Tuesday, 21st July
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文
「耶和華曉諭摩西說：『以色列中凡頭生的，無論是人是牲畜，都是我的，要分別為聖歸我。』」——出埃及記13:1–2
「日間，耶和華在雲柱中領他們的路；夜間，在火柱中光照他們，使他們日夜都可以行走。日間雲柱，夜間火柱，總不離開百姓的面前。」——出埃及記13:21–22
《出埃及記》第13章是一章比較特別的經文。
第12章充滿了震撼的事件：逾越節的羔羊被宰殺，長子之災臨到埃及，法老終於容許以色列人離開。以色列人經過四百三十年的等待，終於脫離奴役，開始出埃及的旅程。
照人的想法，第13章應該是一個充滿激情和突破的時刻。以色列人可能立刻向應許之地前進，攻破仇敵，建立國家，顯出耶和華軍隊的能力。
然而，第13章卻沒有記載甚麼重大的戰爭，也沒有看見甚麼令人激動的突破。神沒有立刻教導他們怎樣爭戰，反而先吩咐他們做兩件事：分別與記念。
神要他們把頭生的分別為聖歸給祂，也要他們世世代代記念神怎樣用大能的手把他們從埃及領出來。
第13章18節說：「以色列人出埃及地，都帶着兵器上去。」
他們外表上已經像一支軍隊，手裏帶着兵器，整齊地離開埃及；但神知道，一支真正屬神的軍隊，不是單靠手中的兵器，而是要有一顆分別為聖的心，也要有一個不忘記神恩典的生命。
他們雖然已經離開埃及，埃及卻不一定完全離開了他們的內心。神不只是要把以色列人從埃及救出來，更要把埃及從他們的生命裏除去，使他們真正成為屬於神的百姓。
因此，神沒有急着帶他們打仗，而是先建立他們的身份、記憶和信心。
同樣，我們的生命也不能只是經歷一次突破、一次醫治或一次拯救。我們需要在蒙恩之後學習分別，在得救之後不斷記念，在不知道前路的時候仍然跟隨神。
《出埃及記》第13章讓我們看見，神要建立一支屬祂的軍隊，首先不是把人帶進戰場，而是把祂的百姓帶進分別、記念和跟隨的生命。
一、分別為聖——清楚我們屬於誰
經文
「以色列中凡頭生的，無論是人是牲畜，都是我的，要分別為聖歸我。」——出埃及記13:2
以色列人離開埃及之後，神第一件要他們明白的事，就是他們已經不再屬於法老，而是屬於耶和華。
神在長子之災中保守了以色列人的長子，所以神宣告：「都是我的，要分別為聖歸我。」
「分別為聖」不只是把某些東西奉獻給神，更是承認我們整個生命的主權都屬於神。神救贖我們，不只是要我們離開危險和捆綁，也是要我們回到祂的面前，成為完全屬祂的人。
以色列人雖然已經離開埃及，但埃及的價值、思想和生活方式，仍然可能留在他們心裏。因此，神要他們學習分別：不再按照埃及的方式生活，而是按照神的心意生活。
今天我們也要問自己：我的生命究竟屬於誰？
我們不能一方面說自己屬於神，另一方面仍然讓世界掌管我們的心。耶穌說：「一個人不能事奉兩個主……你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門。」——馬太福音6:24
我們不能讓生命一部分屬神，另一部分仍然屬世界；在教會裏敬拜神，在生活裏卻讓金錢、成功、慾望和人的眼光作主。
真正的分別，不是離開所有人，而是在每一個環境中清楚知道：我是屬神的人，我的思想、選擇、時間、金錢和家庭都要歸給神。
一支屬神的軍隊，首先必須清楚自己的歸屬。若我們不知道自己屬於誰，就很容易在環境和誘惑中失去方向。
二、世代記念——不要忘記神的作為
「摩西對百姓說：『你們要記念從埃及為奴之家出來的這日，因為耶和華用大能的手將你們從這地方領出來。』」——出埃及記13:3
「當那日，你要告訴你的兒子說：『這是因耶和華在我出埃及的時候為我所行的事。』」——出埃及記13:8
神不但吩咐以色列人分別為聖，也吩咐他們記念。
神知道人很容易忘記。在困難的時候，我們向神呼求；但當困難過去，生活安定下來，我們便可能慢慢忘記神曾經怎樣拯救我們。
所以神設立除酵節，要以色列人每年透過實際的行動，記念神怎樣把他們從為奴之家領出來。
記念不是活在過去，也不只是回想一段歷史；記念是讓神過去的信實，成為我們今天信心的根基。
當我們面對新的困難時，要記念神過去怎樣帶領；當我們看不見出路時，要記念神曾經怎樣開路；當我們感到軟弱時，要記念神的手從來沒有離開我們。
然而，神所要求的記念，不只停留在自己身上。神說：「你要告訴你的兒子。」
救恩的故事必須傳給下一代。我們不能只讓下一代知道我們擁有甚麼，更要讓他們知道神曾經為我們做過甚麼。
我們要告訴他們：
- 神曾經怎樣拯救我們；
- 神曾經怎樣供應我們；
- 神曾經怎樣在困難中為我們開路；
- 神曾經怎樣在我們最軟弱的時候仍然沒有離開我們。
如果第一代不再述說，第二代便不會記得；如果第二代不再記得，第三代就可能不再認識神。
真正屬神的軍隊，不只自己跟隨神，也要把神的作為傳給下一代，使下一代知道，他們今日所享受的一切，不只是人的努力，而是神恩典的結果。
三、接受繞路——相信神仍在帶領
「法老容百姓去的時候，非利士地的道路雖近，神卻不領他們從那裏走；因為神說：『恐怕百姓遇見打仗後悔，就回埃及去。』所以神領百姓繞道而行，走紅海曠野的路。」——出埃及記13:17–18
神沒有帶領以色列人走最近的道路。
從埃及前往迦南，經過非利士地的道路比較短；但是神知道，如果百姓太早遇見戰爭，他們可能會害怕、後悔，甚至想返回埃及。
