3 月 31 日 预苦期第四周 星期一

(张慕洁牧师 神恩堂)

经文-约书亚记 5：9-12

9 耶和华对约书亚说：“我今日将埃及的羞辱从你们身上滚去了。”因此那地方名叫吉甲[a]，直到今日。10 以色列人在吉甲安营。正月十四日晚上，在耶利哥的平原守逾越节。 11 逾越节的次日，他们就吃了那地的出产，正当那日吃无酵饼和烘的谷。12 他们吃了那地的出产，第二日吗哪就止住了，以色列人也不再有吗哪了。那一年，他们却吃迦南地的出产。

经文反思

这段经文描述了以色列民进入迦南的重要转折点，标志着他们的身份彻底改变。神说：“我今日将埃及的羞辱从你们身上除掉了。”这羞辱不仅是指曾经被奴役的历史，更是指他们虽得自由，却仍怀念埃及就是世俗的思维模式。他们的脚已离开埃及，但心却常回头。如今，他们吃迦南地的出产，意味着他们要完全进入神的应许，而不是继续活在过去的依赖与抱怨中。对今天的我们来说，信主后是否仍然眷恋“属灵的埃及”？是否仍然活在旧有的思维中，而不愿进入神为我们预备的新生命？

祷告

天父，感谢你救赎我们，使我们脱离罪的捆绑，进入你的应许之地。求你除去我生命中对“埃及”的眷恋，不再回头仰赖旧有的安全感，而是凭信心活在你的供应和带领中。求你使我的思想、行为、价值观都被更新，活出新生命。奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！

应用

今天花时间思想：我是否仍然留恋“埃及”——过去的罪恶、旧有的安全感或属世的依靠？有哪些思想和习惯需要更新，以便完全经历应许之地的福份？

操练用神的供应取代旧有的依赖。例如，若过去习惯以焦虑掌控生活，今天选择信靠神的带领；若过去依赖人的认可，今天操练单单寻求神的心意。

31 March The Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent

(Rev Barnabas Zhang Immanuel Methodist Church)

Scripture - Joshua 5:9–12

9 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

Reflections on the Scripture

This passage describes an important turning point for the Israelites as they entered Canaan, marking a radical change in their identity. God said, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” This disgrace refers not only to their history of slavery but also to the fact that, although they were free, they still longed for Egypt, which symbolized worldly thinking. Their feet had left Egypt, but their hearts were often turned back. Now, as they ate the produce of Canaan, it signified that they were to fully embrace God's promises and not continue to live in past dependencies and complaints. For us today, after coming to faith, do we still yearn for "spiritual Egypt"? Are we still living with old ways of thinking, unwilling to embrace the new life God has prepared for us?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for redeeming us, delivering us from the bondage of sin, and bringing us into Your promised land. Please remove my attachment to "Egypt" in my life, that I may no longer look back and rely on old comforts but live by faith in Your provision and guidance. Renew my thoughts, actions, and values, that I may live out the new life You have for me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Application

Take time today to reflect: Do I still long for "Egypt"—the past sins, old securities, or worldly dependencies? What thoughts and habits need to be renewed so that I can fully experience the blessings of the promised land?

Practice replacing old dependencies with God’s provision. For example, if you were used to controlling life through anxiety, today choose to trust in God’s guidance. If you relied on people’s approval in the past, practice seeking only God’s will today.