Rev Xi An Poon
經文：《出埃及記》第1章
主題經文：「願你的國降臨；願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。」——《馬太福音》6:10
引言
昨天，我們讀完了《創世記》第50章，也完成了整卷《創世記》的旅程。在《創世記》的最後，約瑟臨死以前，對他的弟兄說：「我要死了，但神必定看顧你們，領你們從這地上去，到他起誓所應許給亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各之地。」——《創世記》50:24
約瑟很清楚知道，埃及雖然曾經成為他們躲避饑荒、得着供應的地方，卻不是神給以色列人最終的地方。神向亞伯拉罕、以撒和雅各所應許的，是迦南地。所以約瑟臨死以前，不只是安慰他的弟兄，也是在提醒他們：你們現在雖然住在埃及，卻不要忘記神要帶你們去的地方。
當我們進入《出埃及記》第1章，經文首先再次列出雅各眾子的名字：「以色列的眾子，各帶家眷，和雅各一同來到埃及。他們的名字記在下面。」——《出埃及記》1:1
約瑟已經死了，他的弟兄也死了，那一代的人都過去了；但他們的名字仍然被記錄下來。這讓我們看見，在神眼中，他們不是一群沒有名字的奴隸，而是神所認識、所記念、所呼召的百姓。他們的生命並不完全。《創世記》已經讓我們看見，他們曾經有嫉妒、有爭競、有暴力，也有許多失敗；但神沒有忘記祂所立的約，也沒有放棄祂在他們身上的計劃。
可是，當神的應許正在以色列人中間成就時，地上的權勢也開始興起。「以色列人生養眾多，並且繁茂，極其強盛，滿了那地。」——《出埃及記》1:7
這原本是神對列祖應許的成就；但法老所看見的，不是神的祝福，而是對自己政權的威脅。他說：「來吧，我們不如用巧計待他們，恐怕他們多起來，日後若遇甚麼爭戰的事，就連合我們的仇敵攻擊我們，離開這地去了。」——《出埃及記》1:10
這裏出現了一個很重要的張力。神要帶祂的百姓離開埃及，進入應許之地；法老卻害怕他們離開，要把他們留在埃及，繼續服事埃及的制度。所以《出埃及記》第1章，不只是講一群人在地上受苦，更讓我們看見兩個旨意的衝突：一個是法老的旨意，一個是神的旨意。「在地如在天」不是要我們逃離地上的現實，而是要我們在地上的制度、壓力和生活中，仍然記得神所賜的身份，對準神所定的方向，也活出神所喜悅的旨意。
一、在地上記得天上的身份
「他們的名字記在下面。」——《出埃及記》1:1
《出埃及記》一開始，神先記錄祂百姓的名字。從埃及人的角度來看，他們只是外來人，後來更成為奴隸；但從神的角度來看，他們每一個都有名字，也都在神立約的計劃裏。地上的環境可以改變人的處境，卻不能改變神所賜的身份。
以色列人曾經因約瑟的緣故，在埃及受到接納；後來因為新的法老興起，他們的處境完全改變，從寄居者變成受壓迫的奴隸。但即使他們的社會地位改變了，他們仍然是神所記念的百姓。今天，我們也很容易讓地上的處境來定義自己。
我們可能用工作定義自己，用別人的看法定義自己，用成功或失敗定義自己，甚至用過去的錯誤定義自己。當事情順利時，我們覺得自己有價值；當事情不順利時，我們便懷疑自己是否被忘記。
但《出埃及記》第1章提醒我們：神不是在我們成功時才記得我們，也不是在我們表現完全時才記得我們。神記念，不代表祂認同我們生命中的一切；神記念，是因為祂沒有忘記祂所立的約，也沒有放棄祂在我們身上的工作。
在地如在天，首先是在地上的環境中，仍然記得天上所賜的身份。我不是只屬於眼前的工作，不是只屬於這個世界的制度，也不是由別人對我的評價來決定我的價值。我是神所認識、所記念、所呼召的人。當我們記得自己的身份，就不容易完全被環境控制，也不會因為人的看法、成敗和處境，而失去神放在我們生命中的位置。
二、在地上對準神的方向
「恐怕他們……離開這地去了。」——《出埃及記》1:10
法老真正害怕的，不只是以色列人增多，而是他們有一天會離開埃及。所以他設立督工轄制他們，用苦工苦害他們，使他們建造比東和蘭塞兩座積貨城。法老要他們忙於埃及的工程，服事埃及的需要，建立埃及的國度；神卻要把他們帶離埃及，進入應許之地，成為屬祂的百姓。這裏不只是辛苦與不辛苦的分別，而是方向的分別。
法老用苦工和壓迫把以色列人留在埃及；今天，攔阻我們跟隨神的，也未必總以苦難的形式出現。有時候，忙碌、安逸、成功和熟悉，也可能使我們漸漸失去神的方向。工作、家庭、計劃和責任本身並不是錯的；但當這些事情佔據了我們全部的心，使我們不再尋求神，不再問神要我們怎樣生活，它們就可能使我們停留在一個不再前進的狀態裏。
約瑟臨死以前說：「神必定看顧你們，領你們從這地上去。」這句話是對以色列人的方向提醒。埃及可以供應他們一段時間，卻不能取代神的應許；埃及可以成為暫時居住的地方，卻不能成為他們最終的目的。
今天，我們也可以在地上工作、生活、承擔責任，但不能讓地上的安排取代天上的方向。真正需要問的，不只是：我現在辛不辛苦？
而是：我現在所走的方向，是否仍然對準神的心意？我所追求的，是否仍然與神的呼召一致？我是否因為太忙、太安穩、太成功或太習慣，而漸漸忘記神要帶我去的地方？在地如在天，就是在每天的生活中，不斷把自己的方向重新對準神。
三、在地上活出天上的旨意
「但是收生婆敬畏神，不照埃及王的吩咐行，竟存留男孩的性命。」——《出埃及記》1:17
當法老發現苦工不能阻止以色列人增多，就進一步命令兩位希伯來收生婆——施弗拉和普阿——殺死剛出生的男嬰。從地上的權勢來看，法老是王，收生婆卻沒有甚麼地位。法老可以下命令，她們似乎只能服從；但經文告訴我們，她們敬畏神。這一句話，成為整段經文的轉折。她們仍然生活在法老統治的埃及，仍然需要面對地上的命令和壓力；但她們心裏知道，在法老之上，還有一位更高的神。