神知道他們外表上已經離開埃及，內心卻仍然沒有預備好面對爭戰。因此，神寧願帶他們繞路，用時間塑造他們的生命。
在我們看來，繞路好像是浪費時間；但在神的手中，繞路可以成為生命成長的道路。
神不只是關心我們能否快速到達目的地，祂更關心我們在到達以前，是否已經成為能夠承受應許的人。
有時候，我們求神立刻改變環境，神卻先改變我們；我們求神迅速打開道路，神卻先用時間建立我們的信心；我們以為事情延遲了，神卻正在預備我們。
神沒有讓以色列人在繞路中孤單前行。
「日間，耶和華在雲柱中領他們的路；夜間，在火柱中光照他們……日間雲柱，夜間火柱，總不離開百姓的面前。」——出埃及記13:21–22
神沒有一次把整條道路都告訴他們，卻每天走在他們前面。
白天有雲柱，黑夜有火柱；光明中有神的帶領，黑暗中也有神的同在。環境可以改變，道路可能繞遠，但神的同在「總不離開百姓的面前」。
我們未必明白神為甚麼讓我們走這條路，但只要雲柱和火柱仍然在前面，我們就可以放心跟隨。
神的繞路不是拒絕，乃是保護；不是耽誤，乃是預備；不是神忘記了應許，而是神正在塑造一支真正能夠進入應許之地的軍隊。
《出埃及記》第13章雖然沒有激烈的戰爭，也沒有表面上重大的突破，卻記載了神建立祂百姓的重要開始。
神先教導他們分別，使他們知道自己屬於誰；神教導他們記念，使他們不忘記救贖的恩典，並把信仰傳給下一代；神又帶領他們繞路，用時間塑造他們，預備他們面對將來的爭戰。
我們可能已經離開了某些過去的捆綁，但神仍要把世界的思想從我們心裏除去。祂要我們的生命不只是「有神」，而是完全屬於神。
一支真正屬神的軍隊，不只是有兵器、有能力和有行動，而是有分別為聖的生命、有記念恩典的信心，也願意在看不明白的道路上繼續跟隨神。
神不一定帶我們走最近的路，但祂必定帶領我們走最合適的路。最重要的不是道路有多長，而是神是否在我們前面。
只要神仍在前面，我們就可以繼續前行。
省察
- 我的生命是否仍有一些部分沒有完全歸給神？
- 我有沒有常常向下一代述說神在我生命中的作為？
- 當神帶領我繞路時，我是埋怨後退，還是相信祂正在保護和塑造我？
禱告
親愛的天父，感謝祢用大能的手救贖我們，使我們不再作世界的奴僕，而成為屬祢的子民。求祢幫助我們分別為聖，將整個生命完全歸給祢；也使我們常常記念祢的恩典，並把祢的作為傳給下一代。當祢帶領我們繞路時，求祢賜我們信心，不埋怨、不後退，只專心跟隨祢。因為我們相信，祢的雲柱和火柱總不離開，祢必親自帶領我們走進祢的應許。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告，阿們。
Key Verse
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” — Exodus 13:21 NKJV
Introduction
Exodus 13 comes immediately after one of the most dramatic moments in Israel’s history. After 430 years in Egypt, the Israelites finally walked out of the land of slavery. They had witnessed the ten plagues, experienced the protection of the Passover blood, and seen Pharaoh’s power broken by the mighty hand of God.
Exodus 12:41 calls them “the armies of the LORD.” We might therefore expect the next chapter to be filled with celebration, military victory and exciting breakthroughs.
However, Exodus 13 records no great battle and no obvious breakthrough. The crossing of the Red Sea had not yet taken place. Instead, God paused the journey to teach His people two foundational truths: consecration and remembrance.
Before God taught them how to fight, He taught them whom they belonged to. Before He brought them into battle, He taught them not to forget how they had been delivered.
