Manna issue 73 - Conquest of Canaan: Crossing the Jordan
Have we crossed the Jordan River?
走過約旦河，征服迦南地
我們走過約旦河了嗎？
Caleb Lee—Singapore 新加坡
BACKGROUND 背景
A nation is defined as a community
of people possessing their own
territory and government. However,
the Israelite nation did not have its
own territory until they conquered
Canaan. But before the Israelites
conquered the Promised Land,
they had to cross the Jordan River.
This crossing—done right at the
beginning of the conquest—was
critical in strengthening the people’s
faith for the battles ahead.
國家的定義是一群人擁有自已的土地和政府。
然而，直到征服迦南地之前，以色列人並沒有領土。
在以色列人征服應許之地前，他們必須越過約旦河。
這次的橫渡，是在開始遠征之前，能好好的被加以完成是非常重要的，
藉此可以為了即將到來的戰役，先加添百姓的信心。
territory n. 領土
Before crossing the Jordan, the
Israelites had encamped east of
the river. Led by Moses, they had
defeated two kings, Sihon and Og.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half
of the tribe of Manasseh received
their share of land on the east side
of the Jordan under the condition
that their men would still cross the
Jordan to help their brethren conquer
Canaan. Soon afterwards, Moses
died and Joshua became the leader.
Joshua then sent two spies to the city
of Jericho, who returned with the
favorable report that the Lord would
deliver the land to them (Josh 2:24).
在橫渡約旦河之前，以色列百姓安營在河岸的東邊。
由摩西領導，他們打敗了二個王， 西宏和噩。
流便，迦得和瑪拿西半支派，雖然先得約旦河東為產業，也同意一起過了約旦河，去幫助他們的兄弟一起征服迦南地。
不久之後 ，摩西死去，約書亞成為領導者。
約書亞便派了二個探子去耶利哥城，他們帶回了另人高興的報告，主會將這地交給他們(書 2：24)
The good news motivated Joshua
and his men to cross the Jordan.
However, coming to the river,
they were greeted by the sight of
overflowing banks, for it was the time
of harvest (Josh 3:15). So they stayed
by the Jordan and waited for three
days, before the officers (directed
by Joshua) gave instructions to the
people (Josh 3:2).
這個好消息感動了約書亞和他們來一起渡過約旦河。
然而來到河邊，他們所見的景象是河水正在氾濫四溢，因為這個時候正是收穫的季節。(書 3：2)
所以他們停留在約旦河邊，在官長(由約書亞指揮)下命令之前，等了三天。(書 3：2)
PLACE THE ARK IN FRONT AND IN PLAIN SIGHT
把約櫃放在前面明顯的地方
[A]nd they commanded the people,
saying, “When you see the ark of
the covenant of the LORD your
God, and the priests, the Levites,
bearing it, then you shall set out
from your place and go after it. Yet
there shall be a space between you
and it, about two thousand cubits
by measure. Do not come near it,
that you may know the way by
which you must go, for you have
not passed this way before.” (Josh
3:3–4)
3吩咐百姓說：你們看見耶和華─你們神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬著，就要離開所住的地方，跟著約櫃去。
4只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。
(書 3：3-4)
Carrying out Joshua’s instruction,
the officers then commanded the
people to set out when they saw
the Levites carrying the ark of the
covenant towards the Jordan. They
were to follow at a distance of about
2,000 cubits, which would allow
them to see where the ark was going.
This was critical because the people
had never passed that way before.
執行約書亞的命令，官長指示百姓，當看到利未人抬著約櫃往約旦河去時，要跟著出發。
他們要距離二千對遠遠跟著，也可以讓他們看見約櫃往那個方向去。
這很重要，因為百姓以前從來沒有走過這條路。
In our daily life, we may face a
seemingly impossible task, just like
the Israelites who had to cross an
overflowing river. Such a task may be
a bad habit that we have not been
able to shake off or a grudge that
we have been harboring. Although
we know that we have to change,
it is very difficult to overcome these
weaknesses.
日常生活中，我們會面對看起來好像很重要的事情，就像以色列百姓要過氾濫的約旦河。
這項事情，有可能是一個壞習慣，但我們一直改不掉，或者一直以來在心中懷著恨意。
雖然我們知道要改變，但卻很難克服這些個人的弱點。
There is only one way to complete
this “mission impossible”—place
the ark in front where we can see it.