所以她們不照埃及王的吩咐行，反而把男孩的性命保存下來。她們不能立刻改變整個埃及，也不知道神何時會施行拯救；但她們可以在自己所在的位置上，選擇敬畏神。這就是在地如在天。
不是等到環境完全改變，才開始遵行神的旨意；而是在環境還沒有改變時，仍然讓神的旨意成就在自己的選擇中。收生婆所做的，看起來只是一個小小的決定，但這個決定卻保存了生命，也成為神保守下一代的方法。神沒有先使用一支軍隊，也沒有先使用一位大人物；在摩西出生以前，神先使用兩位敬畏祂的收生婆。
她們沒有看見神完整的計劃，卻在當下做了合乎神心意的選擇。「神厚待收生婆。以色列人多起來，極其強盛。收生婆因為敬畏神，神便叫她們成立家室。」——《出埃及記》1:20–21
她們保護別人的生命，神也記念她們；她們保護別人的家庭，神也建立她們的家庭。這不是說，人只要做了好事，神就一定按照人的方式回報；而是讓我們看見，神看見那些在地上的壓力中，仍然選擇敬畏祂的人。今天，我們未必能夠立刻改變身邊的環境，也未必能夠控制事情發展的時間；但我們可以在自己的家庭、工作、教會和關係裏，作合乎神心意的選擇。也許只是一句誠實的話，也許是拒絕參與不討神喜悅的事情，也許是保護一個生命、鼓勵一個人，或忠心完成神交在我們手中的責任。在人看來可能很小，但當一個人敬畏神，他就能成為天上旨意在地上的出口。
總結
《出埃及記》第1章讓我們看見，地上有法老的旨意，天上也有神的旨意。法老想把以色列人留下，神卻要把他們帶出去；法老用苦工轄制他們，神卻使他們越發增多；法老命令殺害生命，神卻使用敬畏祂的收生婆保存生命。地上的環境不能改變神所賜的身份；地上的力量不能取消神所定的方向；敬畏神的人，也能讓天上的旨意在地上被看見。
今天，我們仍然生活在地上。我們有工作、有家庭、有責任，也面對不同的壓力和價值觀。神不是叫我們逃離現實，而是叫我們在現實中活出屬天的生命。在地如在天，就是在地上記得天上的身份，在地上對準神的方向，也在地上活出天上的旨意。
省察
- 我是否仍然記得自己是神所認識、所記念、所呼召的人？
- 我目前所走的方向，是否仍然對準神的心意，還是已經被忙碌、安逸、成功或熟悉留住？
- 在今天的家庭、工作、教會和關係中，我可以怎樣作一個合乎神旨意的選擇？
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢記得我的名字，也賜給我屬祢的身份。求祢幫助我，不被地上的環境、成敗和人的看法定義。求祢保守我的心，使我在忙碌、壓力、安逸和成功中，仍然對準祢所賜的方向。求祢賜我敬畏祢的心，使我不只是明白祢的旨意，也願意在每天的生活中作合乎祢心意的選擇。願祢的國降臨，願祢的旨意行在我的生命、家庭、工作和教會中，如同行在天上。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Theme Verse:
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10, NKJV
Yesterday, we finished Genesis 50 and completed our journey through the whole book of Genesis. Before Joseph died, he said to his brothers: “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” — Genesis 50:24, NKJV
Egypt had once been a place of protection and provision for the Israelites during the famine. But Egypt was not the final place God had prepared for them. God had promised to bring them into the land of Canaan. So Joseph’s final words were not only words of comfort. They were also a reminder: You may be living in Egypt now, but do not forget where God is leading you.
As we enter Exodus 1, the names of Jacob’s sons are listed again: “Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob.” — Exodus 1:1, NKJV
Joseph had died. His brothers had also died. That whole generation had passed away. Yet their names were still remembered and recorded. This shows us that, in God’s eyes, they were not a nameless group of slaves. They were people known, remembered, and called by God. But while God’s promise was being fulfilled among them, Pharaoh rose up and tried to keep them in Egypt.
“Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” — Exodus 1:10, NKJV
God wanted to lead His people out of Egypt, but Pharaoh was afraid they would leave. Here we see a conflict between two wills: the will of Pharaoh on earth, and the will of God in heaven. “On earth as it is in heaven” does not mean escaping from earthly reality. It means that while we live under earthly pressure, systems, and responsibilities, we still remember our heavenly identity, follow God’s direction, and live out His will.
- Remember Your Heavenly Identity on Earth
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel…” — Exodus 1:1, NKJV
To the Egyptians, they were foreigners, and later they became slaves. But to God, each of them had a name. They were still part of His covenant and His plan. Earthly circumstances may change our situation, but they cannot change the identity God has given us. The Israelites were once welcomed in Egypt because of Joseph. Later, under a new Pharaoh, they became oppressed slaves.
Their social position changed, but they were still God’s remembered people. Today, we can also allow earthly things to define us. We may define ourselves by our work, success, failure, the opinions of others, or even by our past mistakes. When life goes well, we feel valuable. When life becomes difficult, we may wonder whether God has forgotten us.
But Exodus 1 reminds us that God does not remember us only when we succeed. He does not remember us only when we are perfect. God’s remembrance does not mean that He approves of everything in our lives. It means He has not forgotten His covenant, and He has not given up His work in us.
To live on earth as it is in heaven begins with remembering who we are. I am not defined only by my work. I am not defined only by the system of this world. I am not defined by what other people think of me. I am known, remembered, and called by God.
- Keep Your Life Aligned with God’s Direction
“So go up out of the land.” — Exodus 1:10, NKJV
Pharaoh was not only afraid that the Israelites would increase. He was afraid that one day they would leave Egypt. So he placed taskmasters over them, oppressed them with hard labour, and forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Raamses. Pharaoh wanted them to serve Egypt, build Egypt, and remain in Egypt.
But God’s direction was to bring them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. The issue was not only whether life was hard or easy. The deeper issue was direction. Pharaoh used oppression and hard labour to keep the Israelites in Egypt. Today, the things that stop us from following God do not always come in the form of suffering.
Sometimes busyness, comfort, success, and familiarity can also cause us to lose God’s direction. Work, family, plans, and responsibilities are not wrong. But when they fill our hearts so completely that we no longer seek God or remember His calling, we may slowly stop moving forward.
The question is not only: “Is my life difficult?” The deeper question is: “Is the direction of my life still aligned with God’s will?” Egypt could provide for the Israelites for a season, but it could not replace God’s promise. In the same way, earthly arrangements must never replace God’s direction for our lives.
- Live Out Heaven’s Will on Earth
“But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.” — Exodus 1:17, NKJV
When Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill the baby boys, Shiphrah and Puah chose to fear God. They could not change the whole nation of Egypt. They did not know when God would bring deliverance. But they could make a godly choice in the place where God had put them.
This is what it means to live on earth as it is in heaven. We do not wait until the whole situation changes before we obey God. Even when the environment has not changed, we can still allow God’s will to be seen through our choices. What the midwives did may have looked small. They simply preserved the lives of the children. But their choice protected life and became part of God’s way of preserving the next generation.
“So God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty. And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.” — Exodus 1:20–21, NKJV
They protected the lives of others, and God remembered them. They protected the families of others, and God established their families. This does not mean that whenever we do something good, God must reward us in the way we expect. It means that God sees those who choose to fear Him under pressure.
Today, we may not be able to change our environment immediately. We may not be able to control the timing of what happens. But in our family, workplace, church, and relationships, we can still make choices that please God. It may be one honest word. It may be refusing to take part in something that does not honour God. It may be protecting a life, encouraging someone, or faithfully doing what God has placed in our hands. When a person fears God, that person can become a channel through which heaven’s will is seen on earth.
Conclusion
Exodus 1 shows us that there was a will on earth, and there was also the will of God in heaven. Pharaoh wanted to keep the Israelites in Egypt, but God wanted to lead them out. Pharaoh oppressed them, but God caused them to multiply. Pharaoh commanded death, but God used the midwives to preserve life. Earthly circumstances cannot change the identity God has given us. Earthly powers cannot cancel the direction God has set for us. And those who fear God can allow heaven’s will to be seen on earth. To live on earth as it is in heaven means: Remembering our heavenly identity on earth. Keeping our lives aligned with God’s direction. Living out heaven’s will in our daily lives.
Reflection
- Do I still remember that I am known, remembered, and called by God?
- Is the direction of my life still aligned with God’s will?
- What godly choice can I make today in my family, work, church, or relationships?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for remembering my name and giving me an identity that belongs to You. Help me not to be defined by my circumstances, success, failure, or the opinions of others. Keep my heart aligned with Your direction, even in busyness, pressure, comfort, and success. Give me a heart that fears You, so that I will not only understand Your will, but also live it out each day. Let Your kingdom come, and let Your will be done in my life, my family, my work, and my church, on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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