Tuesday, 18th August 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文「耶和華說：『我必親自和你同去，使你得安息。』」——出埃及記33:14
引言
我們常常以為，只要環境改善、問題解決、前路暢通，心裏就能得到安息。然而，《出埃及記》第33章讓我們看見，人即使得到想要的東西，若失去神的同在，仍然不能得到真正的安息。
第33章緊接金牛犢事件。以色列人按照自己看得見、摸得到的方法製造金牛犢，嚴重得罪神，也破壞了與神所立的約。
神仍然吩咐他們前往應許之地，也答應差遣使者在前面領路，卻宣告：「我自己不同你們上去；因為你們是硬着頸項的百姓，恐怕我在路上把你們滅絕。」——出埃及記33:3
這不是因為神忘記了祂的應許，也不是神不再愛他們，而是聖潔的神不能把罪當作沒有發生。神的同在本來是最大的福分，但對硬着頸項、不肯悔改的百姓來說，神聖潔的同在也可能帶來審判。
就在神與百姓的關係陷入危機時，摩西站在神與以色列人中間。他沒有只顧自己蒙恩，也沒有放棄這群犯罪的百姓，而是按照神救贖的心意為他們代求。
最終，神向摩西應許：「我必親自和你同去，使你得安息。」
原來，真正的安息不是沒有曠野，也不是前面沒有困難，而是神親自與我們同行。
在充滿壓力、不安和未知的生活中，我們應當怎樣得着真正的安息？
一、真正的安息，從除去與神之間的阻隔開始
經文
「百姓聽見這凶信就悲哀，也沒有人佩戴妝飾。」——出埃及記33:4
以色列人最大的危機，不是前面的道路難走，也不是迦南地有強大的敵人，而是他們的罪破壞了與神的關係。
神仍然答應將迦南地賜給他們，也願意差遣使者在前面帶領他們。從表面看來，他們仍然可以得到應許；但神卻不親自與他們同行。
這讓我們看見，神所賜的福分不能代替神自己。即使人得到工作、財富、健康、家庭或成功，若生命遠離神，心裏仍然不能得到真正的安息。
當百姓聽見神不與他們同行，便開始悲哀，除去身上的妝飾。這表示他們終於意識到，真正嚴重的不是失去外在的祝福，而是失去神的同在。
今天，我們心裏不能安息，未必只是因為環境出了問題，也可能是生命中有些事情需要在神面前處理。我們是否仍然抓住一些神不喜悅的事情？是否用自己的方法代替神的帶領？是否只想得到神的祝福，卻不願意順服神？
真正的安息不是逃避生命的問題，而是在神面前誠實地承認、悔改，讓祂除去一切攔阻我們親近祂的事情。
二、真正的安息，來自站在正確的位置上
經文「現在求你將你的道指示我，使我可以認識你，好在你眼前蒙恩。求你想到這民是你的民。」——出埃及記33:13
以色列人犯罪之後，摩西沒有與他們切割，也沒有只顧自己能否繼續蒙恩。他站在神與百姓中間，為他們代求，不斷提醒神：「這民是你的民。」
摩西不是縱容百姓的罪，也不是為他們尋找藉口。他知道百姓確實得罪了神，但他也明白神救贖以色列人的心意。因此，他抓住神的揀選、應許和恩典，為百姓向神呼求。
摩西的代求不是要改變一位不願施恩的神，也不是因為摩西比神更有憐憫。正因為摩西明白神的心意是救贖和恢復，他才願意成為神與百姓之間的中保，站在破口中代求。
這也讓我們看見，摩西預表那位更完全的中保——耶穌基督。摩西只能為百姓代求，但耶穌親自擔當我們的罪，使我們藉着祂重新與神和好。今天，我們能夠回到神面前，不是因為自己的行為，而是因為基督已經為我們成就了救恩。
一個站在正確位置上的人，不會只顧自己平安，也會顧念神所託付的人。面對家人、教會和身邊人的軟弱，我們很容易批評、失望或放棄；但一個明白神心意的人，會願意站在破口中為他們代求。
當我們不再只想控制別人、改變別人，而是把他們帶到神面前，我們的心也能放下重擔，重新得着安息。
三、真正的安息，是有神親自與我們同行
經文「摩西說：『你若不親自和我同去，就不要把我們從這裏領上去。』」——出埃及記33:15
神答應摩西：「我必親自和你同去，使你得安息。」
摩西沒有滿足於神差遣使者，也沒有只追求進入應許之地。他知道，使者可以帶路，卻不能代替神；應許之地可以帶來豐富，卻不能代替神的同在。
所以摩西說，如果神不親自同行，就不要把他們從這裏領上去。
對摩西來說，最重要的已經不是「我們能否到達目的地」，而是「神是否與我們同行」。因為使以色列人與地上萬民有分別的，不是他們擁有甚麼，而是神在他們中間。
當神答應同行後，摩西仍然不滿足於問題得到解決，他進一步祈求：「求你顯出你的榮耀給我看。」——出埃及記33:18
摩西不只是希望神為他開路，更渴望認識神自己。神便應許使祂一切的恩慈從摩西面前經過，向他宣告耶和華的名。
真正的安息，不是所有問題立刻消失，也不是人生從此沒有曠野，而是我們知道：走在這條路上，神親自與我們同在。
有神同行，即使仍在曠野，我們也有安息；沒有神同行，即使進入應許之地，心裏仍然不能滿足。
總結
《出埃及記》第33章讓我們看見，以色列人真正的危機，不是前路艱難，也不是不能進入應許之地，而是他們可能在沒有神同在的情況下繼續前行。
罪使他們與神隔絕，但神沒有放棄祂救贖的心意。摩西站在神與百姓中間，按照神的應許為他們代求；神便應許親自與他們同行，使他們得着安息。
今天，我們要得着真正的安息，就需要：
- 第一，除去攔阻我們親近神的罪；
- 第二，藉着基督回到神面前，也站在破口中為人代求；
- 第三，把神的同在看得比環境的改變和外在的祝福更加重要。
我們真正需要的，不只是一條容易走的路，而是在所走的路上有神親自同行；不只是神為我們解決問題，而是在一切環境中更深地認識祂。
真正的安息，不是前路沒有困難，而是每一步都有神親自同行。
省察
- 我是否只追求神所賜的祝福，卻忽略了與神的關係？
- 我的生命中是否仍有一些罪、固執或自己的方法，攔阻我親近神、使我失去安息？