The ark represents God’s presence.
With Him in front of us, we will be
able to see where He is leading.
Unfortunately, we often put God
behind us. We may not realize that
we are doing this. But whenever we
fail to exercise self-control and give in
to our desire to sin, or we deliberately
shut our minds to God’s prompting,
we have put God far behind us.
只有一種方法才能去完成這種不可能的任務，就是把約櫃放在前頭，讓我們能看見。
約櫃代表神的同在。
有祂在前面，才可以看祂要怎麼代領我們。
不幸的是，我們通常把神放在後面。
我們或許沒有意識到，我們有這樣作。
但是當我們無法克制自已，向慾望低頭犯了罪，或者我們忽視聖靈的感動，把神放在後面遠遠的。
deliberately ad. 故意地
Putting God in front of us should
be done not just in difficult times but
every day. We can do this in various
ways such as praying first to start off
the day, reflecting on God and God’s
words through the day, using His
teachings to guide us in what we do
and so on. When we do this, we are
looking to and following the ark of
the covenant in front of us. We can
proceed confidently because God is
guiding us, even if we did not know
where we are going.
把神放在前面，不只是面對困難的時刻，而每一天都要這樣。
在各方面，我們可以這麼作，例如，每一天開始作事時先禱告，一天當中時時思想神和神的話，
用神的教導來指引我們所要作的事，等等。
當這麼作的時候，我們就會看著神，跟著在前面的約櫃向前走。
因為有神帶領，我們就會充滿信心，即使是我們不知要走向何方去。
I don’t know about tomorrow, …
But His presence goes before me, …
And I know who holds my hand.
(I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Ira F.
Stanphill)
我不知明日將如何，...
但我主引導我路途，...
祂必要領我向前。
(我知誰掌管明天 by Ira F. Stanphill)
SANCTIFY OURSELVES
自潔
sanctify vt. 使聖潔
And Joshua said to the people,
“Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow
the LORD will do wonders among
you.” (Josh 3:5)
約書亞吩咐百姓說：你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事(書 3：5)
Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves, because God would do wonders
for them. His instruction shows that victory is not achieved through military
might or the brilliance of the commander but through faith, obedience, and
consecration to God.
約書亞吩咐百姓說：你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。
祂教導他們，不是武力，也不是指揮官的聰明，而是信心，順服，以及歸神為聖才能帶來勝利。
brilliance n. 才華，才智
An ancient general would have
told his troops to ensure that their
weapons were sharpened and their
shields ready before sending them
into battle. Joshua, however, told
the people to sanctify themselves,
because God would do wonders
for them. His instruction shows
that victory is not achieved through
military might or the brilliance of
the commander but through faith,
obedience, and consecration to God.
This is a common theme that runs
through all the battles recorded in the
book of Joshua.
古代的將軍會告訴他的軍隊，要上戰場之前，先要確認武器有磨利，並且帶著盾牌。
然而約書亞告訴百姓要自潔，因為神要在他們中間行奇事。
祂教導他們，不是武力，也不是指揮官的聰明，而是信心，順服，以及歸神為聖才能帶來勝利。
在整篇約書亞記的記載中，都是這個共同的主題。
UNDERSTAND GOD’S PURPOSE
了解神的旨意
Then Joshua spoke to the priests,
saying, “Take up the ark of the
covenant and cross over before the
people.” So they took up the ark
of the covenant and went before
the people. And the LORD said to
Joshua, “This day I will begin to
exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know that, as I was
with Moses, so I will be with you.
You shall command the priests
who bear the ark of the covenant,
saying, ‘When you have come to
the edge of the water of the Jordan,
you shall stand in the Jordan.’” So
Joshua said to the children of Israel,
“Come here, and hear the words of
the LORD your God.” And Joshua
said, “By this you shall know that
the living God is among you, and
that He will without fail drive out
from before you the Canaanites and
the Hittites and the Hivites and the
Perizzites and the Girgashites and
the Amorites and the Jebusites.”
