19:1 亞哈將以利亞一切所行的和他用刀殺眾先知的事都告訴耶洗別。
19:2 耶洗別就差遣人去見以利亞,告訴他說:「明日約在這時候,我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一樣,願神明重重地降罰與我。」
19:3 以利亞見這光景就起來逃命,到了猶大的別是巴,將僕人留在那裡,
19:4 自己在曠野走了一日的路程,來到一棵羅騰樹下(小樹名,松類;下同),就坐在那裡求死,說:「耶和華啊,罷了!求你取我的性命,因為我不勝於我的列祖。」
19:5 他就躺在羅騰樹下,睡著了。有一個天使拍他,說:「起來吃吧!」
19:6 他觀看,見頭旁有一瓶水與炭火燒的餅,他就吃了喝了,仍然躺下。
19:7 耶和華的使者第二次來拍他,說:「起來吃吧!因為你當走的路甚遠。」
19:8 他就起來吃了喝了,仗著這飲食的力,走了四十晝夜,到了上帝的山,就是何烈山。
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
***********
以利亞雖然為上帝大發熱心,不畏懼巴力先知的挑戰,卻為皇后耶洗別的話而懼怕,讓人覺得不可思議!但是,聖經卻不忌諱將先知的軟弱記載下來,讓我們知道服事上帝的人也會有軟弱!
然而以利亞在軟弱的時候,走一天的路奔向曠野之中,找到一棵羅騰樹,就在那裏求死:「耶和華啊,罷了!求你取我的性命,因為我不勝於我的列祖。」
以利亞這樣做的意思就是說:寧可死在上帝的手下,也不要死在耶洗別的手下!因為生命是出於耶和華,收取也應該是耶和華。他之所以求死,也是感受到自己的軟弱,只能處理那些被惡者所利用的人,卻無法處理真正的惡者!
以利亞這樣的經歷,讓我們想到羅所說的:「因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰(原文是摔跤;下同),乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的,以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。」(以弗所書6章12節)
因此,我們不可以用血氣來行事,保羅更進一步說:「因為我們雖然在血氣中行事,卻不憑著血氣爭戰。我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的,乃是在上帝面前有能力,可以攻破堅固的營壘,將各樣的計謀,各樣攔阻人認識上帝的那些自高之事,一概攻破了,又將人所有的心意奪回,使他都順服基督。」(哥林多後書10:3-5)
而以利亞之後也是得著上帝的能力,不再憑「血氣」,他吃了天使預備的餅,並且也喝了水,就起來行走,走了四十晝夜,到了上帝的山,就是何烈山。這不僅是身體的復甦,更是得著復活的大能,重新位上帝爭戰!
沒有留言:
張貼留言