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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Monday, 20th July 2026

Rev Xi An Poon

Exodus 12

主題經文 「耶和華怎樣吩咐摩西、亞倫，以色列人就怎樣行。」——出埃及記12:28

《出埃及記》第十二章是整卷書一個極重要的轉捩點。從第一章開始，以色列人一直活在埃及的奴役中。他們被苦待、被壓迫，甚至連自己的下一代也受到死亡的威脅。神聽見他們的哀聲，記念祂與亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所立的約，便差遣摩西帶領他們離開埃及。

在前面的九個災難中，我們看見大部分的事情都是神在預備：神呼召摩西，神賜下權柄，神施行神蹟，神降下災難，也由神保守住在歌珊地的以色列人。百姓主要是觀看神如何工作，等待神所應許的拯救臨到。

但來到第十二章，情況開始不同。神第一次清楚吩咐每一個以色列家庭要作出預備：他們要選一隻沒有殘疾的羊羔，要把牠宰殺，將血塗在門框和門楣上；要吃羊羔、無酵餅和苦菜；吃的時候更要束上腰帶、穿上鞋、手中拿着杖，預備隨時出發。

神當然有能力在沒有任何人參與的情況下完成拯救，但是神要祂的百姓以信心回應祂的話。羊羔已經預備，救贖的方法已經說明，離開埃及的時間也已經來到；然而，以色列人仍然需要相信、預備和順服。

在這一章，我們也看到以色列人生命中的重大轉變。起初，他們只是一群在埃及受苦的奴僕；但到了第41節，聖經卻稱他們為「耶和華的軍隊」。究竟一群被奴役四百三十年的人，如何能成為耶和華的軍隊？關鍵不是他們突然變得強壯，也不是他們已經學會爭戰，而是他們聽見神的話，低頭敬拜，並且照着神的吩咐而行。

同樣，今天神已經為我們預備救恩、道路和應許；但我們是否願意預備自己，打破長久以來的生活習慣，憑着信心和順服跟神出發？

從一群被動等待的奴僕，成為預備出發的軍隊，以色列人經歷了三個重要的生命轉變：預備自己、低頭敬拜、順服起行。

一、預備自己——相信神所說的話

「你們吃羊羔當腰間束帶，腳上穿鞋，手中拿杖，趕緊地吃；這是耶和華的逾越節。」 ——出埃及記12:11

神吩咐以色列人預備逾越節的羊羔，並把羊羔的血塗在門框和門楣上。到了夜間，神巡行埃及，擊殺埃及地所有頭生的；但祂看見門上的血，就越過那一家，使屋內的人免受審判。

以色列人要作這一切的時候，第十災仍然沒有發生，法老也仍未讓他們離開。換句話說，他們是在事情尚未成就以前，先相信神的話而作出預備。

他們甚至要束上腰帶、穿上鞋、手中拿着杖來吃逾越節的晚餐。這代表他們不能再用過去的心態生活，也不能只停留在等待之中。他們要相信，神所應許的拯救即將臨到，離開埃及的時候已經到了。

信心不單是相信神有能力，更是因為相信神，所以預備好自己。很多時候，我們求神開路、求神使用我們、求神帶領我們進入新的階段；但當神真的說話時，我們是否已經預備好起行？

神已經預備祂要成就的事，我們也要預備自己的心。當我們願意放下過去的習慣，穿上鞋、拿起杖，預備跟隨神，便會看見神的應許一步一步成就在我們生命中。

二、低頭下拜——以敬畏回應救恩

「你們要說：『這是獻給耶和華逾越節的祭。當以色列人在埃及的時候，他擊殺埃及人，越過以色列人的房屋，救了我們各家。』於是百姓低頭下拜。」——出埃及記12:27

當摩西把神的話告訴以色列人時，百姓第一個反應不是質問，也不是討論，而是低頭下拜。這一幕十分震撼。因為他們仍然住在埃及，法老還沒有正式釋放他們，第十災也尚未發生；但當他們聽見神已經為他們預備救贖，就在事情尚未成就以前低頭敬拜。

真正的敬拜，不只是看見神蹟之後才感謝神；真正的敬拜，是在環境仍未改變時，因為相信神所說的話，就先低頭承認祂是神。

「低頭」也代表放下自己的主權。以色列人不能一方面敬拜神，另一方面仍然堅持留在熟悉的埃及。他們的身體雖然仍在埃及，內心卻要先離開埃及；他們要承認，自己不再屬於法老，而是屬於耶和華。