(Josh 3:6–10)
6約書亞又吩咐祭司說：你們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭過去。於是他們抬起約櫃，在百姓前頭走。
7耶和華對約書亞說：從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在。
8你要吩咐抬約櫃的祭司說：你們到了約但河的水邊上，就要在約但河水裡站住。
9約書亞對以色列人說：你們近前來，聽耶和華─你們神的話。
10約書亞說：看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約但河裡，因此你們就知道在你們中間有永生神；
並且他必在你們面前趕出迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亞摩利人、耶布斯人。
(書 3：6-10)
The people of Israel were about to
see a great miracle and experience
God’s great power. However, Joshua,
ever the educator, first pointed
out the purpose of this miracle. He
wanted the people to realize that God
abided with them and that He would
surely drive out all the inhabitants of
Canaan before them. Joshua wanted
the people to understand that God
was using this miracle to strengthen
Israel’s faith in Him.
以色列人將要親眼看見一個偉大的神蹟，親自體會神偉大的權能。
然而，約書亞永遠都像老師一樣，首先指出這個神蹟的用意。
他要百姓知道，神住在他們中間，而且祂一定會趕出所有住在他們眼前的迦南地居民。
約書亞要百姓了解，神用這個神蹟來加添以色列人對神的信心。
Likewise, when God performs
miracles in a person’s life, His main
purpose is to increase the faith of the
person and those around him or her.
This is why He promised that miracles,
signs, and wonders would follow
those who preach the gospel. This is
to confirm the message preached and
to prompt people to believe in Jesus
so that their souls would be saved.
同樣，當神向人施行神蹟時，祂主要的目的是加添這個人以及他旁邊所有人的信心，
這也是他應允，有神蹟，異象，奇事隨著傳福音的人。
要應証所傳的福音訊息，使人來相信耶穌，這樣一來，他們的靈魂才能得救。
CROSSING JORDAN RIVER: FAITH AND MIRACLE
越過約旦河：信心與神蹟
Behold, the ark of the covenant of
the Lord of all the earth is crossing
over before you into the Jordan.
Now therefore, take for yourselves
twelve men from the tribes of Israel,
one man from every tribe. And
it shall come to pass, as soon as
the soles of the feet of the priests
who bear the ark of the LORD, the
Lord of all the earth, shall rest in
the waters of the Jordan, that the
waters of the Jordan shall be cut off,
the waters that come down from
upstream, and they shall stand as a
heap.
(Josh 3:11–13)
11看哪，普天下主的約櫃必在你們前頭過去，到約但河裡.
12你們現在要從以色列支派中揀選十二個人，每支派一人.
13等到抬普天下主耶和華約櫃的祭司把腳站在約但河水裡，約但河的水，就是從上往下流的水，必然斷絕，立起成壘.
(書 3：11-13)
This was Joshua’s final set of
instructions to the people. At that
point, the people had yet to cross
the Jordan River, and the priests had
yet to dip a single toe into the river.
However, Joshua had utter faith in
what would happen next. Indeed,
the water from upstream stopped as
soon as the feet of the priests who
bore the ark came into contact with
the water edge of the Jordan River!
The priests then stood firm on the
dry ground right in the middle of the
river until all Israel had crossed the
river (Josh 3:14–17).
這是約書亞對百姓最後的指示。
在那時，百姓尚未通過約旦河，祭司的腳也還沒有踏入約旦河水中。
然而，約書亞對所要發生的事情有全然的信心。
是的，只要抬著約櫃祭司的腳，沾到約旦河的河水，水從上游就斷絕了。
眾祭司站立在約旦河中的乾地，直到所有的以色列百姓通過約旦河。
(書 3：14-17)
Imagine being in the shoes of one
of the priests, bearing the ark and
marching in unison with the other
priests toward the Jordan. What
would we be thinking? What would
we be feeling? The ark is upon our
shoulders; God’s presence is with us.
Will we continue to move forward
with absolute trust? Or will we
start to harbor doubts, wondering
whether the waters will really part?
Our God is the Lord of creation.
Nothing is impossible for Him. We
know this cognitively, but when put
to the test, will we step forward with
faith, believing that God’s presence
is enough, or will we start to shrink
back? The priests with their resolute
faith continued forward and grew
in faith with each step. They were
rewarded with being part of a great
miracle.