The Israelites had physically left Egypt, but Egypt had not yet fully left their hearts. For generations, they had lived as slaves under Pharaoh. They knew how to obey a slave master, but they did not yet know how to live as the holy people of God. They left the land of slavery in one night, but it would take time for the mentality of slavery to leave them.
Therefore, God declared that every firstborn belonged to Him and commanded Israel to remember the day He brought them out of Egypt. They were not delivered so that they could live for themselves. They were delivered to become a people who belonged completely to God.
God also knew that although the Israelites came out of Egypt in orderly ranks like an army, their hearts were not yet ready for battle. If they encountered war too soon, fear might cause them to regret leaving Egypt and return to slavery.
Therefore, God chose the longer road.
The longer road was not a mistake, nor did it mean that God had forgotten His promise. God was protecting His people and using the journey to shape them. Becoming God’s army required more than marching in orderly ranks. They needed consecrated hearts, a living memory of God’s grace, and the faith to follow Him when His way did not make sense.
Yet God did not leave them to find their own way. He went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Whether it was day or night, light or darkness, God’s presence never left His people.
Exodus 13 teaches us that after deliverance comes consecration, after salvation comes remembrance, and before entering the promise there is often a season of preparation.
Transition
Through this chapter, we see three foundations God establishes in those who are becoming His people and His army.
- Be Consecrated—Know Whom We Belong To
“Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” — Exodus 13:2 NKJV
The firstborn of Israel had been preserved through the blood of the Passover lamb. Therefore, their lives were no longer their own; they belonged to the God who had redeemed them.
Israel no longer belonged to Pharaoh. They now belonged to the Lord.
Consecration means more than giving something to God. It means recognising that our entire lives belong to Him. Our thoughts, choices, time, possessions, relationships and families must all come under His authority.
