores a sobering truth: personal sin often has far-reaching consequences, potentially harming the entire community or church. At the end of this chapter, Achan receives the punishment he deserves. He and everything he owned were destroyed, bringing an end to the disaster caused by his greed. Only after removing this sin from among them did the Israelites return to God’s favor. Additionally, this story highlights a significant leadership lapse on Joshua’s part. When preparing to attack Jericho, Joshua sought God’s guidance and ensured the Ark of the Covenant went before the people. However, at the start of Chapter 7, when preparing to attack Ai, Joshua’s spies returned saying, “This city is not a big deal. We don’t even need to send everyone—just two or three thousand men will suffice.” This report reveals an air of arrogance and underestimation of Ai. After their miraculous victory at Jericho, the Israelites believed they were invincible. They viewed Ai as an insignificant target, not worth serious consideration. Joshua’s decision to send only three thousand men without consulting God further reflects this attitude. If Joshua had sought God’s counsel beforehand, God would have revealed the hidden sin in their midst. Instead, the Israelites only turned to God after suffering defeat. This narrative offers a profound spiritual lesson: Do we seek God’s guidance first, or do we act on our own initiative and only turn to God when t

各位弟兄姊妹平安！今天我們讀的是《約書亞記》第七章。在第六章中，我們剛剛看到約書亞帶領以色列人取得了一場大勝，靠著上帝的大能，耶利哥城的堅固城牆倒塌，他們成功奪取了這座象徵性極強的城市。這是以色列人進入迦南地後的第一場勝利，也是極為轟動的一場神蹟。 然而，當我們來到第七章時，故事卻發生了急劇的轉折。在攻擊下一座城池艾城時，這座城明顯規模較小，防禦也不如耶利哥堅固，但以色列人卻遭遇慘敗，這場戰役還讓以色列人死了三十六個人，這對於剛剛大獲全勝的他們來說，無疑是巨大的挫折。這座小城竟然比耶利哥城更難攻陷，讓以色列人陷入恐懼和困惑。 這場敗仗的影響不僅停留在軍事上，更對約書亞的信心產生了極大的動搖。這位剛剛被上帝確立為新領袖的人，在遭遇這場挫折後，竟然說出了類似當年以色列人在曠野中常說的抱怨之詞。他向上帝發出疑問，似乎在質疑當初過約旦河的意義：「主啊，難道我們留在約旦河的那邊不是更好嗎？我們過來這裡，難道是為了滅亡嗎？」 一場敗仗，讓剛剛士氣高漲的約書亞和以色列百姓一下喪了膽氣。 不過幸好上帝很快就啟示約書亞，祂說：「以色列人犯了罪，違背了我所吩咐他們的約。他們有人偷竊，又行詭詐，取了當滅的物。」上帝在上一章中剛剛顯明了祂的命令，也讓以色列人親眼目睹了約旦河的神蹟，以及耶利哥城的崩塌，這些明顯而震撼的神蹟清楚地表明了上帝的能力和同在。然而，即使在這樣清晰的神蹟面前，仍有人起了貪念。 約書亞明確頒布了命令，吩咐百姓不可拿取任何東西，所有戰利品都要歸給上帝。然而，偏偏有人因貪心違背了這條命令，偷偷私藏了戰利品。這正是上帝所憎惡的行為，也揭示了人性中最大的弱點之一：貪心。 貪心是極大的危險，它使人將自己的慾望放在上帝之前，將自己的利益凌駕於對上帝的順服之上。聖經告訴我們，貪心與拜偶像是一樣的罪，因為它顯示出一顆背離上帝、專注於自身利益的心。正如我在財務講座中提到的，人性的貪念往往成為我們與上帝之間最大的阻礙。 更值得深思的是，這起罪行不僅影響了犯錯的亞干個人，還連累了整個以色列民族。亞干一人的犯罪，卻導致了整個民族在艾城遭遇了慘敗。 這提醒我們，個人的罪惡不僅僅是個人的問題，還可能對整個教會以及共同體造成很大的破壞。 在這一章的結尾，我們看到亞干受到了他應得的懲罰。他被石頭打死，他所有的一切都被火焚燒，這場因貪念引發的災禍才算告一段落。以色列百姓除去他們中間的罪，重新回到上帝面前。 當然在這件事情之中，我們也要看到，約書亞身為領袖似乎忽略了一件至關重要的事。當攻擊耶利哥城的時候，他特別清楚地先求告上帝，並讓約櫃走在百姓的前面。然而，在第七章一開始，當他們準備進攻艾城時，探子回來說：「這個城沒什麼了不起，我們甚至都不用派全部的人去，只要派兩三千個人就夠了。」 從這段記錄中，我們幾乎可以聽到這段話中流露出的驕傲，以及他們對艾城的輕視。他們剛剛在耶利哥城取得了一場大勝，就認為自己所向無敵，覺得這個小城根本不值一提，輕鬆就可以拿下。這驕傲的態度十分明顯。最終，他們只派了三千人上去攻城，而這也表明，約書亞作為領袖，並沒有在出發前認真求問上帝。如果他在出發前先求問上帝，上帝早就會啟示他們：「你們中間有人拿了當滅的物。」如此一來，就不會在領了一場敗仗後才回來哭訴和悔改。 這裡給我們一個非常重要的屬靈教訓：我們是先求問上帝，還是自以為是地先去做事情，然後失敗後再回來求問上帝呢？我們是否也經常在做決定時，心裡已經認定了某些事情，甚至對上帝說：「主啊，我要去做這件事了，請祝福我！」然而當事情失敗後，又回頭問上帝：「上帝啊，祢不是祝福我嗎？為什麼這件事會失敗呢？」 這段經文提醒我們，真正的順服在於事先求問上帝的旨意，而不是按照自己的意志行事，再要求上帝為我們的決定背書。當我們謙卑地將一切交託給上帝，祂必以祂的智慧指引我們前行，免去我們因驕傲和自以為是而遭遇的失敗。願我們從約書亞的經歷中吸取教訓，學會事事先求問上帝，讓祂的旨意引導我們的腳步。 感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續讀第八章的故事。

