2016年3月2日
潛伏的獅子 Lurking Lions
读经: 民數記14章1-9節
Reading: Numbers 14:1-9
有耶和華與我們同在，不要怕他們！-民數記14章9節
The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.- Numbers 14:9
全年读经: 民數記26-27章;馬可福音8章1-21節
Bible in a Year: Numbers 26–27; Mark 8:1-21
小時候，爸爸會躲在樹叢裡，裝獅子的吼聲來「嚇」我們。在1960年代，我們雖然住在迦納鄉間，卻不大可能有獅子潛伏在附近，所以我和弟弟總會興奮地尋找吼聲的來源，因為和爸爸玩遊戲的時間到了。
一天，鄰居小女孩來找我們玩。熟悉的獅子吼聲突然響起，小女孩嚇得尖叫逃跑。雖然我們知道那是父親的聲音，但我們竟然也跟小女孩一起跑。過後，爸爸對小女孩受驚嚇感到抱歉，而我和弟弟則學到不要受旁人的恐慌反應所影響。
迦勒和約書亞是不受旁人的驚慌反應所影響的典範。當以色列百姓預備進入應許之地時，摩西派遣十二個探子去窺探那地。他們全都看見了一片美地，但其中十個探子只報告所看到的困難，打擊了百姓的士氣（民數記13章27-33節），還造成百姓恐慌哭號（14章1-4節）。唯有迦勒和約書亞能正確地審時度勢（6-9節），他們知道天父過去如何帶領以色列百姓，深信祂必能帶領他們得勝。
有些「獅子」可能是真正的威脅，有些卻只是虛張聲勢。但身為耶穌的跟隨者，我們不需要恐慌，因我們認得耶穌的聲音，並相信祂的作為。
主啊，今日我們面對許多恐懼。
幫助我們分辨真危險與假威脅，讓我們時時信靠祢。
願我們不活在恐懼中，乃是活在信心中。
惡人雖無人追趕也逃跑；義人卻膽壯像獅子。
–箴言28章1節
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When I was young, my dad would "scare" us by hiding in the bush and growling like a lion. Even though we lived in rural Ghana in the 1960s, it was almost impossible that a lion lurked nearby. My brother and I would laugh and seek out the source of the noise, thrilled that playtime with Dad had arrived.
One day a young friend came for a visit. As we played, we heard the familiar growl. Our friend screamed and ran. My brother and I knew the sound of my father's voice—any "danger" was merely a phantom lion—but a funny thing happened. We ran with her. My dad felt terrible that our friend had been frightened, and my brother and I learned not to be influenced by the panicked reaction of others.
Caleb and Joshua stand out as men unfazed by the panic of others. As Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land, Moses commissioned 12 scouts to spy out the region. They all saw a beautiful territory, but 10 focused on the obstacles and discouraged the entire nation (Num. 13:27-33). In the process, they started a panic (14:1-4). Only Caleb and Joshua accurately assessed the situation (vv. 6-9). They knew the history of their Father and trusted Him to bring them success.
Some "lions" pose a genuine threat. Others are phantoms. Regardless, as followers of Jesus our confidence is in the One whose voice and deeds we know and trust.
Lord, we face many fears today. Help us distinguish between real danger and empty threats, and help us trust You with all of it. May we live not in fear, but in faith.
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1