We may live in the world, but we must not allow the values of Egypt to remain in our hearts or rule our lives. Jesus said:
“No one can serve two masters…You cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24 NKJV
We cannot worship God while allowing money, success, desire or the approval of others to control our hearts.
God’s army must first be clear about its identity:
We have been redeemed, and we belong completely to the Lord.
- Remember—and Tell the Next Generation
“Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out.” — Exodus 13:3 NKJV
God knew how easily people could forget. In times of difficulty, we cry out to Him; but when the crisis passes and life becomes comfortable, we may slowly forget what He has done.
Therefore, God established the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a lasting reminder. Every year, Israel was to remember that they had not escaped from Egypt through their own strength. The mighty hand of the Lord had brought them out.
Remembering does not mean living in the past. It means allowing God’s faithfulness in the past to become the foundation of our faith today.
When we face new difficulties, we remember how God helped us before. When we cannot see a way forward, we remember how He once opened a way. When we feel weak, we remember that His hand has never left us.
But this remembrance was not meant to remain with only one generation. God said:
“You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the LORD did for me when I came up from Egypt.’” — Exodus 13:8 NKJV
We must tell the next generation how God saved us, provided for us, answered our prayers and carried us through difficult seasons.
If one generation stops telling the story, the next generation may forget. If the next generation forgets, the generation after them may no longer know the Lord.
God’s army does not only follow Him today; it passes the story of His faithfulness to those who will follow tomorrow.
- Accept the Longer Road—Trust God’s Leading
“God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near…So God led the people around by way of the wilderness.” — Exodus 13:17–18 NKJV
God did not lead Israel along the shortest road. He knew that if they faced war too soon, they might become afraid, regret leaving Egypt and return to slavery.
Although they came out in orderly ranks, their hearts were not yet ready for battle. Therefore, God led them around by way of the wilderness.
In our eyes, a longer road may look like wasted time. In God’s hands, however, it can become a place of preparation and transformation.
God is not only concerned about how quickly we reach our destination. He is also concerned about who we become along the way.
Sometimes we ask God to change our circumstances immediately, but He first wants to change us. We ask Him to open the door quickly, but He first wants to strengthen our faith.
The longer road was not evidence that God had abandoned Israel. His presence was clearly visible:
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.” — Exodus 13:21 NKJV
God did not reveal the entire journey at once, but He faithfully showed them the next step. During the day, the cloud was there. During the night, the fire was there. In both light and darkness, God remained with them.
God’s longer road is not rejection but protection. It is not wasted time but preparation. He may not lead us by the shortest road, but He will always lead us by the right road.
Conclusion
Exodus 13 may not contain a great battle or an obvious breakthrough, but it records something foundational: God was beginning to transform former slaves into His holy people and His army.
He taught them to be consecrated so that they would know whom they belonged to. He taught them to remember so that they would never forget the grace that delivered them. He commanded them to tell the next generation so that their faith would continue. He also led them by the longer road because He knew what they were ready to face.
A true army of God is not defined only by strength or activity. It consists of people who belong completely to God, remember His grace, pass their faith to the next generation, and continue following Him when the road is longer than expected.
God may not lead us by the shortest road, but He will lead us by the right road.
The road may change, the journey may take longer, and we may not understand everything that happens. But as long as God is before us, we can continue moving forward.
His cloud is with us in the daytime. His fire is with us in the night. His presence will never leave His people.
Reflection
- Is every part of my life truly consecrated to God?
- Am I telling the next generation what God has done?
- When God leads me along a longer road, will I complain and turn back, or trust Him and continue following?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming us and making us Your people. Help us to consecrate our whole lives to You and not allow the values of the world to rule our hearts. Teach us to remember Your faithfulness and to tell the next generation what You have done. When You lead us along a longer road, give us faith not to complain, regret or turn back. Help us to follow You one step at a time, knowing that Your presence will never leave us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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