8神呼召以色列人的目标,乃是要他们进入应许之地,享受那地的丰富,使他们能建立神的国,并成为神在地上的彰显。然而,他们虽然都借着逾越节蒙了救赎,脱离了埃及人的暴虐,并被带到神的山,领受神居所—帐幕—的启示,但因着他们的恶行和不信,几乎全数倒毙在旷野,无法达到这目标(来三7~19)。唯有迦勒和约书亚达到目标,进了美地(民十四27~30)。这表征我们虽然借着基督蒙了救赎,脱离了撒但的辖制,也被带进神经纶的启示中,我们仍可能无法达到神呼召我们的目标,就是进入并据有我们的美地—基督(腓三12~14),为着神的国享受祂的丰富,使我们能在今世成为祂的彰显,并在国度时代有分于对基督最完满的享受(太二五21、23)。这对所有新约的信徒,该是严肃的警告(哥林多前书生命读经,四九九页)。 8The goal of God’s calling the children of Israel was that they would enter into the promised land to enjoy its riches so that they might establish God’s kingdom and be God’s expression on earth. However, although all Israel was redeemed through the passover, delivered out of the Egyptian tyranny, and brought to the mountain of God to receive the revelation of God’s dwelling place, the tabernacle, nearly all fell and died in the wilderness, failing to reach this goal (Heb. 3:7-19) because of their evil doings and unbelief. Only Caleb and Joshua reached the goal and entered into the good land (Num. 14:27-30). This signifies that although we have been redeemed through Christ, delivered out of Satan’s bondage, and brought into the revelation of God’s economy, we may yet fail to reach the goal of God’s calling, that is, to enter into the possession of our good land, Christ (Phil. 3:12-14), and enjoy His riches for the kingdom of God that we may be His expression in the present age and participate in the fullest enjoyment of Christ in the kingdom age (Matt. 25:21, 23). This should be a solemn warning to all New Testament believers. (Life-study of 1 Corinthians, second edition, p. 421)