Why do we study the history of Israel?我们为什么要学习以色列人的历史？

1 Cor 林前 10:6-7

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 6 这些事都是我们的鉴戒，叫我们不要贪恋恶事，像他们那样贪恋的。

7 也不要拜偶像，像他们有人拜的，如经上所记：“百姓坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。

Warning from the Old Testament Examples

述说古事以为鉴戒

From the book of Numbers, Apostle Paul cited many incidents of some sins of Israelis after they came out of Egypt. He warned the Corinthian Christians not to fall into the similar sins (eg idolatry, sexual immoralities & faithlessness) and be perished.使徒保罗警告我们不要犯罪，他用好多记载在旧约民记的罪恶，从埃及出来的以色列人的罪恶，他是要警告我们不要犯类似的罪恶而被毁灭，如拜偶像，性淫乱和不信靠上帝。

1 Cor 林前 10:1-12 (NKJV)

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 弟兄们，我不愿意你们不晓得：我们的祖宗从前都在云下，都从海中经过， 2 都在云里、海里受洗归了摩西， 3 并且都吃了一样的灵食， 4 也都喝了一样的灵水；所喝的是出于随着他们的灵磐石，那磐石就是基督。 5 但他们中间多半是神不喜欢的人，所以在旷野倒毙。 6 这些事都是我们的鉴戒，叫我们不要贪恋恶事，像他们那样贪恋的。

7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”[a] 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 7 也不要拜偶像，像他们有人拜的，如经上所记：“百姓坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。

8 我们也不要行奸淫，像他们有人行的，一天就倒毙了二万三千人。 9 也不要试探主 [a

] ，像他们有人试探的，就被蛇所灭。

10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all[b] these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 10 你们也不要发怨言，像他们有发怨言的，就被灭命的所灭。 11 他们遭遇这些事都要作为鉴戒，并且写在经上正是警戒我们这末世的人。 12 所以，自己以为站得稳的须要谨慎，免得跌倒。

All were believers 他们都是信徒All those who sinned against God were killed凡背叛上帝的都诏受审判处死

What were their sins 他们犯了何罪

• Grumbling 抱怨 , fault finding 挑剔 (Num 11)• Challenging God’s appointed authority (Num 12)

挑剔上帝所委派的仆人就是挑剔上帝• Idolatry & sexual immorality (Num 25) 拜偶像和犯淫乱罪• Not trusting God (Num 13-14) 对上帝没有信心• Disobeying God’s words 不听上帝的话语

Grumbling 抱怨, fault finding 挑剔

The Children of Israel Complain 民发怨言干耶和华怒Now the people complained about their troubles in the hearing of the Lord. When the Lord heard it, His anger burned. The fire of the Lord burned among them, and destroyed some around the outer parts of the tents. 2 Then the people cried to Moses and he prayed to the Lord, and the fire went out. 3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

众百姓发怨言，他们的恶语达到耶和华的耳中。耶和华听见了就怒气发作，使火在他们中间焚烧，直烧到营的边界。 2 百姓向摩西哀求，摩西祈求耶和华，火就熄了。 3 那地方便叫做他备拉，因为耶和华的火烧在他们中间。 (Num 民 11:1-7)

4 The mixed group of people among them had strong desires. The people of Israel cried again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember all the fish we could eat free in Egypt, and all the fruit and vegetables and spices. 6 But now our strength is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this bread from heaven.” 7 Now the bread from heaven was like coriander seed, and it looked like bdellium. 8 The people would go and gather it and beat it between stones.4 他们中间的闲杂人大起贪欲的心。以色列人又哭号说：“谁给我们肉吃呢？ 5 我们记得在埃及的时候不花钱就吃鱼，也记得有黄瓜、西瓜、韭菜、葱、蒜。 6 现在我们的心血枯竭了，除这吗哪以外，在我们眼前并没有别的东西！” 7 这吗哪仿佛芫荽子，又好像珍珠。

Grumbling 抱怨 , fault finding 挑剔(Num 民 11章 )

Food 食物• Manna 吗哪做面包（ V4-8）• Meat 肉（鹌鹑）Water 食水

Challenging God’s appointed authority 挑剔上帝所委派的仆人就是挑剔上帝“Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses?

Has He not spoken through us also?” said Miriam n Aaron.

