Hope Beyond Consequences 超越后果的盼望
Dexu Xia
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Have you ever done something in anger you later regretted? When my son was wrestling with drug addiction, I said some harsh things in reaction to his choices. My anger only discouraged him more. But eventually he encountered believers who spoke life and hope to him, and in time he was set free.
Even someone as exemplary in faith as Moses did something he later regretted. When the people of Israel were in the desert and water was scarce, they complained bitterly. So God gave Moses and Aaron specific instructions: “Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water” (Numbers 20:8). But Moses reacted in anger, giving himself and Aaron credit for the miracle instead of God: “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (v. 10). Then he disobeyed God directly and “raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff” (v. 11).
Even though water flowed, there were tragic consequences. Neither Moses nor Aaron was allowed to enter the land God promised His people. But He was still merciful, allowing Moses to see it from afar (27:12–13).
As with Moses, God still mercifully meets us in the desert of our disobedience to Him. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, He kindly offers us forgiveness and hope. No matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, if we turn to Him, He’ll lead us into life.
By: James Banks
What undeserved kindnesses has God shown you? How can you share His kindness with someone today?
Thank You, loving Father, that despite difficult consequences, You give me eternal hope.
惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死。—罗马书5章8节
你可曾在愤怒中做过一些让自己后悔的事呢？在我儿子对抗毒瘾的那段时间，我曾因他选择吸毒而对他说了一些苛刻的话。但我的愤怒只让他更加挫败。还好后来他遇到一些基督徒，鼓励他爱惜生命，持守盼望，使他逐渐摆脱毒瘾。
就算如摩西这样的信心伟人，也曾做过一些让他后悔的事。当以色列百姓在旷野没有水喝时，就愤懑地大发怨言。因此，上帝清楚交代摩西和亚伦：“在他们眼前吩咐磐石发出水来，水就从磐石流出”（民数记20章8节）。但摩西以愤怒回应百姓，将功劳揽在自己和亚伦身上，不归荣耀给上帝。他说：“你们这些背叛的人听我说，我为你们使水从这磐石中流出来吗？”（10节）接着，摩西直接违逆上帝，“举手，用杖击打磐石两下”（11节）。
虽然水流出来了，但后果却很悲惨，上帝禁止摩西和亚伦进入祂已应许要赐给百姓的那片土地。然而，上帝仍然有怜悯，允许摩西远远观看那地（27章12-13节）。
上帝对我们也像对摩西一样，当我们不顺服上帝的时候，祂仍怜悯我们，与我们同在。上帝藉着耶稣的死与复活，慈爱地赐给我们赦免与盼望。不论我们在哪里或做过些什么，只要我们归向祂，祂就会引领我们得到生命。
作者： 庞雅各
上帝曾赐给你哪些你本不配得到的恩典呢？
今天，你如何告诉人上帝的慈爱？
慈爱的天父，感谢祢，尽管许多后果难以承受，
但祢仍赐给我永恒的盼望。