被愛激勵所發出的有果效的代禱：本週妥拉經文的學習（2019年2月22日）
Love Compelling Effective Intercession: A Study of This Week’s Torah Portion (February 22, 2019)
錫安之光 2019年2月17日
摘要：這週的妥拉讀經的篇章（妥拉篇章的名稱：‘當你數點人口的時候’）飽含著熾熱的愛火，這樣的愛能點燃、激勵有果效的代禱。當我們閱讀並體會摩西為以色列熱切的禱告時，我們就會被帶入上帝內心的深處–在那裡我們會領會與上帝至深的友情，正是這份與神深厚的友情帶動了改變歷史的代禱。
這週的妥拉讀經從出埃及記30章11節開始，上帝指示摩西關於敬拜儀式的具體細節。上帝讓摩西數點以色列的人數，使他們奉獻給耶和華禮物用於建會幕的使用。所以本週妥拉篇章的名稱Ki Tisa是從上帝對於摩西的這個指示得來的，意思是“當你數點人口的時候”。
本週的妥拉描述了會幕的聖物和擺設，以及遵守安息日的命令。然後，當上帝和摩西說完話，祂給了摩西兩塊刻有神聖命令的石版（出埃及記31章18節）。此刻的摩西想必對他的百姓的未來充滿喜悅的盼望，可是他感受到的任何喜樂都是短暫的。
上帝對摩西說：“你下山去吧，因為你的人民，就是你從埃及地領出來的，已經敗壞了。他們很快就偏離了我吩咐他們的道路，為自己鑄造了一個牛像，向它跪拜，向它獻祭，說：‘以色列啊，這就是你的神，就是把你從埃及地領出來的那位。’” 上帝對摩西說：“我看這人民，真是硬著頸項的人民。 現在，你且由著我，讓我向他們發烈怒，把他們消滅；我要使你成為大國。” （出埃及記32章7-10節）
在第10節中 “由著我”的希伯來詞意為“不要打擾我”或“讓我平靜下來”。上帝深感悲痛和憤怒。但是上帝的怒氣並不是我們血氣中的那種發怒或對憤怒情緒的宣洩。而是因祂聖潔的、公義的烈焰以及祂對百姓忌邪的愛，令祂有這樣激烈的反應，因為祂要的是合祂心意的子民。祂表達的震怒是因為神聖的愛所激發的、帶著憐憫的公義。
在這個無法挽回的時刻，摩西沒有由著上帝。其實，摩西根本不敢違背上帝的旨意。
摩西懇求上帝說：“耶和華啊，你為什麼向你的百姓發烈怒呢？這百姓是你用大力和大能的手從埃及地領出來的。為什麼使埃及人議論說他領他們出去，是要降禍與他們，把他們殺在山中，將他們從地上除滅？求你轉意，不發你的烈怒，後悔，不降禍與你的百姓。求你紀念你的僕人亞伯拉罕﹑以撒﹑以色列。你曾指著自己起誓說：我必使你們的後裔像天上的星那麼多，並且我所應許的這全地，必給你們的後裔，他們要永遠承受為業。”（出埃及記32章11-13節）
在摩西再次面對上帝時，他更近一步懇求：“倘或你肯赦免他們的罪．．．．不然，求你從你所寫的冊上塗抹我的名。”（出埃及記32章32節）摩西發於心的代求明確地表達了申命記6章5節的誡命：“你要盡心﹑盡性﹑盡力愛主你的神。”許多年後，彌賽亞耶穌強調這時最大的一條誡命。（馬太福音22章37節）
因為耶和華向摩西開啟了他心的最深處，所以摩西可以遵照最大的誡命去愛。摩西曾經進到神心的最深處擁抱和分享了天父因著渴望與以色列他的長子之間有那份親密的相交而生發的苦樂參半的憂傷和痛苦。（出埃及記4章22節）這位以色列古時的領袖前所未有地親身經歷了神對罪惡感到的痛苦。在這個神聖的相交中，神展現了他是充滿榮耀並忌邪的神。
然而，摩西能夠向上帝正確地申訴僅是基於一個前提，摩西謙卑地和帶著信心坦然無懼地藉著神為著祂名的緣故所立的無條件﹑永不改變的約來向上帝請求。他“提醒”神曾以祂自己的名起誓紀念與亞伯拉罕﹑以撒和以色列所立的約。在這個過程中，摩西把自己本可以親手建立的一個奉獻給神的新國家的機會和祝福全然獻上了。
這位歷史聞名的以色列的拯救者又繼續邁進一步。如果上帝不會或是不能赦免以色列的罪，摩西將會為著以色列把他自己的呼召和命定甚至是他自己的性命放下。讓我們再透過主耶穌的教導來思考摩西所做的，“人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個大的。”（約翰福音15章13節）
摩西深深地觸動了至高神的心。“於是耶和華後悔，不把所說的禍降與他的百姓。”（出埃及記32章14節）
上帝從開始就知道摩西會請求祂不毀滅以色列並且祂的確會轉離怒氣。但這並不意味著即使摩西沒有站在破口上代禱上帝也會轉意。今天的情況也是如此，神因著祂名的緣故為了成就祂的約在尋找那些有著彌賽亞一樣的愛的代禱者可以站在破口上為祂的百姓代求。
與摩西一樣，使徒保羅極其熱切地領受了上帝對祂百姓的心。保羅在彌賽亞耶穌裡被感動寫道，“為了我的弟兄–我的同胞以色列人，即使我自己被咒詛、與彌賽亞隔絕，我也願意！” *（羅馬書9章3-4節）你是否也被呼召有同樣的心志呢？
在本週妥拉經文中（ “當你數點人口的時候”），上帝回應摩西的懇求不會滅絕以色列百姓之後，祂重新託付摩西帶領以色列人到祂所給他們的應許之地。 “但是”，祂說，“我不會跟你們一起去。” （出埃及記33章3節）上帝雖然饒恕了他們拜金牛犢的罪，但是這些百姓仍然陷於極深的罪中。如果上帝要與他們同行，祂可能會在他們到達應許之地前就已經毀滅他們了。
