Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文
「其實，我叫你存立，是特要向你顯我的大能，並要使我的名傳遍天下。」——出埃及記 9:16
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引言
《出埃及記》第九章，是十災發展的一個重要轉捩點。
從第一災開始，神一步一步向法老和埃及人顯明自己的大能。河水變成血、青蛙、虱子、蒼蠅，每一次神都先透過摩西宣告祂的話，然後事情完全照著神所說的發生。
到了第九章，神所施行的災害更加嚴重，不再只是影響人的生活，而是直接觸及人的財富、健康和生命。牲畜的瘟疫重創埃及的經濟；長瘡使人親身承受痛苦；冰雹更摧毀農作物，也奪去沒有躲避的人和牲畜的生命。
神一步一步震動埃及人所倚靠的一切。那些他們以為最可靠的財富、權勢、能力和保障，都在神的手中顯得何等有限。
然而，當我們仔細讀第九章，就會發現神真正要對付的，不只是埃及，不只是法老，更不是牲畜和冰雹。
神真正要得著的是人的心。
來到這裡，法老已經不能再說自己不認識耶和華；埃及人也不能再說自己沒有看見神的作為。他們一次又一次聽見神的話，也一次又一次經歷神的大能。
問題已經不是神有沒有向人顯明自己，而是人在看見神之後，是否願意把自己的心轉向神。
神仍然說話，神仍然等待，神仍然給人回轉的機會。
有人敬畏神的話，因此蒙保守；有人輕看神的話，因此遭受損失；法老甚至承認自己犯了罪，卻始終沒有真正回轉。
原來，神每一次工作，不只是要人看見祂的大能，更是在塑造一顆真正向著祂的心。
今天，神同樣藉著祂的話語、環境、管教和恩典向我們說話。
也許神正在改變我們的環境，也許神正在震動我們所倚靠的，也許神正在提醒我們一些需要放下或改變的地方。
今天真正的問題不是：「神有沒有工作？」
而是：「我是否擁有一顆向著神的心？」
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過渡
一顆向著神的心，不是一瞬間形成的，而是在每一次回應神的過程中慢慢建立起來。第九章讓我們看見，一顆向著神的心，會經歷三個生命的成長。
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一、願意聽見神
經文
「現在你要打發人，把你的牲畜和你田間一切所有的催進來……」
——出埃及記 9:19
神沒有立刻降下冰雹，而是先向埃及人發出警告。
這就是神的恩典。
神本可以直接施行審判，卻仍然給人機會回應祂的話。那些敬畏耶和華話語的人，把僕人和牲畜帶回家，因此得蒙保守；那些不把神的話放在心上的人，最後承受了失去。
真正向著神的心，第一步就是願意聽見神。
今天，神仍然透過聖經向我們說話，透過聖靈提醒我們，透過環境修剪我們，也透過身邊的人勸勉我們。
很多時候，問題不是神沒有說話，而是我們太忙、太倚靠自己，以致沒有停下來聽祂的聲音。
一顆向著神的心，是一顆願意安靜下來，把神的話放在心裡的心。
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二、願意相信神
經文
「惟獨以色列人所住的歌珊地沒有冰雹。」
——出埃及記 9:26
冰雹臨到全埃及，惟獨歌珊地沒有冰雹。
神藉著這件事讓法老和埃及人知道，真正掌管天地的是耶和華，不是法老。
埃及人一直倚靠牲畜、農作物、尼羅河和自己的國力，但神讓他們明白，所有人所倚靠的，都不能代替神。
我們今天何嘗不是如此？
我們可能倚靠工作、收入、健康、經驗、計劃，甚至自己的能力。
然而，當神容許這些受到震動時，祂不是要奪去我們的平安，而是邀請我們把信心重新建立在祂身上。
真正向著神的心，不是因為環境順利才相信，而是在風暴中仍然相信神掌權，在困難中仍然相信神信實，在未知裡仍然相信神必帶領。
當我們願意相信神，就不再只是知道神，而是真正開始倚靠神。
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三、願意跟隨神
經文
「法老見雨和雹與雷止住，就越發犯罪；他和他的臣僕都硬著心。」
——出埃及記 9:34
法老曾經承認：「這一次我犯了罪。」
他知道耶和華是公義的，也請摩西為他禱告。
可是，當災難停止後，他又回到原來的自己。
法老最大的問題，不是不知道神，而是不願意跟隨神。
他願意承認神的大能，卻不願意把自己的生命交給神。
今天，我們也可能在困難中迫切禱告，在聚會中深受感動，在神面前流淚認罪；但是，如果生活沒有改變，腳步沒有跟隨神，我們就容易像法老一樣，只停留在感動，而沒有真正的生命更新。
一顆向著神的心，不只是願意聽，也不只是願意相信，更是願意每天跟隨神，讓神改變我們的生命。
真正的信仰，不是一次感動，而是一生同行。
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總結
《出埃及記》第九章讓我們看見，神一直主動向人顯明自己。
祂說話，是要人聽見祂；
祂施行神蹟，是要人相信祂；
祂一次又一次給人機會，是要人願意跟隨祂。
可惜，法老一次又一次拒絕神，最後失去的不只是一次機會，而是那顆願意歸向神的心。
今天，神仍然向我們說話。
願我們不要只是欣賞神的大能，也不要只是羨慕神的祝福，而是願意把自己的心完全轉向祂。
願我們願意聽見神、相信神、跟隨神，讓神每天塑造我們，直到我們真正成為一個擁有一顆向著神的心的人。
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省察
- 最近神透過什麼事情向我說話？我是否願意停下來聆聽？
- 當我所倚靠的受到震動時，我是否仍然相信神掌權？
- 我的信仰是停留在感動和認罪，還是真正每天跟隨神？
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禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢從未停止向我們說話，也從未放棄尋找我們。求祢賜給我們一顆向著祢的心，使我們願意聽見祢的聲音，相信祢的帶領，並忠心跟隨祢。當我們剛硬時，求祢柔軟我們；當我們偏離時，求祢挽回我們；當我們軟弱時，求祢堅固我們。願我們的一生不只是經歷祢的大能，更能活出一顆真正向著祢的心。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Key Verse
“But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”
— Exodus 9:16 (NKJV)
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Introduction
Exodus 9 marks a significant turning point in the account of the ten plagues.
