第15章 上帝能力的彰显
§1
第15章 上帝能力的彰显
§2
Chap. 15 - Gods Power Revealed
§3
（本章根据 出5:1-12:28）
§4
以色列民已多年服于埃及人的奴役之下。当初下到埃及的只有少数几家，但这时他们却已成为一大群的人了。他们既为拜偶像的恶习所包围，其中很多人就早已失去对真神的认识，也忘记了祂的律法。因此他们便在敬拜日、月、星、辰、禽兽、以及人手所造的偶像的事上与埃及人联合了。{SR 112.1}[1]
§5
MANY years had the children of Israel been in servitude to the Egyptians. Only a few families went down into Egypt, but they had become a large multitude. And being surrounded with idolatry, many of them had lost the knowledge of the true God and had forgotten His law. And they united with the Egyptians in their worship of the sun, moon, and stars, also of beasts and images, the work of mens hands. {SR 112.1}[1]
§6
那环绕着以色列民的种种事物，都足以使他们忘记永生的上帝。然而希伯来人中仍有一些人保持着对天地创造主真神的认识。他们看到自己的儿女天天观看，甚至也参与四邻拜偶像之人的可憎行为，又向用木石制成的偶像下拜，并给这些无知无觉的东西献祭，他们就非常痛心。忠心的人既悲痛万分，就在急难中呼求主救他们挣脱埃及人的轭，将他们领出埃及，使他们可以摆脱拜偶像的事，和那环绕着他们的腐化势力。{SR 112.2}[2]
§7
Everything around the children of Israel was calculated to make them forget the living God. Yet there were those among the Hebrews who preserved the knowledge of the true God, the Maker of the heavens and of the earth. They were grieved to see their children daily witnessing, and even engaging in, the abominations of the idolatrous people around them, and bowing down to Egyptian deities, made of wood and stone, and offering sacrifice to these senseless objects. The faithful were grieved, and in their distress they cried unto the Lord for deliverance from the Egyptian yoke, that He would bring them out of Egypt, where they might be rid of idolatry and the corrupting influences which surrounded them. {SR 112.2}[2]
§8
但是有许多希伯来人却宁愿留在奴役之下，而不愿到新的地方去，也不愿受那长途跋涉的艰难困苦，故此主未曾在初次向法老显示祂的神迹奇事时拯救他们。祂掌管万事，且容法老暴虐的精神得到更充分的发展，使祂得以向埃及人，也对祂的百姓彰显祂的大能，令他们急欲离开埃及而选择侍奉上帝。{SR 112.3}[3]
§9
But many of the Hebrews were content to remain in bondage rather than to go to a new country and meet with the difficulties attending such a journey. Therefore the Lord did not deliver them by the first display of His signs and wonders before Pharaoh. He overruled events to more fully develop the tyrannical spirit of Pharaoh, and that He might manifest His great power to the Egyptians, and also before His people, to make them anxious to leave Egypt and choose the service of God. {SR 112.3}[3]
§10
许多以色列人虽然为拜偶像的事所腐化，但忠心的人总能站稳脚步。他们没有隐瞒自己的信仰，却在埃及人面前公然承认他们是侍奉那独一真神永生上帝的。他们述说那自从创世以来，证明上帝的存在和能力的凭据。埃及人有机会认识希伯来人的信仰和他们的上帝。他们曾经试图灭绝这班忠心敬拜真神上帝的人，但他们无论用威迫、利诱、或暴虐的待遇，终不得逞，因此他们甚为恼怒。{SR 113.1}[4]
§11
Although many of the Israelites had become corrupted by idolatry, yet the faithful stood firm. They had not concealed their faith, but openly acknowledged before the Egyptians that they served the only true and living God. They rehearsed the evidences of Gods existence and power from creation down. The Egyptians had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the faith of the Hebrews and their God. They had tried to subvert the faithful worshipers of the true God, and were annoyed because they had not succeeded, either by threats, the promise of rewards, or by cruel treatment. {SR 113.1}[4]
§12