摩西再次向上帝為百姓祈求，求主不要掩面不看以色列民。他和主面對面地交談，好像兩個朋友談話一樣（出埃及記33章11節）。上帝再次應允了摩西的懇求。上帝特別是因著摩西的緣故，祂祝福整個以色列民族。 （出埃及記33章5,15-17）但摩西仍然不滿足。當他與主的關係越親密時，他也更認識主。他大膽地向主要求：“求祢向我彰顯祢的榮耀。” （出埃及記33章18節）
出人意料之外的是，上帝毫不猶豫地答應了摩西。上帝說祂會以摩西能謙卑承受的形式讓祂一切的“美善”從他面前經過。在這無與倫比的相遇中，耶和華向摩西宣告祂的名字：“耶和華，耶和華，是有憐憫，有恩典的神，不輕易發怒，並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實。為千萬人存留慈愛，赦免罪孽、過犯和罪惡，萬不以有罪的為無罪，必追討他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代。”（出埃及記 34章6-7節）
上帝在這裡向人類啟示了關於祂的最本質的神聖屬性。根據傳統，這就是被傳統猶太教高舉稱頌的“十三項屬性”，直到現在，這仍然是祝頌敬拜裡重要的一個環節。
“當你數點人口的時候”這段妥拉經文繼續講述了不同的誡命，包括關於上帝的節期的慶祝。在出埃及記32章19節中，被摩西摔碎的法版在34章14 節中被換新了。在古老的中東社會，一塊刻有契約的牌匾如果被折斷就表示在法律上這份契約變為無效。但是上帝卻滿有恩慈地赦免並重新立約，也就是現在所說的“摩西之約”。
“當你數點人口的時候”妥拉經文部分的結尾描述了摩西因在上帝的榮耀同在中停留而臉上發光，榮光太亮了以至摩西必須要在人面前用帕子蒙上臉。（出埃及記 34章29-35節）在這週中，願你的臉上因著神親密的同在而閃耀發光——不用遮住地見證上帝無比的美善。願你在盡心、盡性、盡力愛主時被祂充充足足的喜樂所祝福，使你發出充滿果效的代禱。
*多數的聖經學者同意摩西和保羅並非有意識地打算放棄在永生中與耶和華同在，或是甘願與耶和華永久隔絕。
除了特別注明處以外，文中的聖經經文和文獻索引選自“聖經生命樹版本”。
Love Compelling Effective Intercession: A Study of This Week’s Torah Portion (February 22, 2019)
FEBRUARY 17, 2019
SUMMARY: This week’s parasha, Ki Tisa, explodes with the fire of love that ignites and compels effective intercession. As we read and engage with Moses’ prayers of passion for Israel, we are escorted to the inner chambers of God’s heart. There we discover depths of friendship with Him that drive history shaping intercession.
The parasha opens in Exodus 30:11 with God giving Moses details pertaining to liturgical worship. A census of the Israelites is to be taken for the purpose of funding and outfitting the Tabernacle. From this instruction comes the name Ki Tisa, meaning “When you take” [the census].
The parasha goes on to prescribe sacred elements and furnishings for the Tabernacle, as well as Sabbath observance. Then, as God finishes speaking with Moses, He gives him two stone tablets engraved with His holy commands. (Exodus 31:18) At this, Moses is presumably awestruck with joyful expectation for the future of his people. But any joy he may feel is short lived.