From the very first plague, God had been revealing Himself to Pharaoh and to Egypt step by step. The Nile was turned to blood, frogs covered the land, lice and flies came upon the people, and every plague happened exactly as God had spoken through Moses.
Now, in chapter 9, the judgment becomes even more severe. It no longer affects only daily life—it strikes Egypt’s wealth, health, and even life itself. The plague on the livestock damages the nation’s economy. Boils bring suffering upon the people. The devastating hail destroys the crops and kills both people and animals left in the fields.
God is shaking everything that Egypt has trusted in.
Their wealth, power, military strength, agriculture, and security all prove powerless before the Lord.
Yet when we read this chapter carefully, we discover that God is not merely dealing with Egypt, Pharaoh, or the plagues themselves.
God is pursuing the human heart.
By this point, Pharaoh can no longer claim that he does not know the Lord. Egypt has repeatedly heard God’s Word and witnessed His mighty works.
The question is no longer whether God has revealed Himself.
The real question is:
Will people turn their hearts toward Him?
God continues to speak.
God continues to give opportunities.
God continues to wait for people to respond.
Some fear the Lord and are preserved.
Others ignore His Word and suffer loss.
Even Pharaoh admits his sin, yet refuses to truly return to God.
God’s mighty works are not only displays of His power—they are invitations for people to turn their hearts back to Him.
Today, God still speaks through His Word, through circumstances, through His discipline, and through His grace.
The question is not whether God is working.
The question is:
Do I have a heart that is truly turned toward God?
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Transition
A heart that is turned toward God is not formed overnight. It grows every time we choose to respond to Him. Exodus 9 reveals three important characteristics of such a heart.
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- A Heart That Listens to God
Scripture
“Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field…”
— Exodus 9:19
Before sending the hail, God first gave a warning.
This reveals His grace.
God could have brought judgment immediately, yet He chose to give people an opportunity to respond. Those who feared the Lord took His Word seriously and brought their servants and livestock indoors. Those who ignored His warning suffered great loss.
A heart that is turned toward God begins by listening to Him.
Today, God still speaks through Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, through circumstances, and through fellow believers.
The issue is often not that God is silent, but that we are too busy, too distracted, or too dependent on ourselves to listen.
A heart that is turned toward God is willing to stop, listen, and treasure His Word.
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- A Heart That Trusts God
Scripture
“Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.”
— Exodus 9:26
While hail devastated Egypt, Goshen remained untouched.
God was showing Pharaoh and all Egypt that He alone is Lord over heaven and earth.
The Egyptians trusted their livestock, crops, economy, and Pharaoh’s power.
God revealed that none of these could truly protect them.
We face the same challenge today.
It is easy to place our confidence in our careers, finances, health, experience, or personal plans.
Sometimes God allows these things to be shaken—not to destroy us, but to teach us to trust Him more deeply.
A heart that is turned toward God continues to trust Him even when life becomes uncertain.
It believes that God is still sovereign, still faithful, and still in control.
When we choose to trust Him, our confidence shifts from what we have to the One who holds everything in His hands.
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- A Heart That Follows God
Scripture
“And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart…”
— Exodus 9:34
Pharaoh confessed,
“I have sinned this time.”
He acknowledged God’s righteousness and even asked Moses to pray for him.
Yet once the storm ended, he returned to his old ways.
Pharaoh’s greatest problem was not that he failed to witness God’s power.
His greatest problem was that he refused to follow God.
He wanted relief from judgment, but he did not want surrender.
We can fall into the same pattern.
During difficult seasons we pray earnestly, make promises, and confess our sins. But when life returns to normal, we often return to our old habits.
A heart that is turned toward God does not stop at hearing or believing.
It continues by following.
True faith is not a moment of emotion but a lifetime of obedience.
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Conclusion
Exodus 9 shows us a God who continually reveals Himself.
He speaks so that people may hear Him.
He works so that people may trust Him.
He gives repeated opportunities so that people may follow Him.
Sadly, Pharaoh rejected those opportunities again and again. He witnessed God’s power but never truly surrendered his heart.
Today, God is still speaking.
May we not simply admire His power or seek His blessings.
Instead, may we surrender our hearts to Him.
May we learn to listen to Him, trust Him, and follow Him faithfully.
For what God desires most is not merely outward obedience, but a heart that is truly turned toward Him.
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Reflection
- How has God been speaking to me recently, and am I truly listening?
- When the things I depend on are shaken, do I still trust God’s sovereignty?
- Is my faith only emotional in difficult moments, or am I faithfully following Christ every day?
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Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for never giving up on us and for continually speaking to us through Your Word, Your Spirit, and the circumstances of life. Give us a heart that is truly turned toward You—a heart that listens to Your voice, trusts in Your faithfulness, and follows You with wholehearted obedience. When we become distracted, draw us back. When we become proud, humble us. When we grow weary, strengthen us. May our lives reflect not only that we have witnessed Your power, but that our hearts truly belong to You.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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