by 鍾卓權牧師 (Rev. Bernie Chung)
上主日我們查考了《出埃及記》第四十章，以色列子民按照耶和華所吩咐摩西的規格建造了會幕，出埃及記第三十九章最後一節說：「摩西看見一切的工都作成了、就給他們祝福」。摩西遵照耶和華在離開埃及第二年正月初一日立起會幕，出埃及記40:34節說：「當時雲彩遮蓋會幕、耶和華的榮光就充滿了帳幕」，很明顯當時以色列子民會體會到耶和華神的同在，因為他們完成了 神告訴他們所要作的一切。今日我們在教會參與事奉的弟兄姊妹，各有自己的崗位與職責，事奉也有不同的層次，期望我們能效法以色列選民遵循 神告訴我們要作的一切，明察他的心意，以此原則進行祂所託付给我們的事工。
隨後出埃及記第40:35節記載說：「摩西不能進會幕、因為雲彩停在其上、並且耶和華的榮光、充滿了帳幕」。我原以為摩西不能進會幕是因為他們未按照利未記 9:22-23節的要求、 先是自潔獻上贖罪祭、燔祭、平安祭。顯然這並不正確、因為在同一章從第十七至三十二節說摩西是照耶和華所吩咐立起帳幕的，並「在會幕的帳幕門前、安設燔祭壇、把燔祭、和素祭、獻在其上．是照耶和華所吩咐他的」(40:29)。摩西可說是已滿足了進會幕的規矩，那麼為何摩西不能進會幕呢？ 40:35節告訴我們，就是因為耶和華的榮光已經「充滿」了帳幕，帳幕裏的榮光使他極其震撼而畏懼不能進去；另一個原因就是耶和華並沒有召喚他。回顧在出埃及記 24:16 節的記載「耶和華的榮耀停於西乃山、雲彩遮蓋山六天．第七天他從雲中召摩西」，由此可知當時是摩西被召喚之後才上山。換言之，或許我們已預備好了自己，但還須要先等待神的召喚，按照祂的心意，才能完成祂的託付。求主憐憫我們，給我們智慧能更明白祂的心意。
Translation:
In last Sunday’s worship service, we examined Chapter 40 of Exodus. With regards to the Israelites completing the tabernacle, the last two verses of Chapter 39 say: “The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So, Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:42-43). Moses set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month in the second year after their departure from Egypt as the Lord had commanded.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34 NIV). Clearly the Israelites experienced the presence of God because they have accomplished what the Lord had told them to do. Today, brothers and sisters who are involved in church ministry have different duties and responsibilities in various areas of the ministry. We pray that we can follow God’s commands, like the Israelites, and complete the tasks He has entrusted to us.
Exodus 40:35 says: “Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” I once thought the reasons Moses could not enter the tabernacle were because he did not consecrate himself and made offerings as described in Leviticus 9:22-23. Obviously, this is not true because in the same chapter from verses 17 to 32 describe Moses set up the tabernacle as the Lord commanded him. And “He (Moses) set the altar of burnt offering near the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it burnt offerings and grain offerings, as the Lord commanded him” (40:29). Moses can be said to have satisfied the rules and fulfilled the requirements of entering the tabernacle, so why can't Moses enter the tabernacle? Exodus 40:35 tells us that it is because the glory of the Lord has been "filled" in the tabernacle, and the glory in the tabernacle has made Moses extremely shocked and frightened to go in. Another reason is that the Lord did not summon him. Let’s recall what is written in Exodus 24:16, “and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.” Moses was summoned and then went up the mountain. In other words, even we have prepared ourselves to serve God, we must still wait for God's call to do what He has commanded. It’s God’s timing, not ours.
Dear Lord, have mercy on us! Please grant us the wisdom to know your will, and summon us so that we can enter into Your presence.
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