親愛的弟兄姊妹平安:
「我們也不知道怎樣行, 我們的眼目單仰望你。」(代下20:12)
有人形容哥倫布是一個愚夫, 他帶著三艘帆船, 九十個船員啟航, 開始一個前未曾有的旅程; 他不知道往哪裡去, 他不知道什麼時候會到達哪裡; 當他到達後, 他不知道那裡是哪裡; 當他回到出發地, 他也不曾知道自己到底去了哪裡。
這豈獨是一個人的寫照, 人生的許多時候, 我們都落在莫名的憂慮和恐懼中, 排解不了情緒, 舒緩不了心結, 在軟弱無力徬徨無助的時候, 讓我們的眼目單單仰望主。
當雅各走出家園, 他所思念的是有食物吃, 有衣服穿, 可以平安地去, 也平安地回家, 如此這樣, 「耶和華就是我的神」。但神的旨意是:「你的名不要再叫雅各, 要叫以色列, 因為你與神與人較力, 都得了勝。」(創32:28) 以色列的12個兒子, 12個支派就在神的恩典中與神立約, 神是以色列人的神, 以色列人是神的子民。
八月份教會的一些青少年人等候GCSE和A-level的成績, 應屆的大學畢業生正籌算下一階段的人生軌跡。英國首相的脫歐方案帶來了新的風險, 打工的和做生意的或多或少都有疑慮。香港的逃犯修訂條例所引發的警民衝突和社會矛盾, 至今還是走不出困局。我們也不知道怎樣行, 我們的眼目只能單仰望主。
「看哪, 僕人的眼睛怎樣望主人的手, 使女的眼睛怎樣望主母的手, 我們的眼睛也照樣望耶和華我們的神, 直到他憐憫我們。」(詩123:2)
主內
王 興
2019年8月2日
2nd August, 2019
Dear brothers and sisters,
‘We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.’ (2Chron 20:12)
Some people think that Columbus was a fool. He led 90 sailors in 3 boats and started a journey that no one tried before. He did not know where he’s heading to or when he would arrive there. When he arrived, he did not know where it was. And he returned home, he did not know where he had been to.
This is not just a portrait of one man, there are so many times when we live in inexplicable anxiety and fear, feeling down and depressed. In times of weakness and helplessness, let us set our eyes on the Lord.
When Jacob left home, his concerns were food to eat and clothes to wear and safety on the journey and back home. When all these were fulfilled, ‘then the Lord will be my God’. But the will of God is, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.’ (Gen 32:28) By the grace of God, Israel’s 12 sons, the 12 tribes, made a covenant with God, God is their God and they His people.
Some young people in the church are waiting for their GCSE or A-level results in August. The newly graduates were planning their next step in life. The Prime Minister’s Brexit plan has brought new risks, thus both the employees and employers are having worries big or small. The Hong Kong Extradition Bill has triggered the clashes between the police and the people and social conflicts, and there is no way out yet. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on the Lord.
‘As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy.’ (Psalm 132:2)
In Him,
Sam Wong