我們也可能已經習慣某些生活方式、思想模式，甚至習慣停留在恐懼、埋怨和失望之中。神要帶領我們離開，但在雙腳起行以前，我們的心要先向祂降服。

當我們真正低頭敬拜，便是在神面前宣告：「主啊，我相信祢的話；即使我還未看見結果，我仍然願意把生命交在祢手中。」

三、順服起行——成為耶和華的軍隊

「耶和華怎樣吩咐摩西、亞倫，以色列人就怎樣行。」——出埃及記12:28

「正滿了四百三十年的那一天，耶和華的軍隊都從埃及地出來了。」——出埃及記12:41

第28節是整章非常重要的一句話：「耶和華怎樣吩咐，以色列人就怎樣行。」

他們不是只聽摩西講，也不是敬拜完便回到原來的生活。他們把所聽見的化為行動：預備羊羔、塗上羊血、吃逾越節的筵席，並且預備離開埃及。神怎樣吩咐，他們就怎樣遵行。

以色列人在埃及生活了四百三十年。經過這麼長的時間，為奴的生活已經成為他們熟悉的習慣。埃及雖然是一個受苦的地方，卻也是他們熟悉的地方。離開埃及，代表要放下熟悉的環境，走進一條從未走過的道路。

然而，當他們憑着信心順服起行時，聖經不再稱他們為一群奴僕，而是稱他們為「耶和華的軍隊」。

他們成為軍隊，不是因為已經懂得打仗，而是因為開始聽從神的命令。一支軍隊最重要的特質，是聽從統帥的吩咐，隨時預備出發。當以色列人從「只聽見」進入「照着行」，他們的身份也開始改變。

我們也可能長久被某些習慣、恐懼、軟弱或過去的經歷捆綁。但神呼召我們，不只是離開罪的奴役，更要成為祂可以差遣和使用的軍隊。

當我們願意打破習慣，不再停留在熟悉的埃及；當我們聽見神的話，就憑信心順服起行；我們便不再只是等待別人幫助的人，而是成為神手中可以使用的人。

《出埃及記》第十二章讓我們看見，以色列人的拯救完全出於神，但他們也需要以信心和順服回應神。神預備了羊羔，預備了寶血，預備了離開埃及的道路；以色列人所要做的，就是預備自己、低頭敬拜，並照着神的吩咐而行。百姓聽見神的話，便低頭下拜；敬拜之後，他們就起來遵行。這使他們從一群在埃及為奴的百姓，成為從埃及出來的「耶和華的軍隊」。

今天，神也已經在我們前面預備道路。問題不只是神有沒有預備，而是我們有沒有預備好自己。我們是否願意離開那個已經習慣、卻一直捆綁我們的「埃及」？是否願意在尚未看見結果以前，先低頭敬拜？是否願意不只聽見神的話，更照着神的吩咐而行？當我們願意預備自己的心，以敬拜降服，以信心順服，神就能帶領我們離開奴役，進入祂的應許，成為祂可以差遣和使用的軍隊。

省察

1. 神正在呼召我預備甚麼，使我能跟隨祂進入新的階段？
2. 我生命中是否有一個已經習慣、卻需要憑信心離開的「埃及」？
3. 我對神的話只是聽見，還是願意照着祂的吩咐而行？

禱告

親愛的天父，感謝祢已經為我們預備救恩，也在我們前面預備道路。求祢幫助我們，不只等待祢工作，更願意預備自己的心。讓我們聽見祢的話，就低頭敬拜；領受祢的吩咐，就憑信心順服而行。求祢幫助我們離開一切捆綁和舊有的生活，不再停留在熟悉的埃及，卻勇敢跟隨祢出發。願我們成為屬祢、聽從祢並能被祢差遣的軍隊。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。

Key Verse: “Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.” —Exodus 12:28 NKJV

In the previous nine plagues, we mainly saw God doing the preparation. God called Moses, gave him authority, sent the plagues, protected His people in Goshen, and prepared the way for their deliverance. The Israelites watched, waited, and witnessed what God was doing.