米利暗和亚伦说：“难道耶和华单与摩西说话，不也与我们说话吗？And the LORD heard it

Now the man Moses was very humbleMore than all men who were on the face of the earth

这话耶和华听见了。 3 摩西为人极其谦和，胜过世上的众人。 (Numbers 民 12:1-3章 )

God spoke for Moses上帝为摩西说话

The basis of the complaint of Miriam and Aaron was essentially, “What’s so special about Moses?” Here, God explained exactly what was so special about him. Most prophets receive revelation through a dream or in a vision; God spoke with Moses face to face. 6 耶和华说：“你们且听我的话，你们中间若有先知，我耶和华必在异象中向他显现，在梦中与他说话。 7 我的仆人摩西不是这样，他是在我全家尽忠的， 8 我要与他面对面说话，乃是明说，不用谜语，并且他必见我的形。上帝与摩西是面对面说话。

God said, “Are you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”你们毁谤我的仆人摩西，为何不惧怕呢？” 9 耶和华就向他们二人发怒而去。Miriam became leprous, as white as snow米利暗长了大麻风，有雪那样白

We must not challenge God’s appointed authority.我们不可质疑上帝所指定有主权的仆人。

Numbers 民 25章Idolatry & sexual immorality (Num 25)

拜偶像和犯淫乱罪

Israel’s Harlotry in Moab (Num 25:1-3)Now Israel …began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods……and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel以色列人与摩押女子行起淫乱以色列人住在什亭，百姓与摩押女子行起淫乱。 2 因为这女子叫百姓来，一同给她们的神献祭，百姓就吃她们的祭物，跪拜她们的神。…耶和华的怒气就向以色列人发作。

6 … one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all….. Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle …. 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose ….and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were 24,000.6 摩西和以色列全会众正在会幕门前哭泣的时候，谁知，有以色列中的一个人，当他们眼前，带着一个米甸女人到他弟兄那里去。 7 祭司亚伦的孙子、以利亚撒的儿子非尼哈看见了，就从会中起来，手里拿着枪， 8 跟随那以色列人进亭子里去，便将以色列人和那女人由腹中刺透。这样，在以色列人中瘟疫就止息了。 9 那时遭瘟疫死的有24,000 。

A Christian community has the responsibility to make sure no one leading an immoral life.一个犯淫乱的基督徒会使到全教会受害。每个基督徒有责任保护教会弟兄姐妹的道德生活。

Not trusting in God对上帝没有信心 (Num 民13-14)

The generation of Israelis who came out Egypt broke faith with God, they refused to obey God’s words. They wouldn’t trust God to lead them straight into the promise land. They all died in the wilderness as their punishment.从埃及出来的以色列人不信靠上帝的应许，带领他们进入加南地（现在的以色列国），那一代的人民全部死在旷野。

Moses sent 12 spies into the promise land, one from each tribe. They returned and told Moses that the land was a very fertile land. But the people there were big and strong. Their cities were fortified.27 摩西 打发十二个人去窥探迦南地，每支派中要打发一个人 , 他们回来告诉摩西说：“我们到了你所打发我们去的那地，果然是流奶与蜜之地。这就是那地的果子。 28 然而住那地的民强壮，城邑也坚固宽大。 并且我们在那里看见了亚衲族的人。”

Numbers 民数记 13:33

10 spies believed that Israel wouldn’t be able to defeat their enemies. They said, “33 There we saw the giants[a] (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” 我们在那里看见亚衲族人 ( 就是伟人 ) 他们是伟人的后裔。据我们看，自己就如蚱蜢一样；据他们看，我们也是如此。”

Only 2 spies who were men of faith, Joshua and Caleb said, “If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’[a] 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.” 8 耶和华若喜悦我们，就必将我们领进那地，把地赐给我们，那地原是流奶与蜜之地。 9 但你们不可背叛耶和华，也不要怕那地的居民，因为他们是我们的食物，并且荫庇他们的已经离开他们。有耶和华与我们同在，不要怕他们。 (Num 民 14:8-9)

We need to change our mindset by looking away from our own limitation & by looking at the great God when we are facing insurmountable tasks. 当我们面对超人的困难， 我们需要改变我们的态度，不看自己有限的能力。只看万能的上帝。