Brothers and Sisters, Peace to you all! Today we delve into Joshua chapter 6, which narrates a famous event: the fall of Jericho. This was no ordinary battle; rather, it was a divine act through which God displayed His power before the Israelites and personally ensured their victory. The Battle Plan The focus of this "battle" was not on Israel's military strength but on God's instructions and His guidance. The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant played a pivotal role, leading the procession with ram’s horns, while the people followed silently behind. Marching Around the City Once a Day:For six days, the Israelites circled the city once each day as instructed by the Lord. They followed Joshua’s commands faithfully, remaining completely silent throughout the process. Marching Around Seven Times on the Seventh Day:On the seventh day, the priests and the people circled the city seven times. At Joshua’s command, the people then let out a unified shout. The Collapse of the Walls:At the sound of their shout and the blast of the priests’ horns, Jericho’s formidable walls collapsed. The Israelite army entered the city and achieved total victory. Spiritual Lessons This event profoundly demonstrates God's power and sovereignty. The fall of Jericho was not accomplished through military strategy or human effort but purely through God’s intervention. It reminds us of several key principles: Obedience and Trust:The Israelites followed God’s instructions to the letter, even though the plan may have seemed strange to them. Their obedience allowed them to witness God’s mighty works. God’s Presence:The priests carrying the Ark symbolized God’s presence. Whether in the time of the Israelites or in our lives today, true victory comes not from human effort but from the presence of God. The Power of Faith:This battle defied human logic, teaching us the strength of faith. When the people shouted, it was an act of faith, a declaration of their complete trust in God. The Story of Rahab Rahab and her family were the only non-Israelites spared during this event because of her faith in God and her help to the Israelite spies. After Jericho’s fall, Rahab and her family were saved as promised, with the scarlet cord marking her home. The Bible notes that they were placed outside the Israelite camp. Rahab’s story reveals an important spiritual truth: Gentiles can be saved through faith and obedience. Despite her lowly background as a prostitute, Rahab’s faith in the God of Israel secured her a place in His redemptive plan. Remarkably, she is even included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). Addressing Difficult Passages In the same chapter, we encounter verses like 6:21, which describe the total destruction of Jericho:"They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys." Such accounts have puzzled believers and skeptics alike, raising questions about how a loving God could command such actions. How Should We Approach These Passages? Understand the Full Context:It’s essential to read the entire book of Joshua to grasp the full narrative and place these events within the larger framework of Israel’s history. Serious and Thoughtful Engagement:In future discussions, I will dedicate a session to exploring the motivations behind such commands and how to interpret them. This will involve examining the historical context, theological significance, and spiritual reflections. For now, consider these passages as part of the larger story that unfolds in Joshua. Thank you for listening! After this significant victory, the Israelites faced their next challenge: the battle of Ai. Join us tomorrow as we read Joshua chapter 7 and continue uncovering God’s plan for His people. Peace and blessings!

各位平安，我們今天進入到約書亞記第六章，講述一場極為著名的事件：耶利哥城的陷落。這場事件並非普通的戰役，而是上帝用祂的方式，在以色列人面前彰顯了祂的大能，親自完成了這場征戰。 我們看到，整場「戰役」的核心並不在於以色列的軍事力量，而是上帝的指示和祂的帶領。抬著約櫃的祭司扮演了極為重要的角色，他們拿著羊角，走在約櫃之前，不斷吹角。百姓則在祭司的後面安靜地跟隨。 • 每日繞城一次：以色列人按照耶和華的指示，六天中每天繞城一次。他們完全遵守約書亞的命令，全程保持安靜，不說一句話，也不發出任何聲音。 • 第七天繞城七次：到了第七天，祭司和百姓們繞城七次，然後在約書亞的吩咐下，百姓發出齊聲的呼喊。 • 城牆倒塌：在這震耳欲聾的呼喊和祭司的角聲中，堅固的耶利哥城牆竟然崩塌，以色列軍隊直接進入城中，取得了完全的勝利。 屬靈的意義 這一場事件充分展示了上帝的能力和主權。耶利哥城的陷落不是以色列人靠軍事計劃或力量所完成，而是完全依靠上帝的作為。這提醒我們： 1. 順服和信靠：以色列人完全按照上帝的指示行事，即使這個計劃在人看來可能非常奇怪，但他們依然選擇順服，最終看到了上帝的作為。 2. 上帝的同在：約櫃的祭司走在前方，象徵著上帝的同在。無論是當時的以色列人，還是今天的我們，真正的勝利並非出於人的努力，而是因著上帝的同在。 3. 信心的彰顯：這場「戰役」完全顛覆了人的邏輯，教導我們信心的力量。當百姓呼喊的那一刻，是信心的行動，也是他們對上帝完全的信靠。 在這場耶利哥之戰中，喇合一家因著她對以色列探子的幫助與對上帝的信靠，成為這場戰役中唯一存活的外邦人。喇合不僅拯救了自己，也救了她的全家。在耶利哥城完全淪陷之後，按照先前的約定，喇合一家因為掛上了朱紅繩得以倖存。聖經特別提到，他們被安置在以色列的營外。 喇合的故事為我們展示了一個重要的屬靈原則：外邦人因著信心和順服而蒙拯救。喇合的背景是一個外邦的妓女，身份卑微，但她卻憑著對以色列神的信心，成為神救恩計劃中的一部分。她的信心不僅改變了她自己的命運，也使她在後來的以色列歷史中占有重要的一席之地——她甚至出現在耶穌基督的家譜中（馬太福音1:5）。 當然，在接下來的這一章以及未來幾章中，我們會遇到一些可能讓很多基督徒感到困惑的經文，尤其是第21節所記載的： “又將城中所有的，不拘男女老少，牛羊和驢，都用刀殺盡。” 在閱讀這段歷史時，我們會看到類似的情景出現多次。這樣的記載往往引發讀者的疑問：慈愛的上帝怎麼會發出這樣的命令？ 這是一個困擾歷代聖徒以及外邦人的重大問題。 如何面對這些經文？ 在此，我建議大家在讀這段經文時，先把整個約書亞記讀完，理解整個故事的脈絡。我們需要把這些記載放在以色列歷史的整體框架中來看，才能更全面地理解其中的意義。 我們會用嚴肅且認真的態度來探討這些經文。在未來的分享中，我會特別用一次分享來講解這段經文背後的動機，以及如何解讀這樣的敘述。到那時，我們將從歷史背景、神學意義以及屬靈反思多個角度來分析。現在，讓我們先將這部分經文當作故事的一部分，隨著約書亞記的進展，慢慢深入了解整個事件的背景與上帝的計劃。 感謝各位的聆聽！在以色列人大勝之後，他們馬上要迎來下一場戰役，艾城之戰。讓我們明天一起來閱讀約書亞記第七章的故事。