想像自已就像是其中一個祭司，和其他的祭司一起抬著約櫃，走向約旦河。
我們心中會怎麼想呢？我會有什麼感覺呢？
約櫃正在我們的肩上，神存在的約櫃正與我們在一起。
我們會有絕對的信心繼續往前走嗎？
或者我們會開始在心裡懷著疑惑，質疑大水是不是會分開呢？
我們的神是造物主，沒有任何難成的事。
個人認知上，我們知道是這樣，但是在試煉中的時候，我們會有信心繼續往前走嗎？
相信有神同在就夠了，還是我們會開始退縮呢？
眾祭司以堅決的信心往前，隨著每一步往前走，信心也逐漸增加。
也因為這樣的信心，他們能夠參與這麼偉大的神蹟，而能夠參與，就是一個非常大的獎賞。
THE PURPOSE OF THE STONES
石堆的用意
To Remember God’s Deliverance
記得神的拯救
The account of this miracle does not
end with the successful crossing of
the river. There were two more tasks:
神蹟的故事，並不是完成越過約旦河就結束了。
還有其他兩個任務：
And it came to pass, when all the
people had completely crossed over
the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to
Joshua, saying, “Take for yourselves
twelve stones from here, out of the
midst of the Jordan, from the place
where the priests’ feet stood firm.
You shall carry them over with you
and leave them in the lodging place
where you lodge tonight.” (Josh
4:1–3)
1國民盡都過了約但河，耶和華就對約書亞說：
2你從民中要揀選十二個人，每支派一人，
3吩咐他們說：你們從這裡，從約但河中、祭司腳站定的地方，取十二塊石頭帶過去，放在你們今夜要住宿的地方。
(書 4：1-3)
And the children of Israel did so,
just as Joshua commanded, and
took up twelve stones from the
midst of the Jordan, as the LORD
had spoken to Joshua, according
to the number of the tribes of the
children of Israel, and carried them
over with them to the place where
they lodged, and laid them down
there. Then Joshua set up twelve
stones in the midst of the Jordan,
in the place where the feet of the
priests who bore the ark of the
covenant stood; and they are there
to this day. (Josh 4:8–9)
以色列百姓如此行，就如同約書亞吩咐他們的一樣，從約旦河中拿起12塊石頭，遵造神所吩咐約書亞的，
用以色列百姓十二支派的數目，搬運這些石頭到他們住宿的地方，並且立起石堆。
並且約書亞也在祭司抬著約櫃，雙腳站立的約旦河中，用十二塊石頭另立了一個石堆，而這些石堆依然存在直到今日。
(書 4：8-9)
One set of stones was taken from
the riverbed to dry land, while the
second set of stones was placed in
the riverbed. What was the purpose
of undertaking these two activities?
從河床的乾地中搬運了一組石堆，而另一組石堆則依然被放在河床中。
而執行這兩個動作的用意是什麼呢？
The first set of stones was set up
in Gilgal as a monument to remind
the people that God had led them
across the Jordan River by drying
up the river’s water (Josh 4:19–24).
Gilgal was Israel’s base camp. When
the men went forth to fight their
enemies, the women and children
remained in Gilgal. The twelve stones
would be seen by the men each time
they set out. Any worries about the
battle ahead or about the wives and
children left behind could be dispelled
by the sight of the twelve stones.
After all, the Almighty God who can
dam an overflowing river had already
promised them victory over their
enemies. They had nothing to fear.
Then, if they returned victorious, the
twelve stones would remind them
that the battle had not been won
with their own hands, but through
the hand of God. This would thus
keep pride from them.
第一組石堆被立在吉甲，成為紀念碑，來提醒百姓，神曾經使河水成為乾地，帶領他們過約旦河。(書 4：19-24)
吉甲是以色列人的大本營。
當男人出發去攻打敵人時，婦女及小孩仍留在吉甲。
每次當男人出去攻打敵人的時候，他們會看到這堆石頭。
每當看見這12塊石頭的時候，就可以消除任何有關前方戰事，以及留在後方妻小的憂慮。
畢竟，全能的神，不但可以阻斷氾濫河水，也應許他們勝過敵人。
他們沒有什麼可怕的。
然後，當他們勝利歸回時，這12個石頭可以再次提醒他們，是神大能的手，才贏得這場勝利，並不是他們的雙手。
這樣可以讓他們不會驕傲。
There was a second set of stones
placed in the Jordan River. What
purpose were these stones meant
to serve? Once the people of Israel
had crossed the Jordan River and the
priests stepped out of the river, the
river would immediately resume its
flow. These twelve stones would be
just quickly submerged. How would
these stones act as memory aid to the
people of Israel?
