經文：出埃及記 2:23-25
23過了多年，埃及王死了。以色列人因做苦工，就歎息哀求，他們的哀聲達於神。
24神聽見他們的哀聲，就記念他與亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的約。
25神看顧以色列人，也知道他們的苦情。
***
這是「上帝視角」的記載，預告了神將要出手拯救希伯來人。
信主前，我曾被夢工廠的卡通電影「埃及王子」感動過。電影把摩西在「上帝的命令」與「法老的兄弟情（電影的故事設定，非聖經事實）」之間的掙扎拍得很深刻。幾年後，我認識一位基督徒的老師，她桌上放著一本聖經，於是我興沖沖地向她借來看「出埃及記」，結果大失所望。
因為我期待的是電影內容（人性在兩難中的掙扎與盼望）的文字重現，但聖經卻給我「一切都在上帝的計畫中」的閱讀感受，完全沒有閱讀文學作品那種對未知情節好奇的享受感。
之後，我對聖經一點興趣也沒有，直到我信主了才改變----而且是截然相反的改變。
「一切都在上帝的計畫中」正是聖經最重要的理解角度，而我當年居然看輕這一點。這個理解角度誠然會讓我疑惑:「如果一切都是上帝的計畫，那我的努力有何意義與價值？」然而這個疑惑其實是有問題的。
問題在於這個疑惑預設了「努力必有收穫」的因果律，預設了「我要/可以掌握自己命運」的認知，一旦「一切都在上帝的計畫中」，這兩個預設便通通不成立，這是對自由意志的莫大挫折，所以人們通常會反感這樣的「聖經/上帝視角」。
然而對基督徒而言，這個視角恰好是上帝透過聖經啟示祂自己，讓我們確信祂是又真又活、創始成終，是我們永恆盼望的確據所在。因為神永遠都在，也永遠眷顧著我們，所以我們可以毫不懷疑、坦然無懼的跟隨祂，因為不管我們的人生境遇是順境是逆境，神永不改變。
於是，我終於可以理解保羅這段充滿強烈情感的經文:
「既是這樣，還有甚麼說的呢？神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢？……誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？難道是患難嗎？是困苦嗎？是逼迫嗎？是飢餓嗎？是赤身露體嗎？是危險嗎？是刀劍嗎？……然而，靠着愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。因為我深信無論是死、是生，是天使、是掌權的，是有能的，是現在的事、是將來的事，是高處的、是低處的，是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裏的。」（羅馬書8:31,35,37-39）
---
Bible Study Notes: Exodus 2:23-25
This is an account from a "God's-eye perspective," foreshadowing how God was about to step in and rescue the Hebrews.
Before I became a believer, I was deeply moved by DreamWorks' animated film The Prince of Egypt. The movie powerfully portrayed Moses torn between "God’s command" and his "brotherly bond with Pharaoh" (which was a cinematic narrative choice, not a biblical fact). A few years later, I met a Christian teacher who had a Bible on her desk. Excitedly, I borrowed it from her to read Exodus—only to be profoundly disappointed.
I had expected a textual reenactment of the movie, filled with human struggle, dilemmas, and hope. Instead, the Bible gave me the distinct impression that "everything is within God’s plan." It completely lacked the thrill of suspense and curiosity about the unknown that one usually enjoys when reading literature.
After that, I lost all interest in the Bible. It wasn't until I came to faith that this changed—in fact, it turned completely around.
"Everything is within God's plan" is precisely the most crucial perspective for understanding the Bible, yet back then, I actually looked down on it.
Granted, this perspective can trigger a lingering doubt: "If everything is God’s plan, what is the point or value of my own efforts?" However, this doubt itself is fundamentally flawed.
The flaw lies in its underlying assumptions. It presupposes a law of cause and effect where "effort guarantees reward," and it assumes that "I want to—and can—control my own destiny." The moment we accept that everything is in God's plan, both of these assumptions fall apart. This deals a massive blow to human free will, which is why people often react with aversion to this "biblical/divine perspective."
For Christians, however, this very perspective is how God reveals Himself through Scripture. It gives us the absolute assurance that He is the true and living God, the Author and Finisher of our faith, and the anchor of our eternal hope. Because God is always present and always mindful of us, we can follow Him with absolute confidence and without fear. No matter whether we face smooth sailing or adversity in life, God never changes.
Through this, I can finally understand the intense, emotion-filled words of the Apostle Paul:
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39 (NIV)
沒有留言:
張貼留言