最后登基的两个埃及王是暴虐无道的，曾经残酷地对待希伯来人。以色列的长老们曾经致力于述说那向亚伯拉罕所立的应许，以及约瑟临终前所作的预言，说明他们的得蒙拯救出离埃及，借以鼓舞以色列民消沉的信心。有些人愿意听信，另有一些人却只注意到自己悲惨的处境，而不抱任何希望。{SR 113.2}[5]
§13
The last two kings who had occupied the throne of Egypt had been tyrannical and had cruelly entreated the Hebrews. The elders of Israel had endeavored to encourage the sinking faith of the Israelites, by referring to the promise made to Abraham, and the prophetic words of Joseph just before he died, foretelling their deliverance from Egypt. Some would listen and believe. Others looked at their own sad condition, and would not hope. {SR 113.2}[5]
§14
【以色列民受环境影响】
§15
埃及人对以色列民的指望有所听闻，因而嘲笑他们求救的希望，并出言侮蔑他们上帝的能力。他们向以色列民指出他们这个民族的现状，说他们不过是被奴役的民族，并挖苦他们说，如果你们的上帝是那么公义怜悯的，又比埃及的神更有能力，祂为什么不使你们成为自由的民族呢？为什么不彰显祂的威严和能力并高举你们呢？{SR 113.3}[6]
§16
【Israel Influenced by their Environment】
§17
The Egyptians had learned the expectations of the children of Israel and derided their hopes of deliverance and spoke scornfully of the power of their God. They pointed them to their own situation as a people, as merely a nation of slaves, and tauntingly said to them, If your God is so just and merciful, and possesses power above the Egyptian gods, why does He not make you a free people? Why not manifest His greatness and power, and exalt you? {SR 113.3}[6]
§18
埃及人又唤起以色列民注意他们这个敬拜自己所选择，而为以色列人所称为假神之神明的民族。他们得意洋洋地说：他们的神明已经使他们兴盛，并赐给他们衣食和大量财富，而且他们的神明还将以色列人交在他们手中服事他们，他们也有权压迫以色列人，杀害他们，使他们不再成为一个民族。他们讥诮希伯来人终必从奴役中得蒙解救的意见。{SR 114.1}[7]
§19
The Egyptians then called the attention of the Israelites to their own people, who worshiped gods of their own choosing, which the Israelites termed false gods. They exultingly said that their gods had prospered them, and had given them food and raiment and great riches, and that their gods had also given the Israelites into their hands to serve them, and that they had power to oppress them and destroy their lives, so that they should be no people. They derided the idea that the Hebrews would ever be delivered from slavery. {SR 114.1}[7]
§20
法老夸耀说他愿意看到他们的上帝救他们脱离他的手。这些话打销了许多以色列人的希望。在他们看来，情形似乎正如国王和他的谋士们所说的。他们知道自己是受着奴隶的待遇，而且必须忍受督工的和官长所可能加在他们身上任何程度的迫害。他们的男孩曾被搜索加以杀害。他们自己的生活也成了重担，而他们正在相信并敬拜天上的上帝。{SR 114.2}[8]
§21
Pharaoh boasted that he would like to see their God deliver them from his hands. These words destroyed the hopes of many of the children of Israel. It appeared to them very much as the king and his counselors had said. They knew that they were treated as slaves, and that they must endure just that degree of oppression their taskmasters and rulers might put upon them. Their male children had been hunted and slain. Their own lives were a burden, and they were believing in, and worshiping, the God of heaven. {SR 114.2}[8]
§22
于是他们将自己的处境和埃及人的作一比较。埃及人根本不相信有一位具有拯救或毁灭之能的永生上帝。他们有的人敬拜偶像，就是木石制成的像。另一些人则选择敬拜日、月、星辰；然而他们倒是兴盛富裕的，所以有一些希伯来人心想：如果上帝真是超过一切的神明，那么祂就决不致如此听任他们成为一个拜偶像民族的奴隶。{SR 114.3}[9]
§23