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you! Today, we come to Joshua Chapter 5, a significant turning point in the story and a continuation of the events we discussed yesterday. This chapter contains three important themes that we will explore together: 1. Circumcision & the Passover At the beginning of this chapter, we see God commanding Joshua to lead the Israelites in performing the rite of circumcision. In the Old Testament, the purpose of circumcision was not explicitly explained in detail, but we find numerous references to its significance throughout Scripture. It was a crucial covenantal sign for the Israelites. In Genesis 17, God instructed Abraham that all males were to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth as a sign of the covenant. In Leviticus 12:3, the law reiterated that circumcision should be performed on the eighth day for all male children. Additionally, in Deuteronomy 10:16, it is written: "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer," a message echoed in Jeremiah 4:4: "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts." The practice held such significance that King Saul chose death by his own sword over being killed by the uncircumcised Philistines. For the Israelites, circumcision was a mark of identity and covenant with God. Later, this became a source of contention in the early church when some insisted that Gentile Christians also undergo circumcision, a practice that the Apostle Paul argued was no longer necessary for salvation. In Joshua’s time, the Israelites had not performed circumcision during their 40 years in the wilderness. Upon entering the Promised Land, this act symbolized their full obedience to God and their renewed covenant with Him. Following the circumcision, the Israelites celebrated the Passover, something that had not been recorded since Numbers 9. This was also the first time in 40 years that they had offered sacrifices and kept the Passover. God declared, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you,” marking their transition from their wilderness journey to being a nation in the Promised Land. 2. Eating the Produce of the Land After entering Canaan, the Israelites experienced several significant changes. One notable shift was their diet. The Israelites began eating the produce of the land, and the manna that God had miraculously provided for 40 years ceased. This change was deeply symbolic: The wilderness was an extension of their time in Egypt, a period of waiting and preparation. Eating the land’s produce signified their arrival in the Promised Land and the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. God’s provision of manna for 40 years was a powerful demonstration of His faithfulness. However, the cessation of manna marked the end of their journey and their dependence on wilderness sustenance. Now, as they settled in the land of promise, they experienced God’s blessings in a new way. This transition represents a profound truth: the Israelites had truly come home. 3. The Commander of the Lord’s Army A deeply spiritual encounter occurs when Joshua nears Jericho. He meets a man with a drawn sword and asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The man replies, “Neither. I have come as the commander of the army of the Lord.” This response reveals several spiritual truths: God’s Sovereignty Transcends Human Allegiances:The commander’s response, “Neither,” indicates that the battle is not Israel’s or Jericho’s but God’s. The Lord is not confined by human perspectives or loyalties. It’s Not Joshua’s Battle but God’s:The victory in Canaan had already been declared by God in Exodus 23:23. The Israelites were not the main actors in this war; God was leading the charge. God’s Plans Are Supreme:The Lord’s purposes are not dictated by human desires. Instead, we are called to align ourselves with His divine will. Victory Belongs to God Alone:The upcoming battle against Jericho, w

