Manna issue 83 - My Ways Are Higher Than our Ways 我的道路高過你們的道路
Trust in God’s higher perspective
and purpose.
信靠神更好的眼光和用意
Philip Shee—Singapore 新加坡 許腓利執事
“For My thoughts are not your
thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says
the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than
the earth,
So are My ways higher than your
ways,
And My thoughts than your
thoughts.” (Isa 55:8–9)
8耶和華說：我的意念非同你們的意念；我的道路非同你們的道路。
9天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。
(賽 55：8-9)
It is generally difficult for human
beings to accept people who are better
than they are. Oftentimes we resent
those who put themselves above
us, believing that we know better.
However, in the above passage, God
tells us clearly that His ways are higher
than our ways. Can we truly accept
this fundamental truth?
人類要接受有另一個人比自已更好，通常來說很難。
我們常常會討厭那些重視自已過於別人的人，
而且相信，我們懂得比較多。
然而，在上面的經節中，神很清楚的告訴我們，
祂的道路高過我們的道路。
我們能否接受這個很基本的真理呢？
There is a useful litmus test of our
acceptance. If we truly accept that
God’s ways are higher than our ways,
we will be very submissive and stoic
in our lives of faith. We remain calm
in every situation because we entrust
everything to God. And there is wisdom
in this, as a famous Chinese story about
an old man and his horse illustrates:
有一種實用的試紙測試，可以測試我們的接受度。
若我們真的接受，神的道路高過我們的道路，
在信生活中，就會非常的順服，也能好好控制自已的情慾。
我們會在任何情況，保持平靜，
因為我們交託每一件事給神。
在這其中，是有智慧的，
有一則中國有名的故事，這樣說，
有一個老人和他的馬，作這樣的比喻：
Once upon a time, there was an
old man who lost his horse. On
the surface, this was a disaster
because he had lost a very precious
possession. But some time later,
this horse returned with another
horse. The old man was happy as his
misfortune had turned out to be a
blessing in disguise. With this horse’s
return, the old man’s son decided
to go for a ride. But he fell off the
horse and broke his leg. It appeared,
then, that the horse had brought bad
luck to the family. Not long after,
the country went to war and the
authorities came to conscript all the
able young men in the village. The
only young man left behind was the
old man’s son. None of the village’s
young men returned from the war.
Only the old man’s son survived and
lived to a ripe old age—all because
he broke his leg riding on a horse
which had once run away.
從前，有一個老人，丟了馬。
表面上，這好像是一個災難，
因為他損失了重要的財產。
但是一段時間之後，
這匹馬回來了，又帶了另一匹馬跟回來。
老人就很高興，因為他的不幸轉變為一種祝福所偽裝的災難，
實際上是祝福。
因為馬回來了，老人的兒子想要去騎馬。
但他從馬上掉下來，摔斷了腿。
然後看起來，這匹馬給這個家帶來壞運。
不久之後，國家發起戰爭，
有權的人來征召村莊全部可正常行動的年輕男子。
唯一沒有被征召的年輕男子，就是老人的兒子。
沒有一個村莊的年輕男子從戰場上回來。
只有老人的兒子活下來，活到年紀一大把 -
一切都只因為他騎過，這匹馬曾經逃跑的馬，
讓他斷了腿。
The underlying point of this story
is that no one knows whether an
incident will eventually turn out to be
a blessing or a loss. This is because our
human perspective is limited by time,
space, and our intellectual capabilities.
In contrast, God’s perspective is
multidimensional. He can see through
all of time, and every interaction
between every event happening in
the universe, at all times.
這個故事底下的重點，就是沒有人知道，
到底發生了一件事，到最後這件事會變成祝福和損失。
這是因為人的眼光受到時間，空間和智力的限制。
相反的，神的觀點是多面向的。
祂可以看透整段時間，
無論何時，祂可以看到整個宇宙，
發生許多的事情，並其中相互之間的關連。
We often come to very simplistic
conclusions because of our onedimensional
thinking. For example,
losing a horse equals a loss; the return
of two horses equals a gain; and a
broken leg equals a loss. Consequently,
we tend to be too preoccupied
with minor matters, which leads to
negativity. When it rains, we complain
that we will get wet. When it does
not rain, we complain about the heat.