有另外一組石頭，在約旦河中。
放另一組石頭在河中的用意是什麼呢？
自從以色列人越過約旦河，祭司的腳踏上的河岸，河水馬上恢復了流向原來的河道。
河水馬上淹沒這12個石頭。
那麼一來，這12個石頭如何幫助以色列人想起神的恩典呢？
One possibility is that these stones’
strategic location ensured that
they would only resurface during
a drought, when the waters of the
Jordan receded. On such an occasion,
seeing the stones would bring back
to mind God’s almightiness—if He is
able to “turn” the river into dry land,
He can also transform arid land into
an overflowing river. It would be a
solid reassurance to the people of
Israel that in their most dire state,
God would continue to take care of
them.
唯一的可能就是，這12個石頭的關鍵位置，只有在乾旱時，會再重新出現，也就是只有約旦河水變得稀少。
這種情況，看見石頭時，會讓他們再度想起神的大能 - 假如神可以讓河水變成乾地，祂也可以讓乾旱之地，讓河水氾濫。
這堆石頭對以色列人而言，也可以再度成為可靠的保証，在他們最悲慘的時候，神會繼續照顧他們。
dire a. 悲慘的
As spiritual Israelites, we too must
set up these memorial stones. How
do we do this?
我就是靈裡的以色列人，也應該立起紀念神的石頭。
要怎麼作呢？
First, we must remember God’s
grace. When things are going well
for us in life, we must not forget
God and His blessings (cf. Ps 103:2).
We must also tell our children all the
good things that God has done for us
(cf. Ps 105:2,5–6).
首先，要想想神的恩典。
在日常生活中，每天都很好的時候，我們一定不能忘記神和祂的祝福.(詩 103：2)
我們也要告訴孩子，所有有關神為我們所作的一切好事。
Second, we must remember that
it is God who gives us the power
to accomplish everything. Since
God will strengthen our hand, we
need not fear difficult tasks ahead
(2 Thess 3:3). He may not pluck us
out of the dire situation, but He will
be there with us and enable us to
come through that safely. Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah are literally
living proof of this (cf. Dan 3).
第二，我們一定要知道，是神讓我們有能力完成所有的事情。
由於神會加添我們雙手有力量，在面對前頭任何困難的事情時，我們不用懼怕。(帖後 3：3)
祂或許不會救拔我們脫離悲慘的情況，但是他一定會和我們同在，讓我們安然的渡過這段痛苦的時候。
而但以理的三個朋友，哈拿尼雅、米沙利、亞撒利雅，正是這樣活生生的明証。(但 3)
Third, we must never be puffed up
over our spiritual accomplishments.
Some of us may plant brilliantly,
and others water assiduously, but
ultimately it is God who gives the
growth. We are only God’s humble
instruments (cf. Gal 6:14) who must
always remember the words of Jesus,
perfect exemplar of meekness, “So
you too, when you do all the things
which are commanded you, say, ‘We
are unworthy slaves; we have done
only that which we ought to have
done.’”
第三，我們一定不可對自已屬靈的成就自滿。
我們當中，或許一些人聰明的栽種，另外一些人辛勤的灌溉，但是最後是神讓他生長的。
我們只是神卑微的器皿 (加 6：14) 一定要常常記得耶穌的話，像耶穌成為完全溫柔的模範，
所以當我們在執行神所交託的任務時，會說，我們只是無用的僕人，我們也只是作我們所該作的而已。
Safely crossing the rivers in our life of faith requires us to place God in front
of us—just as Israel placed the ark of the covenant in front of them—so that
we can always see and follow God.
要能夠安全的渡過約旦河，我們在信心生活上要把神放在前面，
就像以色列人把神放在他們前面，
因為這樣，他們才能看見神，跟從神。
To Bury the Old Self
把原來的舊人，與主耶穌同死同埋葬
There is another signification to
the location of the second set of
stones. Rocks in a river are eroded
over time, yet God wanted one
male representative from each tribe
to place a stone in the riverbed.