But in Exodus 12, something changed. For the first time, God clearly told every Israelite family to prepare themselves. They had to choose a lamb, put its blood on their doorposts, eat the Passover meal, and be ready to leave at any moment—with belts around their waists, sandals on their feet, and staffs in their hands.

At that moment, the tenth plague had not yet happened, Pharaoh had not yet released them, and nothing in their circumstances appeared to have changed. Yet God asked them to prepare before they saw the fulfilment of His promise.

God had already prepared the lamb, the blood, the way of salvation, and the time of departure. But the Israelites still had to respond by believing His Word, bowing in worship, and obeying His command.

This chapter shows us how people who had lived as slaves for 430 years became “the armies of the LORD.” They did not become God’s army because they were already strong or knew how to fight. Their identity changed when they prepared themselves, trusted God, and became ready to follow Him out of Egypt.

Transition

To move from being slaves who only waited into an army ready to follow God, the Israelites experienced three important changes: they prepared themselves, bowed in worship, and obeyed by moving forward.

1. Prepare Yourself

“And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.” —Exodus 12:11 NKJV

The tenth plague had not yet happened, and Pharaoh had not yet released them. Nevertheless, the Israelites prepared themselves because they believed God’s Word.

They had to prepare the lamb, put its blood on the doorposts, and eat the meal dressed and ready to leave. Before God’s promise was fulfilled, they had to act as people who believed that His Word would surely come to pass.

Faith is not only believing that God is able. Faith is preparing ourselves because we believe what He has said.

Many times, we ask God to open a way, use our lives, or lead us into a new season. But when God speaks, are we ready to move? God prepares the way before us, but we must also prepare our hearts to follow Him.

2. Bow in Worship

“And you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”
—Exodus 12:27 NKJV

The people were still in Egypt, and their circumstances had not yet changed. But when they heard that God had prepared their deliverance, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

True worship is not merely thanking God after we have seen a miracle. True worship means trusting God and surrendering to Him even before we see the result.

Before their feet could leave Egypt, their hearts first had to leave Egypt. By bowing in worship, they were declaring that they no longer belonged to Pharaoh; they belonged to the LORD.

We may also have become used to certain habits, fears, disappointments, or ways of thinking. God wants to lead us out, but before our feet can move forward, our hearts must first surrender to Him.

3. Obey and Move Forward

“Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.” —Exodus 12:28 NKJV

“And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.” —Exodus 12:41 NKJV

The Israelites did not merely listen to Moses or worship God and then return to their old way of life. They turned what they heard into action. Just as the LORD had commanded, they did.

The Israelites had lived in Egypt for 430 years. Slavery was painful, but it had also become familiar. Leaving Egypt meant letting go of the only way of life they had known and stepping onto a road they had never travelled before.

Yet when they obeyed and moved forward, the Bible no longer described them merely as slaves. It called them “the armies of the LORD.”

They became God’s army not because they already knew how to fight, but because they were willing to listen to their Commander and follow His command.

When we are willing to break old habits, leave the familiar Egypt behind, and obey God in faith, we become people whom He can send and use.

Exodus 12 shows us that Israel’s deliverance came entirely from God, but the people still had to respond with faith and obedience.

God prepared the lamb, provided the blood, and opened the way out of Egypt. The Israelites had to prepare themselves, bow in worship, and do exactly as God commanded.

When the people heard God’s Word, they bowed their heads and worshiped. After worshiping, they rose and obeyed. In this way, a group of slaves living in Egypt became “the armies of the LORD.”

God has also prepared a way before us today. The question is not only whether God has prepared the way; the question is whether we have prepared ourselves.

Are we willing to leave the “Egypt” that has become familiar but continues to hold us captive? Are we willing to worship before we see the result? Are we merely hearing God’s Word, or are we ready to obey and move forward?

When we prepare our hearts, surrender in worship, and move forward in faith, God will lead us out of bondage and into His promises. We will become people who belong to Him, obey His voice, and are ready to be sent and used by Him.

Reflection

1. Is there a familiar “Egypt” in my life that God is asking me to leave?
2. Am I only hearing His Word, or am I preparing myself to obey and move forward?

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing salvation and making a way before us. Help us prepare our hearts, bow in worship, and obey Your Word. Give us courage to leave behind every old habit and bondage and follow You in faith. Make us Your people—ready to obey, ready to be sent, and ready to be used by You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.