We often compare ourselves with
others and wonder why we are not
taller, richer, smarter, better-looking,
and so on. We often forget that our
disadvantages may be advantages in
a different situation. For example, a
person who is short may not be able
to reach the highest shelf. But then
again, he is more comfortable than
his taller counterpart in the cramped
confines of an economy class seat on
an aeroplane.
我們時常就下了很簡單的結論，
因為我們只從一個角度來思考。
例如，遺失了一匹馬，就等於損失；
二匹馬一起回家，就好像撿到寶；
而腿斷了就是損失。
因此，我們很容易被小事情預先佔住自已全部的心思，
而這樣的結果，就會導致負面思考。
當天空下雨的時候，我們會抱怨自已被淋溼了。
當沒有下雨的時候，我們又會抱怨天氣好熱。
我們常常拿自已和別人比較，
會想為什麼自已沒有長高一點，
或有錢一點，聰明一點，外表好看一點，等等。
我們常常忘記，在不同的環境之中，
自已的缺點，或許會變成優點。
例如，長的比較矮的人，或許不能碰到很高架子上的東西。
但是然而再一次，若是在坐飛機的時候，
矮的人比起長得高的人，坐在經濟艙的狹小空間裡，
矮子坐起來就很舒服。
We must thus learn to accept that
God allows seemingly adverse things
to happen to us for our own good.
We accept, knowing that His ways
are higher than our ways. The Bible
contains many good examples which
illustrate this simple truth.
因此，我們一定要學會接受，
神為了我們的好處，
會允許一些看起來相反的事情發生。
我們會接受，因為知道，祂的道路高過我們的道路。
聖經裡面，包括了很多好例子，
都闡述了這個簡單的真理。
1. JOSEPH: GOD ALWAYS MEANS
IT FOR GOOD
1. 約瑟：神的意思總是好的
Joseph was an exemplary son who
was obedient to his father, and his
father loved him. He had a privileged
and happy childhood. Unfortunately,
his brothers were jealous of him
and plotted to kill him. But Reuben,
the eldest brother, persuaded the
rest of his brothers to cast him into
a pit without harming him. Later,
Judah convinced them to sell Joseph
to slave-traders headed for Egypt
instead of killing him (Gen 37:26–28).
Joseph must have been baffled by his
siblings’ hatred. He had done nothing
to hurt them. Why did they conspire
against him?
約瑟是一個有好榜樣的兒子，
他很順服父親，而父親很愛他。
所以小的時候，約瑟很受疼愛，而且很快樂。
很不幸的是，他的弟兄忌妒他，計劃要殺了他。
但是流便，這個最大的哥哥，
苦口相勸其他的兄弟，把約瑟丟在洞裡面，不要傷害他。
後來，猶大說服了大家，把約瑟賣給要去埃及奴隸販子，
而不是把他殺了。
(創 37：26-28)
約瑟的心中，一定曾經充滿了對兄弟的仇恨。
而且約瑟從來沒有作過任何事，去傷害過其他的弟兄。
那為何他們要一定密謀來對付約瑟呢？
It would have been traumatic. In
one moment, Joseph’s privileged
and happy childhood was ripped
away. If we were to meet with a
similar predicament, how would
we respond? Would our faith be
shaken? Would we question God and
demand to know why He allows these
calamities and injustice to beset us?
Many people would start to doubt
God if they encounter such senseless
circumstances, or suffer unfair
treatment.
他一定會受到傷害。
在那一段時間，約瑟受疼愛，又快樂同年，就被剝奪了。
若我們處在相同的困境之中，
我們會怎麼反應呢？
我們會信心會不會受到動搖？
我們會不會去質疑神，
向神要求說要知道，
為何祂讓這些災難和不公平的事，降臨到我們的身上？
若他們遇到這種不合理的環境時，
或是遭到不公平的對待之時，
許多人會開始懷疑神。
In Egypt, Joseph ended up as a
slave in the house of Potiphar. But
interestingly, God blessed him so
that everything he did went well.
Joseph prospered in Potiphar’s house.
Consequently, Potiphar honored him
and promoted him to chief of his
household, second only to Potiphar
himself in authority. Joseph’s fate
appeared to have changed. But his
master’s wife soon started noticing
the handsome young supervisor.