Then they contrasted their condition with that of the Egyptians. They did not believe at all in a living God who had power to save or to destroy. Some of them worshiped idols, images of wood and stone, while others chose to worship the sun, moon, and stars; yet they were prospered and wealthy. And some of the Hebrews thought that if God was above all gods He would not thus leave them as slaves to an idolatrous nation. {SR 114.3}[9]
§24
上帝忠心的仆人们明白：主之所以任由他们下到埃及来，乃是因为他们作为一个民族来说不忠于上帝，以及他们的任性与其他民族通婚，如此被诱惑去敬拜偶像。他们也向自己的弟兄们强调：上帝不久必将他们从埃及地领出来并折断那压制他们的轭。{SR 114.4}[10]
§25
The faithful servants of God understood that it was because of their unfaithfulness to God as a people, and their disposition to intermarry with other nations, and thus being led into idolatry, that the Lord suffered them to go into Egypt. And they firmly declared to their brethren that God would soon bring them up from Egypt and break their oppressive yoke. {SR 114.4}[10]
§26
时候已到，上帝要应允祂受压迫子民的祈求，以神能的大力彰显把祂的百姓带出埃及，迫使埃及人承认他们所藐视的希伯来人的上帝是超乎诸神之上的。如今祂要因他们拜偶像、骄傲地自夸他们没有知觉没有意识的假神对他们的恩待而惩罚他们。上帝必荣耀祂自己的名，好使其它各国可以听闻祂的权能，并在祂大能的作为下战兢；祂自己的子民也可因目睹祂奇妙的作为而完全转离他们的偶像崇拜，向祂献上纯洁的敬拜。{SR 115.1}[11]
§27
The time had come when God would answer the prayers of His oppressed people, and would bring them from Egypt with such mighty displays of His power that the Egyptians would be compelled to acknowledge that the God of the Hebrews, whom they had despised, was above all gods. He would now punish them for their idolatry and for their proud boasting of the mercies bestowed upon them by their senseless gods. God would glorify His own name, that other nations might hear of His power and tremble at His mighty acts, and that His people, by witnessing His miraculous works, should fully turn from their idolatry to render to Him pure worship. {SR 115.1}[11]
§28
上帝在拯救以色列人出离埃及的事上，清楚地向所有的埃及人显明祂对祂子民特殊的怜爱。上帝认为合适要在法老身上执行祂的刑罚。使他既不愿因其他的方法相信，就只有从痛苦的经验得以认明，祂的能力远胜其他一切的神明。祂为要使自己的圣名传遍全地，就要向万国提出自己的神圣能力和公义之可作鉴戒、与令人信服的证据来。上帝的计划乃是要这些大能的表现足以加强祂子民的信心，使他们的后代子孙都能单单敬拜祂，因祂曾为他们的缘故施行如此怜爱的奇事。{SR 115.2}[12]
§29
In the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, God plainly showed His distinguished mercy to His people before all the Egyptians. God saw fit to execute His judgments upon Pharaoh, that he might know by sad experience, since he would not otherwise be convinced, that His power was superior to all others. That His name might be declared throughout all the earth, He would give exemplary and demonstrative proof to all nations of His divine power and justice. It was the design of God that these exhibitions of power should strengthen the faith of His people, and that their posterity should steadfastly worship Him alone who had wrought such merciful wonders in their behalf. {SR 115.2}[12]
§30
在法老不给草却让百姓做砖之后，摩西曾向法老宣布，他所假装不认识的上帝会迫使他屈服于祂的要求，承认祂作为至高统治者的权威。{SR 115.3}[13]
§31
Moses declared to Pharaoh, after he required the people to make brick without straw, that God, whom he pretended not to know, would compel him to yield to His claims and acknowledge His authority as supreme Ruler. {SR 115.3}[13]
§32
【十大灾难】
§33
杖化成蛇，与河水变为血的神迹，并没有感动法老刚硬的心，而只有增加他对以色列人的仇恨。术士们的作法使他相信摩西所行的神迹无非也是法术，但在蛙灾解除之后，他就得到充分的凭据证明事情并非如此。上帝原可将青蛙在倾刻之间消除仍归回尘土，但祂并没有这样作，以免青蛙消除之后，王和埃及人又说这是行法术的结果，正如他们的术士所行的一样。青蛙死了之后，埃及人便把它们都聚拢成堆。他们便得以眼见这些动物的尸体，而且腐臭也污染了空气。王和全埃及的人从此看到他们的虚妄哲学所无法解释的凭据，证明这决不是法术，而是天上上帝所降的刑罚。{SR 116.1}[14]
