Wednesday, 19th August 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：「摩西在那裏與耶和華同在四十晝夜，也不吃飯也不喝水。耶和華將這約的話，就是十條誡，寫在兩塊版上。」——出埃及記34:28
引言
出埃及記32章記載，以色列人在西奈山下鑄造金牛犢，破壞了與神所立的約。摩西從山上下來，看見百姓犯罪，便把神所賜的兩塊法版摔碎了。
到了第34章，神吩咐摩西：「你要鑿出兩塊石版，和先前你摔碎的那版一樣；其上的字，我要寫在這兩塊版上。」——出埃及記34:1
神沒有放棄摩西，也沒有放棄以色列人。祂願意赦免，願意重新立約，也願意把祂的話重新寫在法版上。
然而，神並沒有叫摩西假裝先前的事情沒有發生。第一次的石版是神親自預備的；第二次，神要摩西親手重新鑿出來。
這讓我們看見，赦免是神白白賜下的恩典，但赦免不代表人不需要面對罪所造成的破壞。神願意恢復我們，我們也要承擔自己的責任，在祂面前重新預備生命。
本章不只記載法版的恢復，也讓我們看見一個人如何從失敗中重新站起來，更深地認識神，重新調整生活的次序，最終活出神同在的生命。
過渡句：那麼，當我們經歷失敗、破壞和虧欠之後，應當怎樣重新活在神的同在中？
一、承擔責任，重新預備自己
經文：「你要鑿出兩塊石版，和先前你摔碎的那版一樣；其上的字，我要寫在這兩塊版上。」——出埃及記34:1
摩西摔碎了先前的法版，因此神吩咐他親手重新鑿出兩塊石版。摩西不能把責任推給百姓，也不能因為神願意赦免，便當作一切都沒有發生。
赦免是神的恩典，卻不等於逃避責任。
我們常常以為，只要向神認罪，事情便可以立刻翻篇，不需要再面對所造成的後果。然而，真正的悔改不只是說一句「對不起」，也包括願意承擔責任，修補被破壞的關係，改正錯誤，重新整理自己的生命。
當然，我們不是靠付代價換取神的赦免。赦免的根基完全是神的憐憫和恩典；但蒙赦免的人，必須以負責任的行動回應神的恩典。
摩西負責鑿出石版，神負責把祂的話寫在上面。
同樣，我們不能改寫自己的生命，也不能靠自己恢復與神的關係；但我們可以預備一顆願意悔改、願意順服的心，讓神重新在我們生命中工作。
神不是要我們永遠停留在失敗和自責裏，而是呼召我們起來，重新預備自己，走進祂所賜的恢復。
二、更加認識神，才能正確代表神
經文：「耶和華在他面前宣告說：『耶和華，耶和華，是有憐憫、有恩典的神，不輕易發怒，並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實。』」——出埃及記34:6
摩西是神所揀選的領袖，要在百姓面前代表神。作為一個代表神的人，最重要的不是先學習怎樣帶領百姓，而是自己先真正認識神。
摩西過去看見神的聖潔和公義，也看見神如何審判以色列人的罪；但在這一次相遇中，神親自在他面前宣告自己的名字和屬性。
神讓摩西知道，祂不只是公義的神，也是有憐憫、有恩典、不輕易發怒，並且有豐盛慈愛和信實的神。
神的公義與憐憫並不衝突。祂絕不縱容罪，卻願意向悔改的人施恩；祂指出人的過犯，也親自為人打開恢復的道路。
當摩西聽見神宣告自己是怎樣的一位神時，他的第一個反應不是分析，也不是辯論，而是：「摩西急忙伏地下拜。」——出埃及記34:8
人越認識神，就越不會高舉自己；越看見神的聖潔、恩典和憐憫，就越會謙卑俯伏敬拜。
我們也很容易只按照自己的經歷來理解神。有時我們只看見神的要求，便覺得祂十分嚴厲；有時只強調神的恩典，又可能忽略祂的聖潔。
惟有回到神的話語中，讓神親自向我們啟示祂是誰，我們才能更全面、更準確地認識祂。
特別是作為領袖、牧者、父母或服事者，我們若不真正認識神，就很容易按照自己的情緒和性格去代表神。惟有自己先住在神的同在中，我們的生命才能向別人正確地反映祂。
三、調整次序，單單與神連結
經文：「不可敬拜別神；因為耶和華是忌邪的神，名為忌邪者。」——出埃及記34:14
神重新與以色列人立約以後，清楚吩咐他們不可與迦南人的偶像和敬拜方式妥協。
這裏所強調的是分別為聖。
神要以色列人從偶像中分別出來，從世界的價值中分別出來，也要從倚靠自己的生活方式中分別出來，單單與神連結。
「忌邪」表明神看重與百姓之間專一的立約關係。祂不要以色列人一方面敬拜祂，另一方面又把安全感、供應和盼望放在偶像或自己身上。
因此，神不只是要求百姓拒絕偶像，也重新建立他們生活中的次序：「你六日要做工，第七日要安息；雖在耕種收割的時候也要安息。」——出埃及記34:21
耕種和收割是以色列人一年中最忙碌、也最重要的時刻。若在這個時候停下來，從人的角度看，可能會錯過最佳時機，甚至造成損失。
然而，神仍然吩咐他們停下工作，守安息日。因為神要他們知道：真正供應他們的不是自己的勞碌，而是與他們立約的神。
神也要求以色列人一年三次上去朝見祂。這再次表明，敬拜神不是有空才做的事情，而是整個生活的中心。
今天，我們不一定敬拜看得見的偶像，卻可能倚靠自己的能力、經驗、工作、財富和安排。當事情繁忙時，最先被放下的往往就是親近神、敬拜神和安息的時間。
但是，神的次序是先神後人、先關係後工作、先敬拜後服事。
當我們願意在忙碌中停下來，把神重新放在首位，並不是浪費時間，而是在宣告：我的供應、保障和人生方向，不在自己的能力裏，而在神的手中。
總結
出埃及記34章讓我們看見，神沒有因以色列人的失敗而完全放棄他們。祂願意赦免，願意重新立約，也願意恢復祂的同在。
然而，恢復並不是回到從前，繼續過原來的生活。神要摩西和以色列人進入一個更深的生命次序：第一，承擔責任，重新預備自己；第二，更加認識神，謙卑俯伏敬拜；第三，調整生活次序，單單與神連結。
當摩西在神面前四十晝夜，下山時，他的面皮因為與神說話而發光，自己卻不知道。
這讓我們看見，真正活在神同在中的人，不需要刻意證明自己屬靈，也不需要努力在人面前發光。當一個人長時間親近神、認識神，並按照神的次序生活，神的榮光就會自然地從他的生命中流露出來。
不是我們努力讓自己發光，而是當我們住在神的同在中，別人便能從我們身上看見神。