在埃及的時候，
約瑟最後成為一個波提乏家中的奴隸。
但是有趣的是，神大大祝福他，
所以，他作的任何事都很順利。
約瑟在波提乏的家中受到重用，越發興旺。
結果，波提乏很尊敬他，提拔他成為家中的總管，
在家中的權力分配下，約瑟是僅次於波提乏的第二個有權力的人。
很明顯的，約瑟的命運已經改變了。
但是主母很快就開始注意到這個很帥的年青總管。
And it came to pass after these
things that his master’s wife cast
longing eyes on Joseph, and she said,
“Lie with me.” (Gen 39:7)
7這事以後，約瑟主人的妻以目送情給約瑟，說：你與我同寢罷！
(創 39：7)
Joseph did the right thing—he
refused to sin against God and betray
his master (Gen 39:8–9). But, angry
with Joseph’s rejection, the master’s
wife framed him. She falsely accused
him of trying to violate her.
約瑟作對了事情 -
他拒絕得罪神，拒絕背叛主人。
(創 39：8-9)
但是，因為約瑟的拒絕，
主母很生氣，就設計陷害他。
她作了偽証來控告約瑟，想要侵犯她。
When we hear or read about
these events in Joseph’s life, we may
dismiss them as just a movie-style
melodrama. Or we may think that
the ultimate happy ending enjoyed
by Joseph should render his suffering
bearable. But we must remember
that when Joseph was going through
these experiences, he had not the
slightest inkling what the next day—
let alone the next stage of life—would
bring. It would have been devastating
enough to be sold by one’s own
brethren to foreigners. But just as his
luck started to improve, he was falsely
imprisoned—and for trying to do the
right and honorable thing!
當我們不論是聽到，或是讀到約瑟生平故事中，
這些事件發的時候，
我們或許會忽略了這些故事，
因為這些故事就好像是電影情節一樣。
或者我們或許會認為，
這個約瑟最後得享的圓滿結局，
這才導致了他可以忍受之前一切的苦楚。
但是我們一定要記得，
當約瑟正在經歷這些事情的時候，
他跟本一點對於明天會發生什麼事，完全沒有一點概念 -
更別說會知道他人生下一個階段會是什麼樣子 -
這些好事就會這麼發生。
被自已的親兄弟賣給外國人，就已經夠另人絕望的。
但是正當他的運氣開始稍為好轉，成為冤獄的受人 -
因為試著作正確又光榮的事，而受遷連。
Today, there are those who want to
take revenge on society because they
feel they have been unfairly treated.
They feel justified in victimizing others
because they believe they have been
victimized. In stark contrast, Joseph
never once murmured against God.
In return, God was with him wherever
he went. Hence even in prison, he
flourished. He was well-liked by
the prison keeper. He interpreted
dreams for his fellow prisoners, the
royal butler and baker, respectively.
When the butler was reinstated to his
position, Joseph must have thought
that it would only be a matter of time
before he too would be released. But
Joseph had to wait another two years
before the butler remembered.
今日，有許多人想要報復社會，
因為覺得自已受到不公平的待遇。
他們覺得讓別人成為受害者，才能伸張正義，
因為他們會覺得自已都是受害人。
完全相反的是，約瑟並沒有一次抱怨神。
反過來，不論他往那裡去，神都和約瑟同在。
因此即使是在監牢中，他也很活躍。
並且深受牢中的獄卒所喜愛。
他為同坐監的犯人解夢，他們分別是王室的總管和烘焙師。
但王室總管重新恢復官職之後，約瑟一定有想過，
只要再花一些時間，他也可以被釋放。
但在管家想起這件事之前，
約瑟還要再另外等二年。
When Pharaoh had a dream that
nobody could interpret, the butler
suddenly recalled Joseph’s ability.
Joseph was brought before Pharaoh,
and successfully interpreted his dream.
God’s revelation through Pharaoh’s
dream enabled Egypt to be prepared
for a seven-year famine. As there was
also famine in the land of Canaan,
Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy
grain. This set the stage for Joseph’s
reunion with his whole family. After
their reconciliation, Joseph’s family
settled in Egypt.