- 面對神所託付的家人和弟兄姊妹，我是選擇批評、放棄，還是願意站在破口中為他們代求？
Key Verse
“And He said, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
—Exodus 33:14 NKJV
Introduction
We often think that we will find rest when our circumstances improve, our problems are solved, and the road ahead becomes easier. However, Exodus 33 shows us that even if we receive everything we want, we still cannot find true rest without the presence of God.
Exodus 33 follows the incident of the golden calf. The Israelites made a god that they could see and touch. By doing so, they sinned seriously against God and broke their covenant relationship with Him.
God still told them to continue towards the Promised Land. He also promised to send an angel before them, but He declared:
“I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
—Exodus 33:3 NKJV
This was not because God had forgotten His promise or no longer loved them. Rather, the holy God could not treat their sin as if nothing had happened. God’s presence was their greatest blessing, but for a stubborn and unrepentant people, His holy presence could also bring judgement.
At this moment of crisis, Moses stood between God and the Israelites. He did not only care about receiving God’s favour for himself, nor did he abandon the people who had sinned. Understanding God’s desire to redeem His people, Moses interceded for them.
Finally, God promised Moses:
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
True rest does not mean that there is no wilderness or difficulty ahead. True rest comes from having God Himself walk with us.
Transition
In a life filled with pressure, uncertainty, and anxiety, how can we find true rest?
- True Rest Begins When the Barrier Between God and Us Is Removed
Scripture
“And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.”
—Exodus 33:4 NKJV
Israel’s greatest crisis was not the difficult journey ahead or the powerful enemies in Canaan. Their greatest crisis was that their sin had damaged their relationship with God.
God still promised to give them the land of Canaan and to send an angel before them. Outwardly, they could still receive the promise, but God would not personally go with them.
This shows us that God’s blessings can never replace God Himself. We may have work, wealth, health, family, and success, but if our lives are far from God, our hearts still cannot find true rest.