“Go down,” God tells him, “for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have become debased. They quickly turned aside from the path that I commanded for them. They have made a molten calf, worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you up out of the land of Egypt.’…I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore, leave Me alone, so My wrath may burn hot against them, and so I may consume them and make from you a great nation!” (Exodus 32:7-10)
The Hebrew word used for “leave Me alone” in verse 10 means “let me be” or “let me be pacified.” God is deeply grieved and angered. But He is not losing his temper or discharging rage as we might understand such emotions. Rather, the fire of holy righteousness, mixed with passionate, jealous fervor for His people, compels a radical response in order for Him to have a people fit to be His people. The expression of His wrath would be a merciful execution of justice fueled by the sanctity of love.
In this rubicon moment, Moses does not leave God alone. In a certain real sense, he dares disobey the Almighty.
“O Lord,” Moses replies, “why should Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of Egypt…? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that He brought them out … to wipe them off the face of the earth?’ Turn from Your fierce anger; relent….Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom You swore by Your own self: I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them and it will be their inheritance forever.” (Exodus 32:11-13, NIV)
In a related encounter, Moses further pleads, “Please forgive their sin. But if not, please blot me out of Your book that You have written.” (Exodus 32:32) In history shaping intercession, Moses gives tangible expression to the command of Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength.” Many years later, Messiah Yeshua would highlight this command as the greatest. (Matthew 22:37)
Moses loves according to the greatest command because YHVH has opened to him the innermost chambers of His own heart. There Moses has embraced and shared the Father’s bittersweet grieving and anguished, passionate longing for intimate fellowship with His “firstborn son.” (Exodus 4:22) The ancient leader of Israel has engaged in an unprecedented, personal sharing of divine anguish over sin. In this holy communion, he appears as jealous and zealous for God’s reputation and glory as God Himself.
Nevertheless, Moses can rightly appeal to YHVH on only one basis. In bold humility and faith, he presents to God the terms of His own unconditional, everlasting covenant—made for His own sake. He “reminds” God, so to speak, that He swore by His Name to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the process, Moses sacrifices the opportunity and blessing of fathering a new nation consecrated to YHVH.
The man known through history as Israel’s deliverer goes still further. If God will not or cannot forgive Israel’s sin any other way, Moses will lay down his own calling and destiny—even his life—for that of Israel. Consider this in context of Yeshua’s teaching: “No one has greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
In the compelling power of covenant love, Moses moves the heart of sovereign God. “And so Adonai relented from the destruction that He said He would do to His people.” (Exodus 32:14)
Now, God knew from the beginning that Moses would ask Him to relent from destroying Israel and that He would indeed relent. But that does not mean He would have relented without Moses standing in the gap in prayer. It is much the same today. God seeks intercessors who will stand in the gap for His people, driven by Messiah-like love, for the fulfillment of His covenant purposes—for His Name’s sake.
Like Moses, the apostle Paul excruciatingly embraced God’s heart for His people. In and by Messiah Yeshua, he writes, “I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood, who are Israelites.” * (Romans 9:3-4) Are you perhaps called to the same?
In Ki Tisa, after God responds to Moses’ plea not to destroy the nation, He re-commissions him to lead the Israelites to their promised land. “But,” He says, “I will not go with you.” (Exodus 33:3) Though forgiven for their sin of the golden calf, the people remain grievously disposed toward sin. If God were to go with them, He might destroy them before they ever reach the land.
Again Moses intercedes, prevailing on God not to withdraw His personal presence from Israel. He speaks with YHVH “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” (Exodus 33:11) And again God agrees to Moses’ request. Specifically for Moses’ sake, He blesses the entire nation. (Exodus 33:5, 15-17) But Moses is still not satisfied. The more he engages with YHVH, the more it seems he must know Him. Boldly he asks, “Please, show me Your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
In stunning response without hesitation, God agrees. He says He will cause all His “goodness” to pass by Moses in a manner Moses can humanly endure. In this unparalleled encounter, YHVH declares to Moses His Name: “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, showing mercy to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means leaving the guilty unpunished, but bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children…to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)
The divine attributes of God revealed here are regarded as His fundamental disposition toward humankind. Accordingly, recital of these so-called “Thirteen Attributes” is extolled within traditional Judaism and remains an important element of liturgical worship.
Ki Tisa continues with various commands, including the celebration of God’s feasts. The covenant tablets of stone which Moses breaks in Exodus 32:19 are replaced in 34:1-4. In the ancient Near East, breaking a tablet on which a contract was engraved served to legally void the contract. But God graciously forgives and reinstates the contract, now referred to as the Mosaic Covenant.
Ki Tisa concludes with Moses’ face shining so brightly, reflecting the glory of God’s presence, that he must veil it before the people. (Exodus 34:29-35) This week, may your face shine brightly from His intimate presence—as an unveiled testimony of His goodness. May you be blessed with the incomparable joy of loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, compelling effective intercession.
*Most Bible scholars agree that neither Moses nor Paul consciously intended to relinquish eternal life with YHVH or consign themselves to eternal separation from Him.
Scripture quotes and references are from the Tree of Life Version unless otherwise indicated.
