“每逢云彩从帐幕收上去，以色列人就起程前往。” – 出 40:36
我在阿巴拉契亚山道上吃完了随身携带的最后一点花生酱，需要补充食物储备。所以在抵达岩鱼峡后，我决定离开步道，进城去购买食物。
以色列人在旷野行进时并不是像我这样做决定的。他们要等待神发出信号。神指示祂的子民建造一个帐幕，一个大帐棚，作为一个可移动的敬拜圣所。神要临在帐幕里，百姓可以在那里事奉祂。神的荣耀在帐幕之上，每当它收上去，他们就启程，跟随神的带领去到下一个目的地。
在旷野的帐幕指向多年后将在耶路撒冷建成的圣殿（王上6章）。此外，帐幕和圣殿都指向另一个标志：神与祂的子民同在。约翰福音1:14告诉我们，“道”——也就是耶稣——“成了肉身，住在我们中间。”原文的希腊文更确切地说：“道成了肉身，设立帐幕在我们中间，我们就得以看见祂的荣耀。”耶稣来是要把神的荣耀以肉身的形式带到祂的百姓中间。现在，藉着圣灵，祂就住在我们心里，无论我们往哪里去，祂都与我们同在。祂呼召我们去服事他人，并应许永不撇下我们，也不离弃我们。
祷告
主耶稣，你来到世上，住在我们中间，从今时直到永远。请帮助我们认识你的同在，在我们的旅程中带领和引导我们去服事你和他人。阿们。
出埃及记 40:34-38
34当时，云彩遮盖会幕，耶和华的荣光就充满了帐幕。
35摩西不能进会幕，因为云彩停在其上，并且耶和华的荣光充满了帐幕。
36每逢云彩从帐幕收上去，以色列人就起程前往；
37云彩若不收上去，他们就不起程，直等到云彩收上去。
38日间，耶和华的云彩是在帐幕以上；夜间，云中有火，在以色列全家的眼前。在他们所行的路上，都是这样。
God’s Presence On The Journey
“In all of the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out. . . .” – Exodus 40:36
I had eaten the last of my peanut butter on the Appalachian Trail and needed more food. So at Rockfish Gap, I decided I would leave the trail and go into town to replenish.
That’s not how the Israelites made decisions during their wilderness journey. They waited for a signal. God had instructed his people to build a tabernacle, a large tent, to serve as a portable sanctuary for worship. At the tabernacle God would dwell in their midst, and the people could worship him there. God’s glory hovered over the tent, and whenever it lifted, they would set out and follow wherever God would lead them next.
The tabernacle in the wilderness pointed forward to the temple that would be built in Jerusalem many years later (1 Kings 6). What’s more, both the tabernacle and the temple pointed forward to another mark of God’s presence among his people. John 1:14 tells us that “the Word”—that is, Jesus—“became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” The original Greek text there says, more literally, that “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us, and we beheld his glory.” Jesus came to bring God’s glory in human flesh among his people, and now, through the Holy Spirit, he lives in our hearts and is present with us wherever we go. He calls us to serve others, and he promises never to leave or forsake us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came to live among us. Help us to know your presence today and always, as you lead and guide us in our journey to serve you and others. Amen.