When the people heard that God would not go with them, they mourned and removed their ornaments. They finally realised that the greatest tragedy was not losing outward blessings, but losing the presence of God.
Sometimes our hearts have no rest, not only because our circumstances are difficult, but because something in our lives needs to be dealt with before God.
Are we holding on to something that displeases Him? Are we replacing God’s leading with our own methods? Do we only want His blessings while refusing to obey Him?
True rest does not come from avoiding our problems. It begins when we honestly confess and repent before God, allowing Him to remove everything that prevents us from drawing near to Him.
- True Rest Comes from Standing in the Right Place
Scripture
“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
—Exodus 33:13 NKJV
After the Israelites sinned, Moses did not separate himself from them or think only about whether he could continue to receive God’s favour. He stood between God and the people and interceded for them, reminding God, “This nation is Your people.”
Moses did not excuse their sin or pretend that nothing had happened. He knew that they had sinned seriously against God, but he also understood God’s desire to redeem them. Therefore, he held on to God’s election, promises, and grace as he prayed for the people.
Moses was not trying to change the mind of a God who was unwilling to show mercy. Neither was Moses more compassionate than God. Moses interceded because he understood that God’s heart was to redeem and restore His people. He became a mediator, standing in the gap between God and Israel.
Moses also points us to the perfect Mediator, Jesus Christ. Moses could only intercede for the people, but Jesus personally bore our sins and reconciled us to God. Today, we can return to God not because of our own good works, but because Christ has completed the work of salvation for us.
A person who stands in the right place does not care only about personal peace. That person also cares for those whom God has entrusted to them.
When we see weakness in our family, church, or the people around us, it is easy to criticise them, become disappointed, or give up on them. But those who understand God’s heart are willing to stand in the gap and intercede for them.
When we stop trying to control or change others and begin bringing them before God, we can lay down our burdens and find rest again.
- True Rest Comes from God Personally Going with Us
Scripture
“Then he said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.’”
—Exodus 33:15 NKJV
God promised Moses:
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Moses was not satisfied with God sending an angel, nor was he only concerned about entering the Promised Land. He understood that an angel could lead the way but could not replace God. The Promised Land could bring abundance, but it could not replace the presence of God.
Therefore, Moses said that if God did not personally go with them, He should not lead them away from that place.
For Moses, the most important question was no longer, “Will we reach our destination?” It was, “Will God go with us?”
What distinguished Israel from all the other nations was not what they possessed, but the presence of God among them.
After God promised to go with them, Moses was not satisfied simply because the problem had been solved. He asked for something deeper:
“Please, show me Your glory.”
—Exodus 33:18 NKJV
Moses did not only want God to open the way for him; he wanted to know God Himself. God then promised to make all His goodness pass before Moses and to proclaim the name of the Lord before him.
True rest does not mean that every problem immediately disappears or that life will never again include a wilderness. True rest comes from knowing that God Himself is with us on the journey.
With God’s presence, we can find rest even in the wilderness. Without His presence, even the Promised Land cannot truly satisfy us.
Conclusion
Exodus 33 shows us that Israel’s greatest crisis was not the difficult road ahead or the possibility of missing the Promised Land. Their greatest crisis was that they might continue their journey without the presence of God.
Sin separated them from God, but God had not abandoned His purpose of redemption. Moses stood between God and the people and interceded for them according to God’s promises. God then promised to go with them personally and give them rest.
Today, if we want to find true rest, we need to:
First, remove the sin that prevents us from drawing near to God.
Second, come before God through Christ and stand in the gap for others.
Third, treasure God’s presence more than changed circumstances or outward blessings.
What we truly need is not simply an easier road, but God’s presence on the road we are walking. We need more than God solving our problems; we need to know Him more deeply in every circumstance.
True rest does not mean that there are no difficulties ahead. It means that God Himself is with us every step of the way.
Reflection
- Am I pursuing only God’s blessings while neglecting my relationship with Him?
- Is there any sin, stubbornness, or dependence on my own way that is preventing me from drawing near to God and finding rest?
- When I see weakness in my family or fellow believers, do I criticise and give up on them, or am I willing to stand in the gap and intercede for them?
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