§34
【The Plagues】
§35
The miracle of the rods becoming a serpent and the rivers being turned to blood did not move the hard heart of Pharaoh, only to increase his hatred of the Israelites. The work of the magicians led him to believe that these miracles were performed by magic, but he had abundant evidence that this was not the case when the plague of frogs was removed. God could have caused them to disappear and return to dust in a moment, but He did not do this, lest, after they should be removed, the king and the Egyptians should say that it was the result of magic, like the work of the magicians. They died, and then they gathered them together into heaps. Their bodies they could see before them, and they corrupted the atmosphere. Here the king and all Egypt had evidences which their vain philosophy could not dispose of, that this work was not magic but a judgment from the God of heaven. {SR 116.1}[14]
§36
行法术的无法造出虱子。主不容许他们这样作，即使造出虚幻的现象，使他们自己或埃及人相信他们能造成虱灾，也不可以。祂要消灭法老的一切不信借口。祂迫使行法术的自己承认说：“这是上帝的手段。”{SR 116.2}[15]
§37
The magicians could not produce the lice. The Lord would not suffer them to make it even appear to their own sight, or to that of the Egyptians, that they could produce the plague of the lice. He would remove all excuse of unbelief from Pharaoh. He compelled even the magicians themselves to say, This is the finger of God. {SR 116.2}[15]
§38
随后降下的是蝇灾。那种苍蝇并不象在某些季节中骚扰我们的普通苍蝇，那临到埃及的苍蝇乃是巨大而有毒的。它们的螫刺使人和牲畜遭到非常的痛苦。上帝却使祂的百姓与埃及人分别出来，不容苍蝇在他们的境内出现。{SR 116.3}[16]
§39
Next came the plague of the swarms of flies. They were not such flies as harmlessly annoy us in some seasons of the year, but the flies brought upon Egypt were large and venomous. Their sting was very painful upon man and beast. God separated His people from the Egyptians and suffered no flies to appear throughout their coasts. {SR 116.3}[16]
§40
后来主又降下瘟疫在他们的牲畜身上，同时却保守了希伯来人的牲畜，使它们一个都没有瘟死。随后又在人和牲畜身上降下泡疮的灾，连行法术的自己也无法幸免。主随后又将搀杂着有火、闪电、和雷轰的雹灾降在埃及地。每次降灾的时间都是预先宣布的，使人不能说它是偶然发生的。主向埃及人证明全地都在希伯来人的上帝的指挥之下——证明雷雹和风雨都听从祂的吩咐。那骄傲的法老曾经一度发问说：“耶和华是谁，使我听祂的话？”如今竟自卑地说：“我犯了罪了，耶和华是公义的，我和我的百姓是邪恶的。”他央求摩西为他向上帝代求，使这可怖的雷轰和闪电止息。{SR 117.1}[17]
§41
The Lord then sent the plague of the murrain upon their cattle, and at the same time preserved the cattle of the Hebrews, that not one of them died. Next came the plague of the boil upon man and beast, and the magicians could not protect themselves from it. The Lord then sent upon Egypt the plague of the hail mingled with fire, with lightnings and thunder. The time of each plague was given before it came, that it might not be said to have happened by chance. The Lord demonstrated to the Egyptians that the whole earth was under the command of the God of the Hebrews--that thunder, hail, and storm obey His voice. Pharaoh, the proud king who once inquired, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice? humbled himself and said, I have sinned . . .: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. He begged of Moses to be his intercessor with God, that the terrific thunder and lightning might cease. {SR 117.1}[17]
