3月12日

標　　題： 我的道路非同你們的道路

經　　節： 耶和華說：我的意念非同你們的意念；我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。（以賽亞書五十五章8∼9節）

神很少照著我們心裡認為應該怎麼做的方式去行事。我們的問題是喜歡猜測神的心意，然後下結論說：「喔！現在我知道神要怎麼做！」當摩西知道神要救希伯來百姓脫離埃及的控制，他犯了同樣的錯誤。神告訴摩西祂會使法老的心剛硬。然而，結果卻出乎摩西的預料。法老王不但沒有放希伯來人走，反而增加他們的苦工。在希伯來人當中，摩西不但沒有變成英雄，反而因為帶來更多苦難被人厭惡。摩西回到耶和華那裡，說：「主啊！??為甚麼苦待這百姓？為甚麼打發我去呢？」（出埃及記五：22）基督徒許多的受挫與神的作為毫不相干，乃是我們默認神的作法，導致自己的沮喪。

你是否曾經順服神的旨意行事，而事情卻每況愈下？摩西完全誤解了順服神之後的結果。當事情不照他的預計進行時，他變得很沮喪。神告訴摩西該怎麼做，並沒有告訴摩西後果會如何。

想要用自己的常識去完成神的工作，是愚昧的。神不是要你把常識棄之不用，祂會聖化你的常識，賜給你祂的智慧，讓你瞭解祂的道路。

當你回頭檢視自己生命中神的作為，你會在神的帶領中看見祂至高的智慧。當你往前觀看神可能的作為，小心避免預測祂的下一步行動。你可能會發現自己完全失算！

God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Rarely does God do something exactly as we think He will. Our problem is that we try to second-guess God, saying, “Oh, now I know what God is planning to do!” Moses experienced this as he learned how God was going to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. God told him He would harden Pharaoh’s heart. Yet, the result was not what Moses anticipated. Rather than allowing the Hebrews to leave, Pharaoh increased their hardship. Rather than becoming a hero among the Hebrews, Moses was despised by them for bringing greater suffering. Moses returned to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?”(Exod. 5:22). Much of the frustration we experience as Christians has nothing to do with what God does or doesn’t do. It has everything to do, rather, with the false assumptions we make about how we think God will and should act.

Have you ever done the will of God and then things seemed to become worse? Moses completely misunderstood what the results of His obedience to God would be. When things did not turn out as he anticipated, Moses became discouraged. God had told Moses what to do, but He had not told Moses what the consequences would be.

It is foolish to attempt to do God’s work using your own “common sense.” God does not eliminate your common sense, He consecrates it. He gives you His wisdom so you can understand His ways.

As you look back on God’s activity in your life, you will recognize the supreme wisdom in how He has led you. As you look forward to what God may do, be careful you do not try to predict what He will do next. You may find yourself completely off the mark.