各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天來到了《約書亞記》第五章，這是一個蠻大的轉折點，也是接續昨天故事的一個重要時節。我們來看看第五章所存在的三個很重要的重點。 1. 行割禮 & 逾越節 來到了第五章，我們一開始就看到了上帝命令約書亞帶領以色列行割禮這件事情。而割禮在《舊約》裡面所記載的，其實沒有特別清楚解釋為什麼要做這件事情，但是呢，我們可以看到在《聖經》的《舊約》之中有很多關於這件事情的記載，而且以色列人非常看重有沒有受過割禮這件事情。 在《聖經》裡面，《創世記》第17章我們最早就看到，當時上帝對亞伯拉罕命令所有的男子生下來第八日都要受割禮，作為立約的證據。 然後在《利未記》第12章第3節又提到說，要為所有生男孩的在第八天為他行割禮。 我們特別看到兩段：在《申命記》第10章第16節提到的是，「你們要將心裡的污穢除掉，不要再硬著頸項。」而同一句話呢，在《耶利米書》第4章第4節提到了：「猶大人和耶路撒冷居民啊，你們當行割禮歸耶和華，將心裡的污穢除掉。」 我們也曾經聽過掃羅寧願死在自己的劍下，也不願意被這些沒有受割禮的非利士人所殺。所以在猶太人的心中，受割禮這件事情是相當重要的。以致於後來在保羅跟猶太人爭論的時候，他們堅持要給基督徒行割禮。當時保羅大力主張說，沒有必要再行肉體上的割禮。這件事情呢，也是當時的猶太人群體中造成一個非常大的爭議。 這一段我們可以看到，約書亞進到迦南地之後才開始行割禮。而行割禮之後，馬上進行了一個重要的事情，就是逾越節。在曠野中的40年之中，其實他們並沒有獻祭的動作。 這也是以色列人從埃及出來以後，40年之久第一次開始行割禮這件事情。這裡說上帝說：「你們行完割禮以後，我把你們在埃及的羞辱滾去了。」 2. 吃那地的土產 我們注意到，約書亞和以色列人來到迦南地之後，進行了幾件非常重要的事情。首先是出埃及之後只記錄了一次手逾越節，是在民數記9章，接下來並沒有紀錄他們在曠野四十年之久有沒有再守過逾越節。但我們如果注意到摩西的律法記載，在出埃及記12章，沒有行割禮的人是不能守逾越節的。以色列人離開埃及後，進行了一趟漫長的旅程。在地理上，我們知道這段旅程原本只需不到一個月的步行時間，但這一代以色列人卻走了40年而無法進入迦南地。最後，出埃及的那一代人都死在曠野，唯有迦勒和約書亞作為那一世代的代表進入了迦南地。而此時進入迦南地的以色列人，全是曠野出生的新一代，這一代人直到這時候進入迦南地才行過割禮，所以很可能他們在曠野中沒有守過逾越節。 這一代人第一次行了割禮。他們開始吃那地的土產，而嗎哪就此止住了。嚴格來說，從埃及出來以後，曠野的這40年仍然算是在埃及的延伸，尚未進入應許之地，應許尚未完成。因此，從埃及到迦南地之間的這40年，並不是回家，而是在旅途之中。 我們還看到一件奇妙的事情：上帝在曠野的40年中，供應以色列人嗎哪。而這裡有一個非常重要的象徵——亞伯拉罕的子孫終於回到了上帝的應許之地。對以色列人來說，他們回到了家鄉，回到了自己的地方。因此，上帝不再需要供應他們嗎哪，而是讓他們開始吃那地的土產。這是一個極其重要的象徵，代表著他們這時候真正地回家了。 3. 耶和華軍隊的元帥 在《約書亞記》第五章的這個場景中，我們看到一個非常深刻的屬靈意涵。當約書亞靠近耶利哥城，遇到這位拔刀相對的「人」時，他提出的問題是： 「你是幫助我們的呢？還是幫助我們敵人的？」 而對方的回答是：「都不是，我來是要做耶和華軍隊的元帥。」這個回答既清楚又讓人深思。它指出了幾個屬靈的真理： 1. 上帝的主權超越人類的立場 當「耶和華軍隊的元帥」回答「都不是」時，意味著這場戰爭並不是以色列或迦南的戰爭，而是屬於上帝的戰爭。上帝不是簡單地站在某一方，而是超越了人類的立場和界線。 • 不是約書亞的戰爭，而是上帝的戰爭： 上帝早已宣告將迦南地賜給以色列人（參見《出埃及記》23:23），但真正的戰爭並非由以色列人主導，而是由上帝親自帶領和掌權。 • 上帝不受人類控制： 上帝不是某一方的私人保鏢，祂的計劃和旨意是至高無上的。我們需要順服祂，而不是試圖讓祂站在我們的陣營。 2. 以色列的勝利並非出於自己的能力 這場戰爭的勝利完全依靠上帝的指引和介入，而不是約書亞或以色列人的策略或力量。這也提醒我們，所有的得勝都是出於上帝的恩典和權能。 • 約書亞的角色是順服，而非指揮： 當約書亞遇見耶和華軍隊的元帥後，他的第一反應是俯伏在地，表示完全的敬拜和順服。他意識到自己只是上帝計劃中的一個僕人，而不是掌控者。 • 上帝的計劃高過人類的計劃： 在接下來攻取耶利哥城的戰役中，我們看到的不是傳統的軍事策略，而是上帝給予的一個超自然的作戰方案（繞城七日，吹角城牆倒塌）。這完全彰顯了上帝的能力，而非人的智慧。 3. 我們的生命應該站在上帝的一邊 當約書亞問「你是幫助我們的呢？還是幫助我們敵人的？」時，這是一個人性化的問題，我們也常常這樣問：「上帝，你站在我這邊嗎？」但真正的問題應該是：「我們是否站在上帝的一邊？」 • 上帝的軍隊只有一個目標：成就祂的旨意： 上帝的軍隊並不是為了支持某個特定群體，而是為了成就上帝的計劃。如果我們站在上帝的一邊，那麼我們就必然在得勝的一方。 • 敬拜和順服是我們的態度： 約書亞立刻俯伏在地，並且問了一個非常重要的問題：「我主有什麼話吩咐僕人？」這表明他完全接受上帝的主權，並願意順服祂的引導。 結語 這段經文提醒我們，無論在生命的哪個階段，我們都應該時刻問自己：「我是否站在上帝的一邊？」而不是試圖讓上帝支持我們的計劃。因為只有順服上帝，才是真正的得勝之道。 感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續分享約書亞記第六章，攻取耶利哥的精彩故事！

各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天讀的是《約書亞記》第四章，記載了以色列人過約旦河時，約書亞吩咐百姓帶了 12塊石頭，作為這件事的紀念。 如昨天所說，這次過約旦河，情況與摩西帶以色列人過紅海有所不同。當年，過紅海是迫在眉睫的救命之舉，前有大海，後有追兵，緊急需要超自然的神蹟拯救。而這次的約旦河雖然是重要的邊界，但本身並不是難以跨越的阻礙。然而，上帝透過這件事，帶來了兩個重要目的： 1. 讓新一代以色列人經歷神蹟： 這一代以色列人並不是當初從埃及出來的那批人，他們是在曠野中出生的新世代。他們沒有親身經歷過摩西分紅海的壯舉，只是聽說過這件事的傳說。現在，上帝讓他們親眼目睹約旦河水分開，這樣的神蹟顯明，上帝與他們同在，並確立約書亞作為新領袖的權威。 2. 讓以色列人永遠記念上帝的作為： 如同當年的逾越節被設立來紀念出埃及的神蹟一樣，這次過約旦河，約書亞吩咐百姓從河中帶出12塊石頭，作為世世代代的記號。當後代的子孫問起時，這些石頭將成為傳遞神蹟故事的重要象徵。 我們在經文中看到，上帝的同在永遠走在以色列人之前。在曠野時，上帝以雲柱、火柱帶領百姓；而在這裡，則是透過約櫃的形式，代表祂的臨在。當利未人抬著約櫃站在約旦河中，水就停止流動，露出乾地，讓百姓可以安全通過。注意，特別是等到利未人 “先” 踏進河裡，這順序不能更換，必須是他們先踏入河中，河水就被分開。而且這時候的河水是收割時候的河水，比平常的約旦河要更大的水流。所以這一次的分開必然是神蹟的彰顯。 這提醒我們，上帝永遠是走在我們前面，為我們預備道路。 祂的帶領充滿智慧，祂的安排從未延遲。 最後一節特別重要： 「讓地上的萬民都知道耶和華的手大有能力，也使你們永遠敬畏耶和華你們的神。」 這節經文清楚指出，這個神蹟的最終目的是讓全地認識上帝的大能，也讓以色列人對祂心存敬畏。這段經文不僅僅是一個歷史故事，更教導我們： 1. 上帝會親自確立我們的帶領者，並與祂的百姓同在。 2. 我們需要記念上帝的恩典，因為祂的作為會成為我們信心的基石。 3. 上帝的帶領是超越時間的，祂走在我們前面，為我們鋪平道路。 我們明天將繼續分享《約書亞記》第五章，感謝各位的聆聽！

Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today, we are reading Joshua Chapter 4, which records the Israelites crossing the Jordan River and Joshua commanding the people to take twelve stones as a memorial for this event. As we mentioned yesterday, this crossing of the Jordan differs from Moses leading the Israelites through the Red Sea. Back then, the crossing of the Red Sea was an urgent rescue mission — with the sea in front and the enemy behind, requiring a supernatural miracle for deliverance. In contrast, while the Jordan River is an important boundary, it wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle. Yet, through this event, God accomplished two significant purposes: Allowing the new generation of Israelites to experience a miracle: This generation of Israelites was not the same group that had left Egypt. They were born in the wilderness and had not witnessed the awe-inspiring parting of the Red Sea by Moses. They had only heard of it through stories. Now, God let them personally witness the parting of the Jordan River, demonstrating His presence among them and establishing Joshua’s authority as their new leader. Ensuring that the Israelites would always remember God’s works: Just as the Passover was instituted to commemorate the miracle of the Exodus, this crossing of the Jordan was marked by Joshua commanding the people to bring twelve stones from the riverbed as a perpetual memorial. These stones were meant to serve as a symbol, allowing future generations to ask and learn about God’s miraculous deeds. In this passage, we see that God’s presence always goes before the Israelites. In the wilderness, God led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Here, His presence is symbolized through the Ark of the Covenant. When the Levitical priests carried the Ark and stood in the Jordan River, the waters stopped flowing, exposing dry ground for the people to cross safely. Notably, it was only after the priests first stepped into the river that the waters parted. This order was intentional — the priests had to step into the water in faith, and then the miracle occurred. Additionally, this happened during the harvest season when the Jordan River’s flow was at its peak, making the parting of the river an undeniable display of divine power. This reminds us that God always goes ahead of us, preparing the way. His guidance is full of wisdom, and His timing is never delayed. The final verse of this chapter is especially significant: “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” This verse highlights the ultimate purpose of the miracle: to reveal God’s power to all nations and to instill reverence for Him among the Israelites. This passage is not just a historical account but also a lesson for us today: God personally establishes our leaders and remains present with His people. We must remember God’s grace, for His deeds serve as the foundation of our faith. God’s guidance transcends time — He goes before us, preparing the way. Tomorrow, we will continue with Joshua Chapter 5. Thank you for listening!

Brothers and sisters, peace to you all! Today, we are reading Joshua chapter 3, where Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River. The Bible records two other similar miracles, one being Moses parting the Red Sea—a story that is widely known and incredibly awe-inspiring. Of course, biblical scholars do not have definitive conclusions about the exact dimensions or extent of the parted Red Sea. In various artistic depictions, we often see a vast expanse of water divided by God's power. In contrast, the Jordan River, even today, is not an imposing or massive river. In fact, if you search for images of the Jordan River online, you will find that it resembles more of a broad stream than a mighty river. However, in the Bible, the Jordan River holds profound spiritual significance. It is not only a vital water source for the region but also a location of pivotal events. Later, Elijah parted its waters with his cloak, and Elisha instructed Naaman, the commander, to bathe in it seven times to cleanse his leprosy. The Jordan River serves as a symbolic and sacred place in Scripture. Apart from being an important water source, the Jordan River acts as a boundary. Even today, the eastern and western banks of the Jordan River demarcate a national border. For the Israelites, crossing the Jordan symbolized their transition from the wilderness into the Promised Land. God declared, "You have not passed this way before," underscoring that He Himself would lead His people into Canaan, over 400 years after Abraham's time. In Joshua chapter 3, we see a notable detail: God commanded the Ark of the Covenant to go ahead of the people, and Joshua instructed the Israelites to maintain a distance of about 2,000 cubits, roughly one kilometer, from the ark. At that time, the Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object for the Israelites, symbolizing God's presence. It housed the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses, representing God's law. The movement of the ark symbolized God's actions and presence among His people. However, the Ark of the Covenant was to be handled with strict regulations: Only Levites were allowed to carry it, and they had to do so according to God’s instructions. It could not be touched or moved casually; otherwise, it would bring about God's judgment. In 2 Samuel chapter 6, Uzzah was struck dead for merely steadying the ark when it appeared to be tipping over, underscoring its sanctity. When the Philistines captured the ark and placed it in their temple, their idol, Dagon, fell face-down before it, and plagues afflicted them until they returned it to Israel. The Ark represented God's Word and His presence, becoming the focal point of Israel's reverence and faith. In the Old Testament era, the position and movement of the Ark signified God's leadership. The Israelites were required to keep their distance to show reverence for God. When Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, the Ark of the Covenant was also destroyed or lost. This does not mean that God’s presence and grace vanished. Instead, it signifies: The symbolic purpose of the Ark had been fulfilled. God continued to reveal His will through the words of the prophets, the worship of His people, and historical events. Israel's exile was part of God's plan, and the Ark's disappearance was a reminder of His discipline and sovereignty. In the New Testament era, Jesus Christ became the ultimate manifestation of "God with us," replacing the Old Testament symbol of the Ark. The Ark's disappearance foreshadowed a greater plan of redemption. Today, the cross represents the New Covenant and signifies God's presence with His people until Christ returns. In this chapter, we clearly see how God confirmed Joshua’s role as the new leader through miraculous acts and how He used the presence of the Ark to assure the Israelites of His continued guidance. Though the Israelites faced an unknown path and uncertain challenges, they we

Brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you! Today, we are sharing from Joshua Chapter 2, a truly remarkable and dramatic story: Joshua sending spies into the city of Jericho. This city, renowned for its mighty walls and formidable army, represented a significant challenge for the Israelites. As a wise commander, Joshua chose to send spies ahead to gather information about the city and gain a strategic advantage. The story unfolds in a dramatic and surprising manner. It is intriguing that a sacred text like the Bible records an event involving a prostitute. Let us delve into this fascinating passage together. Initially, the two spies, for reasons unknown, chose to stay overnight in the house of Rahab, a prostitute. This raises questions: Couldn’t they find a more suitable place to hide in Jericho? This choice, however, can be understood in the context of the cultural and social norms of the time. Women, especially those like Rahab, had little to no social status. Rahab may have resorted to this occupation to support her family under dire circumstances. The king of Jericho, aware of the presence of Israelite spies in the city and their location in Rahab’s house, immediately ordered Rahab to hand them over. When the king’s messengers came to her house, Rahab took an unexpected action—she lied to them. She deceived the king’s men, claiming the spies had already left the city and urging them to pursue them quickly. In reality, the spies were hidden under stalks of flax on her rooftop. Perhaps due to the stigma associated with her profession, Rahab’s home was not thoroughly searched, and the messengers hurriedly left the city in pursuit. At this critical moment, Rahab made a declaration that was both surprising and profound. She told the Israelite spies: *“I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.”* She explained that the residents of Jericho had heard about the miraculous works of the Lord—the drying up of the Red Sea and the victories over the kings of the Amorites, Sihon, and Og. These accounts had left the people of Jericho terrified and disheartened. Rahab’s words reveal that she not only heard about the Lord’s deeds but also believed in Him as the one true God. She declared: *“For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”* Such faith, expressed by a Gentile woman marginalized in her society, is both extraordinary and inspiring. It became the driving force behind her actions. This story indeed contains elements that might seem less than honorable: Israelite spies relying on a Gentile prostitute’s lie to save them. Yet, this narrative is carefully recorded in the Book of Joshua, reflecting the profound intentions and plans of God. Rahab’s status and actions, though seemingly humble and contradictory, are highlighted by her faith, which stands as the centerpiece of the story. Her declaration underscored her recognition that the God of Israel is *“God in heaven above and on the earth below.”* Such faith, emerging from a Gentile and a prostitute, is striking. It demonstrates that God does not judge based on one’s status, background, or past but values faith above all. This story provides several key insights: 1. **God’s salvation transcends status** Rahab’s story illustrates that God’s grace is not dependent on one’s background, occupation, or past but is rooted in faith. Even a Gentile prostitute, through faith and action, was saved and accepted by God. Rahab’s faith earned her a significant place in Israel’s history of faith. 2. **Faith outweighs external conditions** Despite Rahab’s profession and social standing, her faith was genuine and profound. She not only believed in God’s power but also actively participated in His plan, risking her life to save the Israelite spies. Her faith made her an integral part of God’s plan. 3. **God’s plan includes all pe

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Peace be with you! Today, we will read Joshua Chapter 1 together. In this chapter, we see that after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, God personally instructed Joshua, Moses' assistant, to take up the mantle of leadership and continue the mission of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. Why Was Joshua Chosen for This Role? Joshua began serving Moses even before the Exodus from Egypt. For forty years, he faithfully accompanied Moses, learning as his loyal assistant and observing everything closely. He not only witnessed how Moses communicated with God but also experienced firsthand God’s mighty acts among the Israelites. These experiences fully prepared Joshua to succeed Moses as the leader of Israel. God’s Encouragement and Promise God encouraged Joshua three times by saying, “Be strong and courageous.” This was both a command and a reassurance. God promised that no one would be able to stand against Joshua and that He would be with Joshua just as He had been with Moses. These words served as a strong foundation for Joshua as he took on his new responsibilities. Verses 7 and 8 are particularly significant, where God emphasizes, “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left.” The Book of the Law, written by Moses under God’s inspiration, became the constitution of Israel and a generational guide. God instructed Joshua not only to obey it but also to “meditate on it day and night,” ensuring that all his actions aligned with God’s will. The Meaning of the Book of the Law The Book of the Law holds dual significance. On one hand, it represents the principles that the people were to follow. On the other hand, the command to “meditate day and night” calls for a deeper understanding, particularly relevant for Christians today. In the New Testament era, while we no longer observe Old Testament sacrificial laws, the spirit of the law—God’s will—must still be upheld. The Ten Commandments remain core, binding laws that are not abolished by Jesus’ coming. When we reflect on the law, we must recognize that while its form may change over time, the One who gave the law—God—does not compromise His principles with changing times. Instead, He writes the law upon our hearts, leading us to love genuinely and understand that the fulfillment of the law is love. As Paul states in Romans 13:9-10, love is the fulfillment of the law, encapsulated in the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Joshua’s Challenge and the People’s Support It’s worth noting that when Joshua and Caleb previously scouted the land of Canaan and declared, “We can take possession of the land,” the people nearly stoned them to death (Numbers 14). However, this time, as God appointed Joshua as leader, the people united in support of him. They pledged to obey his commands and follow him into the land of Canaan. Reflection This chapter shows us how God personally selects and prepares His servants, granting them His word and promises to lead them in fulfilling His mission. It also reminds us that obeying God’s word is not just an individual responsibility but requires collective unity to enter the promises God has prepared for us.