當法老有一個夢的時候，沒人可以解夢，
管家才突然想起約瑟的能力。
約瑟被帶到法老面前，成功為法老解夢。
神透過法老的夢來啟示，
讓埃及可以為將到的7年飢荒來準備。
而迦南地也有飢荒。
雅各就派了許多兒子來埃及地買糧。
飢荒就成為約瑟和全家重新團圓的舞台。
他們重新如好之後，約瑟的家人都定居在埃及。
Upon the death of Jacob the
patriarch, Joseph’s brothers were
very worried that Joseph would
take revenge. But Joseph was far
wiser. Although he did not initially
understand why suffering dogged
him, he finally realized that God had
everything under control. And so
Joseph told his brothers, “Do not be
afraid, for am I in the place of God?”
(Gen 50:19).
隨著族長雅各的去逝，
約瑟的兄弟們就很煩惱，擔心約瑟會來報仇。
但是約瑟遠遠更有智慧。
雖然一開始，他不知道為什麼苦難會一直跟著他，
最後他終於明白，一切都在神的掌握之中。
所以約瑟這麼和兄弟說，
19不要害怕，我豈能代替神呢？
(創 50：19)
Joseph understood that there is
One who is much higher, whose ways
and thoughts are much higher. God
has a higher purpose that we do not
always see.
約瑟明白，有一個站在高天之上的神，
他的道路和想法，是更加的高明。
神有祂更崇高的目標，
而我們常常不一定看得見。
…but God meant it for good, in
order to bring it about as it is this
day, to save many people alive.
(Gen 50:20b)
20但神的意思原是好的，要保全許多人的性命，成就今日的光景。
(創 50：20b)
Had Joseph not been in Egypt at the
right time, many people would have
died, including Jacob and his family.
Jacob’s family were instrumental to
God’s salvation plan. Jacob would
become Israel, and his children,
the fathers of the Israelite nation—
God’s chosen people. Every incident
happened for a purpose and at the
right time. Why was Joseph sold?
So that he would go to Egypt. Why
did he have to go to Egypt? So that
he would end up in prison. Why did
he have to be in prison? So that he
would meet the royal butler. Why
did the butler forget him? So that
Joseph could be summoned in time to
interpret Pharaoh’s dream.
若是約瑟沒有在那個合適的時間點，
身處在埃及地，
就會有會死掉，包括了雅各和整個家族。
雅各一家人，成為神完成救贖計劃的工具。
雅各會改名為以色列，
而他的兒女，會成為以色列國家的祖先 -
是神的選民。
所發生的每一件事，都有其用意，也都在剛好的時間出現。
約瑟為什麼會被賣了？
就是因為這樣，他才會去到埃及。
約瑟為什麼一定要去埃及？
就是因為這樣，最後他們才被下在監牢。
約瑟為什麼一定要被下在監牢？
就是因為這樣，他們會遇到王室的管家。
為什麼這個管家把約瑟忘了？
就是因為這樣，約瑟能在那個剛好的時間，
被法老叫去為他解夢。
From Joseph’s perspective, this series
of unfortunate events certainly would
not have made any sense at the time.
False imprisonment would not have
been easy to bear. But he persevered,
and when he looked back, it all made
sense. It was to fulfill a much higher
purpose. We should not trust our
perspective because we look at things
from a single dimension. But God
has the entire picture. God means it
all for good. If we view things from
a single dimension, we can never see
it. So we must accept that God’s ways
are higher than our ways, and His
thoughts higher than our thoughts.
從約瑟的觀點來看，
在那個時間所發生一連串不幸的事件，
對他而言，感覺就一點都不合理。
無辜而被下在監牢裡，一定要很不容易去承受。
他是他堅持下去，而當他再往回看的時候，
一切看起來都理所當然了。
一切都是為了可以達成那個更遠大的目標。
我們不應該只依賴自已的觀點，
因為我們只從一個角度來看問題。
但是神卻可以看見整個場景。
神的用意其實都是好的。
若我們只從一個角度，來看待事情，
我們就永遠看不明白。
所以我們一定要接受，
神的道路比我們所選的道路更高，
祂的意念比我們的想法更加高明。
This is faith. If we have this kind
of faith, at the very end, we will say,
“Amen. I now know why.”
這就是信心。
若我們有這種信心，到最後，
我們就會說，
"阿們。現在我知道為什麼了。"
2. ABRAHAM: GOD’S TIMING IS
PERFECT
2. 亞伯蘭：神的時機總是剛剛好
God told Abram to leave his homeland,
Ur of the Chaldeans, and God would
lead him to the promised land. But
Abram would not possess this land,
and it would take many generations
before his descendants would. God
also promised that Abram would be
a great nation, but Abram would not
live to see it. Further, God revealed
to Abram that his descendants would
be strangers in a foreign land; they
would have to serve foreign masters
and suffer this affliction for four
hundred years. What God told Abram
was fulfilled much later, after Jacob
and his family settled in Egypt (Gen
15:12–16).