省察
今天，我是否把神的赦免當作逃避責任的理由，還是願意面對並修補自己所造成的破壞？
我所認識的神，是否只是按照自己的感受和經歷，還是來自神在祂話語中的自我啟示？
在我的生活、工作和服事中，神是否真正排在第一位？即使在最繁忙的時候，我是否仍然願意停下來，安息、敬拜，重新與神連結？
Theme Verse: “So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” —Exodus 34:28 NKJV
Introduction
Exodus 32 records that while Moses was on Mount Sinai, the Israelites made and worshipped a golden calf. By doing this, they broke their covenant with God. When Moses came down from the mountain and saw their sin, he threw down and broke the two tablets God had given him.
In Exodus 34, God said to Moses: “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.” —Exodus 34:1 NKJV
God did not abandon Moses or the Israelites. He was willing to forgive them, renew His covenant with them, and write His words on the tablets again.
However, God did not ask Moses to pretend that nothing had happened. God had prepared the first tablets, but this time Moses had to cut the two new tablets himself.
This shows us that forgiveness is freely given by God’s grace, but forgiveness does not mean that we no longer need to face the damage caused by sin. God is willing to restore us, but we must also take responsibility and prepare our hearts to return to Him.
This chapter is not only about the restoration of the tablets. It also shows us how we can rise again after failure, know God more deeply, restore the right order in our lives, and live in His presence.
Transition:
After experiencing failure, brokenness, and sin, how can we return to living in God’s presence?
- Take Responsibility and Prepare Yourself Again
Scripture: “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.” —Exodus 34:1 NKJV
Moses had broken the first tablets, so God instructed him to cut two new ones. Moses could not place all the responsibility on the Israelites. Neither could he pretend that nothing had happened simply because God was willing to forgive.
Forgiveness is God’s grace, but it does not mean avoiding responsibility.
We sometimes think that after confessing our sins, we can immediately turn the page without facing the consequences of what we have done. However, genuine repentance is more than saying, “I am sorry.” It also means taking responsibility, repairing damaged relationships, correcting our mistakes, and allowing God to restore our lives.
We do not earn God’s forgiveness by paying a price. Forgiveness comes entirely from God’s mercy and grace. However, those who have been forgiven should respond to His grace with responsible action.