Each stone represented one tribe
of Israel. After all Israel had crossed
the river and the river resumed its
flow, the stones would be “buried”
underwater.
第二組石堆又有另一個重要的含意。
石頭在河水會隨著時間被侵蝕，然而神還是要每一個支派代表派出一個男人，搬石頭放在河床中。
一個石頭代表一個以色列人的支派。
在所有以色列人過了河，河水就恢復流到原來的地方，河水就會把石頭淹在水中。
The crossing of the Jordan River
signifies that we put to death our
carnal self and truly become a
renewed person.
越過約旦河代表著，我們治死肉體自我的私慾，實實在在成為一個更新的人。
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right
hand of God. Set your mind on
things above, not on things on the
earth. For you died, and your life
is hidden with Christ in God. (Col
3:1–3)
1所以，你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事；那裡有基督坐在神的右邊。
2你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。
3因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同藏在神裡面。
(西 3：1-3)
The submerged stones reinforce
Paul’s exhortation. Through water
baptism, we have died and have been
raised, so we should no longer set
our mind on secular things. Instead,
we ought to focus on things above.
保羅也在他的勸勉中強調這些水中的石頭。
經過活水的洗禮，我們死去，再被復活，所以我們不再把心思放在俗事上。
相反的，我們應該只專心在天上的事。
LEADING A NEW LIFE
有新的生活方式
After Israel had crossed the Jordan,
they were a new people. It was
quite a contrast to the time when
Israel crossed the Red Sea. After the
crossing of the Red Sea, the people’s
spiritual immaturity was clearly
evident. They had just witnessed
an unprecedented event—God’s
miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
But within a few days, they already
started grumbling about the lack of
water. When that problem had been
resolved, they complained that they
did not have any meat to eat. Their
wilderness journey was characterized
by repeated disobedience to and lack
of faith in God (Heb 3:15–19).
在以色列人過了約旦河之後，他們是一群新的人。
這和他們過紅海的時候，截然不同。
過紅海之後，百姓在靈性上的不成熟是很明顯的。
他們才剛目睹了一個空前絕後的大事件，神奇蹟的分開紅海。
但是幾天之後，他們就開始埋怨沒有水可以喝。
當這個問題被解決之後，我們又開始埋怨沒有肉可以吃。
他們的曠野之旅，特色就是一連串的不順服，對神沒有信心。
(來 3：15-19)
unprecedented a. 無先例的，空前的
In contrast, after crossing the
Jordan River, the Israelites obediently
submitted to the commandment
of God (Josh 5). When God
commanded them to circumcise
themselves, instead of complaining,
they obeyed. This was quite risky for
them because they had crossed into
enemy territory and were coming to
Jericho, a well-fortified enemy city.
Circumcision would put them in a
vulnerable position because they
would not be able to fight during
the healing process. Despite this risk,
they still obeyed God.
相反，過了約旦河之後，以色列人順從神的誡命。(書 5)
當神命令他們實施割禮，他們並沒有埋怨，反而順從神。
對他們來說，這是很危險的，因為他們才跨入敵人的領土，將要來到耶利哥城，是一個非常堅固的敵城。
實行割禮會讓他們變得容易受傷害，因為在治癒之前，他們可能無法應戰。
雖然這麼危險，他們仍然順服神。
Crossing the Red Sea symbolizes
baptism. But a Christian who
behaves like the immature Israel is
one who, although reborn through
water baptism, continues to lead his
own life, disobey God, sin, and fall.
We must take a leaf from the book of
the Israelites who crossed the Jordan
River. We must enter a new and
obedient phase of life.
越過紅海代表洗禮。
但是，當一個基督徒，行為就像以色列人不成熟，雖然經過了洗禮的重生，繼續過著屬世的生活，不順從神，不斷犯罪，甚至墮落。
我們應該要向以色列人過約旦河一樣學習。
應該要讓生命邁進一個新階段，有新的生活方式，並且能夠順從神。
A second contrast can be seen in
how they obtained their food.