各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們讀的是《約書亞記》第三章，來看到一個過約旦河的神跡。這段故事其實有兩個重點，我們可以一同看看：首先是這件事情對於這個新的領袖約書亞的含義，其次是上帝約櫃的意義。 在聖經裡面有記載另外兩個比較類似的神跡，其中一個是摩西分紅海，這個大家都聽說過，是一個非常令人震撼的故事。當然，對於摩西當時分開紅海的面積有多大或者多遙遠，聖經學者並沒有一定的定論。在後人的一些畫裡，我們看到的都是一大片的海水被上帝分開。 相比之下，約旦河拿到今天來看，其實並不是一條多麼大的河流，也不是這麼龐大的河流，說實在的，如果你在網上搜尋約旦河的圖片，你會發現約旦河更像是一條比較水多一點的小溪而已。 然而，約旦河在聖經中卻是一條非常重要的河流，也是當地重要的水源。我們知道後來以利亞用衣服拍河，河水就分開；我們也知道以利沙指示乃縵將軍在這裡沐浴七次，就把身上的大痲瘋給洗掉了。在聖經裡面，約旦河是一個具有非常深刻屬靈意義的地方。 除了是重要的水源之外，約旦河也是一個邊界。到今天，約旦河東、約旦河西，仍然作為國界的分界線。它象徵著以色列百姓從曠野到應許之地的進入，上帝指示說 “這些路你們沒有走過“，上帝在亞伯拉罕死後四百多年，要親自帶領祂的子民進入到迦南地。 在《約書亞記》第三章中，我們看到一個特別的細節：上帝指示約櫃要走在百姓的前面，而約書亞吩咐百姓要與約櫃保持約 2000肘 的距離，這個距離大約是一公里左右。 在當時，約櫃是以色列人最重要的聖物，因為它象徵著 上帝的同在。約櫃內放置了摩西法版上的 十誡石板，代表上帝的律法，而約櫃的行動象徵著上帝的行動與臨在。 然而，約櫃的使用有非常嚴格的規範： • 只有利未人可以搬運，且必須依照上帝的啟示進行。 • 不得隨意觸碰或移動，否則會招致上帝的懲罰。 在《撒母耳記下》第六章中，烏撒因為扶了一下即將傾倒的約櫃而被擊殺，說明約櫃的神聖性不容侵犯。當非利士人擄走約櫃，並將其放置在他們的廟中時，他們的偶像大袞倒伏於地，災禍隨之降臨，迫使他們將約櫃歸還給以色列人。 約櫃代表了上帝的話語和臨在，並且成為以色列人敬畏與信仰的中心。在舊約時代，約櫃的行動與位置不僅是宗教的象徵，更是上帝親自引領百姓的象徵。因此，百姓必須保持一定的距離，以彰顯對上帝的敬畏。 在巴比倫摧毀耶路撒冷時，約櫃也隨之被毀或丟失。這一事件並不意味著上帝的同在與恩典消失，而是表明： 1. 象徵性的約櫃已完成其歷史使命。 2. 上帝透過先知的話語、百姓的敬拜和歷史事件，顯明祂的旨意。 3. 以色列的被擄是上帝的心意，約櫃的消失並非偶然，而是上帝對以色列的懲戒與提醒。 到了新約時代，耶穌基督成為 神與人同在 的最終彰顯，取代了舊約中的約櫃象徵。 約櫃的消失，並不代表上帝離開，而是預表更大的救贖計劃。如今的十字架代表著新約，代表著上帝與人同在，直到耶穌再來的日子。 在這一章中，我們清楚地看到，上帝以奇妙的方式親自確認了約書亞作為新領袖的地位，並通過 約櫃的同在 讓以色列百姓明白，上帝始終與他們同行。雖然百姓踏上未知之路，他們不確定未來的挑戰，但他們清楚上帝在前方帶領。 這正如今天的我們，雖然面對生活的未知和挑戰，我們有上帝透過 聖經的話語 和 十字架的救恩 帶領我們前行，讓我們可以充滿信心地走每一步。 明天我們將繼續分享《約書亞記》第四章，感謝各位的聆聽！

各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們要分享的是《約書亞記》第2章中，一段極具傳奇色彩的故事：關於約書亞派遣探子進入耶利哥城。這座城市以其堅固的城牆和強大的軍隊而聞名，對以色列人來說，這是一場硬仗的開始。因此，作為智慧的元帥，約書亞選擇先派出探子打探城中的情況，以掌握先機。 接下來的故事發展充滿戲劇性，甚至有些令人驚訝。聖經這本神聖的經卷中，居然記載了這樣一段與妓女有關的情節。讓我們一起來看看這段耐人尋味的經文。 首先，這兩位探子不知出於何種原因，竟然選擇住進了一位名叫喇合的妓女家中過夜。這引起了不少疑問：難道耶利哥城中沒有更合適的地方為這兩位探子提供藏身之所嗎？其實，這與當時的文化與社會習俗有關。在那個時代，女性尤其是像喇合這樣的女性，幾乎沒有任何社會地位。喇合可能因為生計的壓力，被迫從事這樣的行業來養活家人。 然而，耶利哥的王顯然已經察覺到以色列人派了間諜進入城中，並且確切地知道這些探子來到了喇合的家。因此，王立刻下令，要求喇合交出這兩名探子。 當耶利哥王的使者來到喇合的家時，她採取了一個讓人意想不到的行動——她撒謊，欺騙了王的使者。喇合告訴他們，那兩個探子已經離開了，她暗示他們可能已經走出城外，並建議趕緊追趕。而實際上，這兩位探子正躲藏在她家屋頂的麻秸堆下。或許是因為喇合身為妓女，她的家並不被視為體面的地方，所以王的使者並沒有對她的住所進行仔細搜查，便匆匆追出了城。 在這樣一個緊張的時刻，喇合接下來說出了一番讓人震撼的話。她對以色列的兩位探子說：「我知道耶和華已把這地賜給你們，我們因你們甚是驚惶，這地的一切居民在你們面前心都消化了。」**她解釋道，耶利哥的居民都聽聞了以色列人從埃及出來時的神蹟，特別是耶和華如何使紅海的水乾涸，讓他們安全通過。他們還聽聞以色列人如何在曠野擊敗亞摩利人的兩位王西宏和噩。這些事跡讓耶利哥的百姓驚恐不已，徹底喪失了信心。 喇合的話表明，她不僅聽聞了耶和華的作為，更相信祂是唯一的真神。她說：「因為耶和華—你們的神本是上天下地的神。」這樣的信心，從一位外邦人、一位社會邊緣的妓女口中說出，無疑顯示出她對上帝的深切認識和敬畏。這也成為她行動的根本動機。 這段故事確實有一些讓人感到不太光彩的地方：以色列的探子需要一位外邦妓女以撒謊來拯救，似乎有悖於我們對聖潔與榮耀的期待。然而，正是這樣的故事被詳細記錄在《約書亞記》中，展示了上帝的心意和祂計劃的深邃。 喇合的身份與行動表面上看來卑微甚至矛盾，但她的信心卻是故事的亮點。她的宣告表明她清楚地認識到，以色列的上帝是「上天下地的神」。這樣的信心從一位外邦人、妓女口中說出，顯得格外震撼，也展示了上帝不因身份、地位或過往的生活方式來判斷人，而是以信心為基準。 這段故事有以下幾個重要啟示： 1. 上帝的拯救不分身份 喇合的故事告訴我們，上帝的恩典無關乎人的背景、職業或過去，而在於信心。即使是外邦人、妓女，只要相信上帝並行動，依然能蒙祂的拯救與接納。喇合因信被拯救，甚至在以色列的信仰歷史中佔有重要地位。 2. 信心勝過外在條件 喇合的職業和社會地位可能令人輕視，但她的信心卻是真實且偉大的。她不僅相信上帝的能力，也主動參與祂的計劃，冒著生命危險拯救以色列的探子。這種信心讓她成為上帝計劃中的重要一環。 3. 上帝的計劃包含所有人 喇合的故事也預示著上帝的救恩是向萬民敞開的。她最終與猶大支派的一名以色列人結婚，成為耶穌家譜的一部分（馬太福音1:5）。這表明，上帝的計劃超越了種族、文化與社會的界限。 4. 不完美的人也能成為上帝計劃的一部分 這段故事提醒我們，上帝使用的是有信心的，而不是完美的人。喇合的謊言救了探子，這在道德上可能有爭議，但她對上帝的認識是正確的。因此，這段看似矛盾的故事，實際上蘊含著深刻的啟示：上帝的愛與恩典無所不及，祂能使用任何人來成就祂的計劃。喇合的故事不僅見證了上帝的拯救，也成為所有不完美但有信心的人的一個重要榜樣。 在新約的希伯來書十一章，作者說喇合因著信，和平接待探子… 還有雅各書二章，雅各甚至把喇合的行為和先祖亞伯拉罕相提並論。這可不是隨便做比較的。可見喇合的這一件事情上所顯出的信心，大過了她在行為上的瑕疵，因而被引用為信心的榜樣。但是要注意，這並不是要我們因著信心去做違反道德的事情，可不要把原則本末倒置了。 接下來，在約書亞記第三章中，我們將見證另一個偉大的神蹟——約書亞如何帶領以色列人過約旦河。這個神蹟類似於摩西當年分開紅海的奇蹟，再一次印證了上帝與以色列民同在。明天，我們續分享約書亞記第三章的內容，感謝各位的聆聽。