Moses was responsible for cutting the tablets, while God was the One who wrote His words upon them.
In the same way, we cannot rewrite or transform our own lives. We cannot restore our relationship with God by our own strength. But we can prepare a repentant and obedient heart, allowing God to work in us again.
God does not want us to remain trapped in failure and self-condemnation. He calls us to rise, prepare ourselves again, and enter the restoration He has provided.
- Know God More Deeply so That You Can Represent Him Correctly
Scripture: “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.’” —Exodus 34:6 NKJV
Moses was the leader God had chosen to represent Him before the people. For someone who represents God, the most important thing is not first learning how to lead others, but personally knowing God.
Moses had already seen God’s holiness and justice. He had also seen God judge Israel’s sin. But during this encounter, God personally proclaimed His name and character to Moses.
God showed Moses that He is not only just; He is also merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in goodness and truth.
God’s justice and mercy do not contradict each other. He never tolerates sin, but He shows grace to those who repent. He exposes our sin, yet He also opens the way for us to be restored.
When Moses heard God proclaim who He was, his first response was not to analyse or argue: “So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.” —Exodus 34:8 NKJV
The more we know God, the less we exalt ourselves. The more we see His holiness, grace, and mercy, the more we humble ourselves and worship Him.
We can easily understand God only through our personal experiences. Sometimes we see only His requirements and think He is severe. At other times, we emphasise His grace but overlook His holiness.
Only when we return to God’s Word and allow Him to reveal who He truly is can we know Him more fully and accurately.
This is especially important for leaders, pastors, parents, and those who serve others. If we do not truly know God, we may represent Him according to our personalities, emotions, or personal preferences.
Only when we first remain in God’s presence can our lives accurately reflect who He is to others.
- Restore the Right Order and Be Connected to God Alone
Scripture: “For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” —Exodus 34:14 NKJV
After renewing His covenant with Israel, God clearly commanded them not to compromise with the idols and worship practices of the Canaanites.
The emphasis here is being set apart for God.
God wanted the Israelites to separate themselves from idols, the values of the surrounding nations, and a life of depending on themselves. He wanted them to be connected to Him alone.
God’s jealousy shows how deeply He values His exclusive covenant relationship with His people. He did not want Israel to worship Him while also placing their security, provision, and hope in idols or in themselves.
Therefore, God did not only command them to reject idols. He also restored the proper order of their daily lives: “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.” —Exodus 34:21 NKJV
Ploughing and harvest were the busiest and most important seasons of the year for the Israelites. From a human perspective, stopping at such a time might cause them to miss an opportunity or suffer a loss.
Yet God still commanded them to stop working and observe the Sabbath. He wanted them to understand that their true provision did not come from their own labour but from the God who had made a covenant with them.
God also commanded the Israelites to appear before Him three times each year. This showed them that worship was not something they practised only when they had spare time. Worship was to remain at the centre of their lives.
We may not worship visible idols today, but we can still depend on our abilities, experiences, work, wealth, and personal plans. When life becomes busy, our time with God, worship, and rest are often the first things we set aside.
But God’s order is God first and people second, relationship before work, and worship before service.
When we are willing to stop in the middle of our busyness and put God first again, we are not wasting time. We are declaring that our provision, security, and direction do not depend on our ability but rest in God’s hands.
Conclusion
Exodus 34 shows us that God did not completely abandon the Israelites because of their failure. He was willing to forgive them, renew His covenant with them, and restore His presence among them.
However, restoration does not mean returning to our old way of life. God called Moses and the Israelites into a deeper spiritual order:
First, take responsibility and prepare yourself again.
Second, know God more deeply and humbly worship Him.
Third, restore the right order of life and be connected to God alone.
After Moses had remained in God’s presence for forty days and forty nights, he came down from the mountain. His face shone because he had been speaking with God, but Moses himself did not realise it.
A person who truly lives in God’s presence does not need to prove how spiritual they are or try to shine before others. When we spend time with God, know Him more deeply, and order our lives according to His will, His glory will naturally be reflected through us.
We do not need to struggle to make ourselves shine. When we remain in God’s presence, others will begin to see God through our lives.
Reflection
Have I treated God’s forgiveness as a reason to avoid responsibility, or am I willing to face and repair the damage my actions have caused?
Is my understanding of God based only on my feelings and experiences, or on how God has revealed Himself through His Word?
Does God truly have first place in my life, work, and ministry? Even during my busiest seasons, am I willing to stop, rest, worship, and reconnect with Him?
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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