神告訴亞伯蘭要離開家鄉，迦勒底的吾珥，
神會帶領他到應許之地。
但亞伯蘭不會佔據這塊土地，
要經過好幾個世代之後，他的子孫才會得到這塊土地。
神也應許，亞伯蘭會成為一個大國，
但是在亞伯蘭在活著的時候，他卻不能看見。
不只如此，神啟示亞伯蘭，
祂的後代子孫，會在國外的異地，成為當地的陌生人；
他們會服事異地的主人，
要經歷這種痛苦達四百年之久。
而神所告訴亞伯蘭的事，
在多年以後才一一實現，
也就是在雅各和他的一家人在埃及定居。
(創 15：12-16)
Abraham’s ability to have faith in all
that God had promised is exemplary.
We often fall far short of this example.
Sometimes, we expect God to bless
us because we have been a good
Christian and have done what the
Bible says we should. And we want
God to bless us in our lifetime, if not
immediately. We certainly do not
want to wait for four generations.
We think that God is dragging His
feet or being stingy with His blessing
because we only consider a single
dimension—our personal perspective.
But God considers many factors; in
modern parlance, He takes a holistic
view. In the context of the Israelites,
the fourth generation of those who
settled in Egypt would return to take
possession of the land that God had
promised them. Because that is when
the “iniquity of the Amorites would be
complete” (Gen 15:16). God would
bring His people back to execute
justice. The Israelites were to drive the
Amorites out of the land because, in
God’s eyes, they no longer deserved
the land. God had given the Amorites
that piece of land for all these years.
But these Amorites responded to such
providence by worshipping false gods,
and sacrificing their children in their
religious rituals. Their way of worship
was also immoral. As a result, when
their sins had reached their full extent
of egregiousness, God would let the
Israelites inherit the promised land.
亞伯拉罕對一切神所應許的事情有信心，
特別是一種典範。
我們自已的情況，常常離這樣的模範離的很遠。
有時候，我們希望神會祝福我們，
因為我們一直都是很好的基督徒，
也完成了一切聖經告讓我們應該要作的事。
而且我們希望，神可以在我們還活著的時候，
可以祝福我們，若沒有馬上，也可以儘快祝福我們。
我們一定不會想要等了四個世代的時間。
我們會以為，神在拉他的後腳，
或是對祝福很吝嗇，因為我們只看到一個面向 -
我們個人的觀點。
但神會考慮許多的因素；
若以現在的用法來說，神有歷史的眼光。
若身處在以色列人的環境下，
要到埃及定居的第四代，
才會回去取得這神應許他們的土地。
因為那時才是
"亞摩利人的罪孽滿盈的時候。"
(創 15：16)
神會帶回祂的百姓來執行公義。
在神的眼中，以色列人是用來驅逐亞摩利人消失於這地，
因為神認為他們不配得這地。
這些年來，神給亞摩利人佔有這塊地。
但這些亞摩利人回應這麼豐盛的準備，
卻是去敬拜假神，在宗教儀式中獻上兒女。
而且他們敬拜的方式也很不道德。
結果，到了他們罪惡達到惡名昭彰的極限程度的時候，
神就讓以色列人來繼承這塊應許之地。
In short, faith is about accepting
God’s timing because His ways are
higher than ours. The best plan is
God’s plan.
總之，信心就是要能夠順服神的時間，
因為祂的道路高過我們的選擇。
神的計劃才是最好的。
3. MOSES: GOD KNOWS THE
TRAINING WE NEED
3. 摩西：神知道我們需要的訓練
There was another reason why the
Israelites had to dwell in Egypt.
At that time, Egypt was the most
advanced civilization in that region.
In contrast, Israel was just starting out
as a nation. The Israelites had worked
four hundred years in Egypt. Although
they worked very hard, they were
oppressed by their Egyptian masters.
But God said He would judge Egypt,
and the Israelites would come out
with great possessions (Gen 15:14).
Indeed, when the Israelites left Egypt,
they had cattle, silver, gold, and even
Egypt’s national reserves (Ex 12:35–
36).
