弟兄姊妹们主内平安，今天我们分享的经文来自旧约出埃及记（Exodus13:17-22）
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place." After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
法老容百姓去的时候，非利士地的道路虽近，神却不领他们从那里走，因为神说：“恐怕百姓遇见打仗后悔，就回埃及去。”所以神领百姓绕道而行，走红海旷野的路。以色列人出埃及地，都带着兵器上去。摩西把约瑟的骸骨一同带去，因为约瑟曾叫以色列人严严地起誓，对他们说：“神必眷顾你们，你们要把我的骸骨从这里一同带上去。”他们从疏割起行，在旷野边的以倘安营。日间，耶和华在云柱中领他们的路；夜间，在火柱中光照他们，使他们日夜都可以行走。日间云柱，夜间火柱，总不离开百姓的面前。
我们先来熟悉一下这段经文
1、God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter.
country英 ['kʌntri] n.国家；乡村；
shorter英 ['ʃɔːtə]adj.较短的；更近的（形容词short的比较级）
2、The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
arm 英 [ɑːm] v.武装；装备 过去式/过去分词: armed
battle英 ['bætl] n. 战斗；争斗
3、Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid.
swear英 [sweə(r)] v. 咒骂；发誓；宣誓
oath英 [əʊθ] n.誓言；誓约；咒骂语
swear an oath宣誓，起誓
aid英 [eɪd] n.援助；帮助；救援；
4、After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.
camp 英 [kæmp]V. 宿营；露营；扎营 过去式/过去分词:camped
pillar英 ['pɪlə(r)] n.柱子；支柱；
a pillar of ……支柱，柱子
我们一起看一下语法
1、The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
arm for武装…以备
（1）arm for sth
The soldiers armed for battle.
士兵们拿起武器准备战斗。
（2）arm sb/sth for sth
The nation must arm its soldiers for battle.
国家必须为战士提供打仗武器。
2、 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath.
swear 咒骂；发誓；宣誓
（1）swear at (v.+prep.)咒骂(某人),诅咒(某事)
e.g.His boss often swore at him, sometimes for no reason at all.
老板经常骂他,有时毫无理由。
The foreman swore at his workers.
工头咒骂工人。
（2）swear for (v.+prep.)为…作保证
e.g.His friends will swear for his integrity.
他的朋友愿意为他正直的品格作担保。
All of us will swear for his honesty.
我们大家都愿意担保他是诚实的。
I could call many people to swear for this method.
我可以请许多人为这个方法担保。
（3）swear an oath发誓
e.g.They swore an oath to carry out their duties faithfully.
他们发誓要忠实履行自己的职责。
Before giving evidence you have to swear an oath. 
在作证之前你得先发誓。
3、By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light
by day 白天，by night 夜晚
e.g.He works in an office by day and drives a taxi by night. 
他白天上班，晚上开出租车。
By day a woman could safely walk the streets, but at night the pavements became dangerous .
白天的时候，妇女可以安全地在街上行走，而到了夜晚人行道上会变得很危险。
The fire was completely overcome by day. 
到白天，火势被完全控制住了。

最后我们再回顾一下这段经文
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place." After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
你曾否为着你生命中所发生的事而困惑呢？事实上很多时候神所做的事是我们不能明白的！就这一段经文，我们可以看见下列两点：
1. 一条神秘的路线──前往迦南地最快的捷径应该是沿着地中海的海岸而行（17节），所以当神引导他们往东走向旷野时（18节），他们实在很惊奇。神是有祂的理由，因祂知道这样走会慢一点才遇上困难。多少时候，神带领我们经过我们认为是漫长而乏味的道路，而另外正有一些显然是更直接通到目标的道路，如果祂愿意，我们必能藉此达到那地。但祂为使我们免去许多我们未曾想到的危害，领我们绕行，因为祂知道，那些捷径往往并非最短的道路。如果神没有领你走捷径，不要埋怨，也不要抗拒祂；只要甘心顺从，信靠祂领你平安地绕过看不见的拦阻。他从开头就看到旅程的终点，祂知道哪一条是最安全、最好的道路。 
2. 神秘的引导与保护──他们凭什么的引导，以致不会迷失方向呢？他们没有地图，指南针，更没有晓得这条路线的人！很明显的，他们有神的引领（21～22节），祂更带领他们躲避敌人呢！神的带领是每时每刻的，所以他们必须时刻注目、小心跟从。神赐给以色列人云柱与火柱，使他们在白昼与黑夜都知道祂的同在，一路引领他们到应许之地。祂赐什么给我们，让我们在人生旅途中有同样的确据呢？那就是圣经。昔日以色列人没并有圣经，今天我们可从神的话语中，得到祂一再的保证，知道祂在我们中间。昔日以色列人仰望云柱、火柱，今天我们昼夜诵读圣经，知道祂与我们同在，并引领我们的一生。
我们一起来祷告，亲爱的主耶稣，求你让我看清楚你的引导，专心地跟从你，甘愿顺服你，坚定信靠你，相信你的带领是于我有益，相信你应许不变，相信你一直爱我，感谢你与我同在，奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们

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