We have been reading the book of Exodus recently, which reminds us of the nature of God. He heard the Israelites’ cry. He sent Moses to save His people. God sent ten plagues to save the Israelites. God also gave Pharaoh opportunities to change his mind to obey God. God led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. In the wilderness, God gave the Israelites protection, gave them manna as food, provided spring water from a rock and led the Israelites with a pillar of cloud or fire. While they were in the wilderness, they did not obey God's leading, and what was supposed to be an eleven-day journey turned out to be forty years, but God did not give up on them. For forty years, God still protected them and provided for their daily needs: food and water, clothing and guidance.
Although Israel was rebellious, God still cared for and protected them according to His promise and mercy. Looking back at our own lives, aren’t we also rebelling against God? Not only has the world sinned, but we are still sinning and offending God every day. God has not abandoned us. He even sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins, our rebellion against God. Christ died on the cross for our transgressions. Not only did God not abandon us, He was willing to sacrifice His one and only begotten Son for us. God's love and care for us is beyond our imagination.
If we deeply believe in God's love and care for us, we should have more confidence and trust in Him in our daily life. If we believe in God and trust that He has not withheld any good thing from us, will we trust God more when we face difficulties? God will not leave us nor forsake us, that is his promise.
God had been with the Israelites for forty years. He never left them. He provided them with food, drink and clothing. Jesus also taught us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) God will never leave us. Let us have more confidence in God and trust Him every day. Although life is full of difficulties, God is Immanuel. He promises to give us eternal life, which is our source of hope in this life and in eternity. May the Lord help us to continue to live a life of faith in Him.
我們最近都在看出埃及記，經文中提醒我們，神是怎樣的神，衪聽到以色列的呼求，衪差派摩西去拯救衪的百姓，神降十災拯救以色列人，神也給機會法老王改變心意，願意順從神。神也帶領以色列出埃及，過紅海。在曠野中，神賜予以色列人保護，以嗎哪作食物，在石頭中供應泉水，以雲柱火柱帶領以色列人。他們雖然在曠野，不順從神的帶領，本來是十一天的路程，結果走了四十年的時間。但神沒有放棄他們，四十年中，神還是保守，供應他們的日常需要，有食有喝，有穿，有帶領。
雖然回看以色列是叛逆的，但神還是按照衪的應許和憐憫，看顧保守他們。回看我們自己的生活，我們何嘗不是也叛逆神?不但是世人犯了罪，而且我們是天天仍在犯罪，得罪神。神沒有離棄我們，衪還差派主耶穌基督，來世上拯救我們，為我們的罪，對神的叛逆，為我們的過犯死在十字架上。神不單不離棄我們，還願意為我們犧牲衪的獨生愛子。神對我們的愛和看顧，是我們無法想像的。
如果我們深信神對我們的愛和關懷，我們對每天的生活，是否可以更有信心，更有信靠。如果我們是相信神，沒有留下一樣好處不給我們，當我們面對困難時，是否也會對神更有信賴？神不會撇下我們，也不會棄掉我們，這是衪的應許。
神對以色列人四十年（不離不棄，有食有喝有穿，耶穌也教導我們，不要為明天憂慮，一天的難處，一天擔當便好(馬太福音6:34) 。神對我們永遠不離不棄。讓我們對神更有信心，每天信靠衪，雖然生活都是充滿了困難，但神是與我們同在的神。衪應許賜給我們永生，這是我們今生和永生盼望的源頭。求主幫助我們，讓我們繼續過一個對神滿有信心的生活。