各位弟兄姊妹平安！ 今天我們一起來讀 約書亞記第一章。在這一章中，我們看到了耶和華的僕人摩西去世後，上帝親自曉諭摩西的幫手約書亞，讓他承接摩西的領導職位，繼續完成以色列人進入應許之地的使命。 為什麼是約書亞來承接這個職分呢？ 約書亞早在出埃及之前，就已經開始服侍摩西。他陪伴摩西整整四十年，作為摩西忠心的助手，一直在他左右觀察學習。他不僅親眼目睹了摩西如何與上帝對話，更親身經歷了上帝在以色列人中的作為。這些經歷讓約書亞得以充分預備，成為接續摩西職分的合適人選。 上帝的鼓勵與應許 上帝三次對約書亞說：「你當剛強壯膽。」這既是命令，也是鼓勵。上帝應許說，無人能在約書亞面前站立得住，並且祂會與約書亞同在，像曾經與摩西同在一樣。這些話成為約書亞接下重任的堅強後盾。 第七節和第八節尤為重要，上帝強調：「謹守遵行我僕人摩西所吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏離左右。」律法書是摩西在上帝啟示下寫下的，成為以色列國的憲法和世代相傳的啟示。上帝要求約書亞不僅要遵行律法，還要「晝夜思想」，確保一切行動都符合上帝的旨意。 律法書有兩個涵義：一方面是人民應當謹守遵行的大原則，另外一個方面 “晝夜思想“ 這是基督徒該更深刻理解的部分，在新約時代，我們不需要遵守舊約的獻祭相關的律法，但是律法的精神，也就是上帝的心意，依然要繼續被持守，十誡的每一條，到今天都還是必須被遵守的核心律法，並不因為耶穌來了就會被廢除。當我們理解關於律法的時候，要知道的是律法的形式會因著時代改變，但是命令律法的那一位 – 上帝 – 並不因時代的改變而妥協祂的原則，反而是要把律法從石板上轉到心版上 – 打從心裡去有愛，打從心裡去明白律法的總綱就是愛，保羅在羅馬書13:9-10告訴我們了，愛就完全了律法。全律法都包在愛人如己這一句話內了。 約書亞的挑戰與人民的支持 值得注意的是，當初約書亞和加勒去探迦南地，回來宣告「我們可以得地為業」時，卻幾乎被人民用石頭打死（民數記14章）。然而，這一次，約書亞被上帝立為領袖，人民也同心合意地支持他。他們承諾會聽從他的指揮，並願意跟隨他進入迦南地。 這一章讓我們看到，上帝如何親自挑選和預備祂的僕人，並賜下話語和應許來帶領他們完成使命。也提醒我們，遵行上帝的話語並不僅是個人的事情，更需要整體的同心協力，才能進入上帝為我們預備的應許之地。

blc.org.nz/blogs 各位弟兄姊妹新年平安！ 今天是2025年的一月一日，我們開始來讀 約書亞記。這是以色列歷史中一段非常精彩的篇章，記載了約書亞如何繼承摩西的領導，帶領以色列人進入應許之地——迦南，並經歷一場場征戰的壯麗歷史。 約書亞記 不僅是關於以色列人如何征服迦南的故事，更是一部蘊含上帝啟示的書卷。它展示了上帝如何信守對以色列的應許，如何指引他們在困難中得勝。這本書也記錄了以色列人在每一場戰役中如何順服或悖逆上帝的命令，從而經歷得勝或失敗。 然而，這段經文中有許多令人深思和討論的部分。例如，上帝多次命令以色列人徹底毀滅某些城市，將整個城的人完全清除。這些經文往往讓人感到困惑，甚至有些爭議。我們應該如何理解這些經文？這些舉措的屬靈意義又是什麼？ 另一層面，約書亞記也讓我們看見，上帝並非排斥所有的外邦人。早在以色列民族建立之初，上帝便展現了對外邦人接納和包容的心意。比如書中的喇合，她雖然是迦南人，但因為對以色列神的信心，成為以色列人中不可或缺的一員，且成為耶穌家譜之中（馬太福音1）。還有基遍人的計謀，是如何騙了以色列人不消滅他們，而最終也成為了以色列的一份子。最後，還有一位跟約書亞征戰四十年的戰友迦勒，竟然是當時從埃及出來的人群中唯二可以進入到迦南地的人，而他的出身原來並不是以色列人的血脈，這段故事又是怎麼回事呢？ 這本書不僅僅是一段歷史故事，也蘊含了許多我們在今日生活中可以學習的屬靈功課。它提醒我們在面對挑戰時應該如何依靠上帝，如何保持信心，又如何在得勝後繼續謙卑順服。 用約書亞記來開始2025年，讓一同深讀，分享這一段以色列建國的故事，也從中學習屬靈的教訓。感謝你的聆聽！

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