有另一個原因，為什麼以色列人一定要去埃及住。
在那個時候，埃及是那個地區文明最為先進的國家。
以色列才開始正要成為一個國家。
以色列人已經在埃及工作了將近四百年。
雖然他們非常的努力工作，
但是他們受到埃及主人的壓迫。
但是神說，祂要審判埃及，
以色列人可以很多的財富，從埃及地出來。
(創 15：14)
是的，以色列人離開埃及的時候，
他們有駱駝，銀子，金子，甚至是埃及國家儲備的財富。
Moses was chosen to lead them out
of Egypt. Growing up as an Egyptian
prince, Moses had been trained in
all the knowledge and wisdom of
the Egyptians, and he was mighty in
words and deeds (Acts 7:22). His life in
the palace of Egypt had not rendered
him impervious to the suffering of the
Israelites, his people. So the fortyyear-
old Moses wanted to take them
out of Egypt. But instead of fulfilling
His promise to Abraham at that time
(Gen 15:13–14), God sent Moses to
Midian. There, Moses spent the next
forty years tending sheep.
摩西被神揀選來帶領他們出埃及。
摩西從小從當成埃及的王子養大，
一直接受著埃及地最好知識和智慧的訓練，
他在言辭和行為上都很有能力。
(徒 7：22)
他在埃及王宮的生活，並沒有導致，
他對以色列人(自已的族人)受苦的事，無動於衷。
所以那時已經40歲的老摩西，要帶他們出埃及。
但是神不但沒有在那個時候，實現亞伯拉罕的應許，
(創 15：13-14)
神把摩西送到米甸的曠野去。
在那裡，摩西用了另一個40年，牧養羊群。
At first glance, this course of action
does not appear to make sense.
Surely the dynamic, passionate
forty-year-old prince would be far
better equipped to lead than the
reluctant and reticent eighty-yearold
shepherd? On deeper reflection,
God’s way makes perfect sense. For
the first forty years, Moses learned
knowledge. But in the second forty
years, he gained character. Fortyyear-
old Moses was very aggressive,
mighty in words and deeds. This
certainly qualified him to rally the
Israelites, but could he manage them?
In the wilderness of Midian, Moses
spent forty years gazing at sheep and
learning to be patient. It was only
after this period that the infinitely
wise God considered him ready to
fulfill the real purpose of his life in his
final forty years. Without the heart of
a shepherd, Moses would not have
had the patience to deal with the
Israelites in the wilderness. Moses,
the seasoned shepherd, had seen
how headstrong and stubborn sheep
could be. They did not always heed
the shepherd, and often plunged
themselves into danger by wandering
off, even to dangerous places the
shepherd had warned them against.
In short, while Egypt could only train
Moses to lead, the Midian years were
necessary to equip Moses with the
ability to lead the Israelites through all
types of conditions, and, particularly,
lead them in the wilderness for forty
years.
看第一眼的時候，
這種行動的路線，看起來並不怎麼合理。
在一般人的眼中，那個精力充沛，充滿熱情，
四十歲的王子，一定是準備的最好，可以來帶領以色列人，
而不是去選一個不情不願，沉默寡言的八十歲老牧羊人？
若是深入的思考一下，
神的道路才是真正的完美無缺。
因為第一個40年，摩西只覺到知識。
但是到了第二個40年，他學會了老練。
摩西40歲的時候，是非常的積極，
能言善道，大有作為。
對他而言，這一定是最有資格來集合以色列人，
但是摩西管得動他們嗎？
在米甸曠野的時候，
摩西花了四十年看著羊群，學會什麼叫作有耐心。
只有在經過了這段時候之後，
智慧無限大的神這時才認為摩西準備好了，
可以在他最後的四十年，來實現他一生中，真正的目標。
若是摩西沒有一顆牧羊人的心，
他絕對沒有那種耐心，可以好好在曠野中處理以色列人的事。
摩西是個老練的牧羊人，
一定看過很多任性又頑固的牧羊人。
那些羊不會常常注意牧羊人，
常常亂逛迷失，讓自已掉入危險之中，
甚至會跑到那些牧羊人已經警告他們不要去的地方。
總之，雖然埃及只可以訓練摩西領導，
而米甸曠野那幾年，對摩西而言是很有必要的，
可以裝備摩西有能力，來帶領以色列人通過各種的困難的情況，
特別是要帶領他們在曠野裡走四十年。
Ultimately, God’s way is always
the better way. His higher ways and
higher thoughts are infallible.