第二種不同的對比，就是可以看到他們是如何取得食物的。
Now the children of Israel camped
in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on
the fourteenth day of the month at
twilight on the plains of Jericho.
And they ate of the produce of the
land on the day after the Passover,
unleavened bread and parched
grain, on the very same day. Then
the manna ceased on the day after
they had eaten the produce of the
land; and the children of Israel no
longer had manna, but they ate the
food of the land of Canaan that
year.
(Josh 5:10–12)
以色列人在吉甲安營的時候，在當月的15日天一亮，就開始守逾越節，那時他們正在耶利哥平原上。
從逾越節之後開始，在同一日，他們就開始吃當地的土產，無酵餅，以及烤熟的麥子。
然後，就在他們吃了地的出產的同一日，嗎哪就開始停降；
以色列百姓不再有嗎哪可以吃，而他們吃的是迦南地當年所出產的食物。
(書 5：10-12)
When the people of Israel were
in the wilderness, God sent manna
to feed them. But after crossing the
Jordan River, the provision of manna
from heaven stopped. Although God
provides the sunshine and rain that
allow crops to grow, or herds and
flocks to survive, the people now
had to put in more effort to plant,
reap, and tend. This represents a
more mature stage of a Christian’s
life. God is always there to help us,
but we must ourselves strive to the
utmost to overcome our weaknesses
or temptations.
以色列百姓在曠野時，神降下嗎哪來養活他們。
過約旦河之後，從天下降下嗎哪的供給停止了。
雖然神賞賜了陽光和雨水給植物生長，養活了牛群和羊群，
但現在人們卻要花更多心力來栽種，收割和照料。
這也代表了新的階段，一個更加成熟的基督徒生活。
神會隨時幫助我們，我們自已必須要盡力來克服軟弱和引誘。
Third, after crossing the Jordan,
the Israelites began and completed
their successful conquest of Canaan,
the Promised Land (Josh 6–13). By
obeying God’s instructions given
through Joshua, they achieved many
victories. As Christians, we must
always have a “crossing” mindset. In
other words, we must be resolved to
not continue falling (and falling back)
into sin. We must make a concerted
effort to cross over to the next
phase and focus on the things above
instead of worldly matters. Then, the
“new man” would truly be expressed
in our lives.
第三，過約旦河之後，以色列人開始成功地完成他們的征服迦南，應許之地(書 6-13)
藉由遵守神給約書亞的指示，他們完成許多勝利。
身為基督徒，我們也要常常有過河的心態。
也就是說，我們一定要下決心，不要再度於罪中墮落，或是回到以前罪裡的生活。
我們大家可以一起努力來跨越到另一個階段，只專注在屬天的事，而不再關心屬世的事務。
這麼一來，我們在生活中，就能真正活出一個新人的樣式。
CONCLUSION 結論
God uses adverse scenarios to do
great things in a Christian’s life.
When Israel wanted to cross the
Jordan, it was the worst time to cross
the river because it was overflowing.
Yet God chose that specific time for
the people to cross. The miracle that
God performed during the crossing
strengthened the people’s faith,
enabling them to follow Joshua
wholeheartedly.
在基督的生活裡，神用各種不同的情況來實行大能。
當以色列人要渡過約旦河的時候，那個時間是渡河最不好的時間，因為河水大大的氾濫。
然而，神卻選擇那個特定的時間點，讓以色列人來越過約旦河。
這個神所實行的渡河大神蹟，能夠加添百姓的信心，讓他們能夠全心全意的跟隨約書亞。
Safely crossing the rivers in our
life of faith requires us to place God
in front of us—just as Israel placed
the ark of the covenant in front of
them—so that we can always see
and follow God. Having crossed
safely, we should then set up stones
of remembrance, always reminding
ourselves of God’s grace and power.
在我們信心的生活中，要安全通過約旦河，需要把神放在前面 -
就像以色列人把約櫃放在他們前頭 - 這樣我們才可以隨時看到神，跟著祂。
若是安全走過了，我們也該立起紀念神的石頭，無時無刻隨時提醒我們自已，神的恩典和大能。
Have we crossed the Jordan
River? If we truly have, we will lead
victorious lives.
我們過了約旦河了嗎？
如果我們真的成功過了約旦河，就能過著得勝的生活。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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