到最後，神的道路常常是比較好的道路。
祂更高的道路和意念，是絕對可靠。
4. PAUL: GOD KNOWS WHERE
AND HOW WE CAN BEST
CONTRIBUTE
4. 保羅：神知道我們在那裡最能發揮，我們怎麼作才會作得最好
Paul was a very able preacher and a
key worker in the ministry. The Holy
Spirit revealed to him that he had to
go to Jerusalem, even though chains
awaited him there. He knew he would
be arrested and imprisoned (Acts
20:22–23). Any logical person would
have urged him not to go. After all,
there were many places where he
could preach; there would be many
people, elsewhere, who needed to
hear the gospel. But Paul went and,
as expected, he was arrested. He was
brought to Rome and placed under
house arrest for two years.
保羅是非常能言善道的傳道人，
在神的傳道事工上，是一個重要的工人。
聖靈啟示祂，他要去耶路撒冷，
即使在那裡有鎖練等著他。
他知道會被逮捕，被下到監牢去。
(徒 20：22-23)
任何有理智的人，都會鼓舞他不要去。
畢竟，有其他很多地方，他都可以去傳道；
在其他地方，也會有許多人，需要聽到這個福音。
但保羅還是去了，就像之前所知道的，
他被人抓走了。
他被人帶到羅馬，
放在屋中軟禁了二年。
If we were in Paul’s shoes, we may
think that being allowed to move
about freely to preach the gospel
would be the best way to serve God.
However, God had other plans. He
wanted Paul to stay put and write
under the inspiration of His Spirit. In
His omnipotence, He can bring fish to
the fisherman; He would bring people
to the preacher.
若我們身處在保羅的處境，
我們或許會想，若能允許可以四處自由移動去傳福音，
就是服事神最好的方式。
然而，神有其他的計劃。
他要保羅留在原地，在聖靈的啟示之下，好好的寫作。
在神的全能之下，祂可以把魚送給魚夫；
同樣，也可以把人帶到傳道人面前。
Indeed, in those two years, Paul was
allowed to have visitors. He could still
preach freely. People came to him, but
most importantly, during that time,
he wrote the prison epistles, which
became part of our New Testament.
What Paul wrote has been printed
and passed down for generations.
Millions across time and all over the
world have read these writings. So in
those two years in prison, Paul was
able to preach to more people than
he could ever have preached to in his
lifetime, even when free.
是的，在這二年之間，保羅被允許接見訪客。
他仍然能自由的傳福音。
有人會來見他，但更重要的是，
在那個時間，他寫了保羅獄中的書信，
後來就變成了新約聖經的一部份。
而保羅所寫下來，已經被印行出來，
經過好幾個世貸，流傳了下來。
跨越了千年的時間，有好幾百萬全世界的人，
都已經讀過這些保羅的作品。
所以在監牢的這二年間，
保羅卻可以傳道給更多的人，
比起他以前在一生之中，傳給更多的人來聽道，
甚至也比他自由之身的時候，傳的更多。
CONCLUSION 結論
This is how God the Omnipotent and
Omniscient works. “My ways are
higher than your ways. My thoughts
are not always your thoughts.” We
must believe this. And believing this,
we must conduct our life of faith
correspondingly—in adversity and
suffering, do not complain. As long
as we are faithful to God, as long
as we keep doing the right thing,
regardless of what may happen right
now, remember that we can only
see one dimension. God’s ways are
much higher. He manages multiple
dimensions. Have faith and trust. Take
a step back, keep calm, and watch the
wonderful will of God unfold before
our eyes.
這就是那全能全知神怎麼動工的方式。
"我的道路高過你們的道路。我的意念非同你們的意念。"
我們一定要相信這一點。
因著這麼的相信，我們一定要相應地實行自已的信仰生活 -
不論在逆境，或在困苦之中，都不可發怨言。
只要我們對神忠心，
只要我們繼續作對的事，
不論現在會發生什麼事，
請記得，我們只能看見一個面向。
神的道路是更好的。
祂會掌控所有的層面。
要有信心，信靠神。
往後退一步，保持平靜，
就可以看到神奇妙的旨意，
在我們眼前展開來。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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