§42
耶和华随后又降下可怕的蝗灾。王却宁愿忍受这些灾难，而不愿向上帝低头。他眼看着全国在这些可怕的刑罚神迹之下毫不悔悟。主随后又降了一次黑暗之灾在埃及地。民众不但得不到亮光，就连空气都是非常沉闷难受的，以致连呼吸也感到困难；然而希伯来人在所居住的境内却都有亮光和纯洁的空气。{SR 117.2}[18]
§43
The Lord next sent the dreadful plague of the locusts. The king chose to receive the plagues rather than to submit to God. Without remorse he saw his whole kingdom under the miracle of these dreadful judgments. The Lord then sent darkness upon Egypt. The people were not merely deprived of light, but the atmosphere was very oppressive, so that breathing was difficult; yet the Hebrews had a pure atmosphere and light in their dwellings. {SR 117.2}[18]
§44
上帝还降下一个可怕的灾难在埃及地，较比以前任何灾难更为严重。那抗拒摩西的要求一直到底的，乃是王和那些拜偶像的祭司。民众却希望希伯来人获得允许离开埃及。摩西向法老和埃及人，也向以色列人，说明这最后灾难的性质和结果。那天夜晚，对于埃及人可说是非常恐怖的，但对于上帝的子民，却是光荣的；严肃的逾越节就是当夜设立的。{SR 117.3}[19]
§45
One more dreadful plague God brought upon Egypt, more severe than any before it. It was the king and the idolatrous priests who opposed to the last the request of Moses. The people desired that the Hebrews should be permitted to leave Egypt. Moses related to Pharaoh and to the people of Egypt, also to the Israelites, the nature and effect of the last plague. On that night, so terrible to the Egyptians and so glorious to the people of God, was the solemn ordinance of the passover instituted. {SR 117.3}[19]
§46
要埃及王和一班骄傲而拜偶像的国民服从天上上帝的命令，实在是很难的。埃及王的屈服非常迟缓。他在最难堪的痛苦之下稍微作了一点让步，可是一旦苦难消除，他就收回他所允诺的一切。如此，灾难一个一个地临到埃及，而他除了上帝忿怒的可怕刑罚迫使他低头之外，总不肯作更多的让步。王甚至在埃及国业已败落之后，依然固执地反抗不从。{SR 118.1}[20]
§47
It was very hard for the Egyptian king and a proud and idolatrous people to yield to the requirements of the God of heaven. Very slow was the king of Egypt to yield. While under most grievous affliction he would yield a little; but when the affliction was removed, he would take back all he had granted. Thus, plague after plague was brought upon Egypt, and he yielded no more than he was compelled to by the dreadful visitations of Gods wrath. The king even persisted in his rebellion after Egypt had been ruined. {SR 118.1}[20]
§48
摩西和亚伦向法老述说，那在他不容以色列民出去之后，随之而来的每一灾难的性质和结果。他每次虽然看到这些灾难完全照着所讲的临到；但他总不肯让步。最先，他只准许他们在埃及地献祭给上帝；后来，在埃及遭受上帝忿怒的打击之后，他只容许男人出去。在埃及几乎被蝗灾摧毁之后，那时他才准许妇人和孩子也可以去，但仍不允许带牲畜去。这时，摩西告诉王，上帝的使者必要杀死他们所有的长子和头生的牲畜。{SR 118.2}[21]
§49
Moses and Aaron related to Pharaoh the nature and effect of each plague which should follow his refusal to let Israel go. Every time he saw these plagues come exactly as he was told they would come; yet he would not yield. First, he would only grant them permission to sacrifice to God in the land of Egypt; then, after Egypt had suffered by Gods wrath, he granted that the men alone should go. After Egypt had been nearly destroyed by the plague of the locusts, then he granted that their children and their wives might go also, but would not let their cattle go. Moses then told the king that the angel of God would slay their first-born. {SR 118.2}[21]
§50
每一次的灾难总比之前来得更接近、更严重，而这一次的却要比以前任何一次的更可怕。但那骄傲的君王竟大发烈怒，不肯自卑。埃及人在看到以色列人为那可怕的一夜大作准备时，他们就讥诮那涂在他们门框和门楣上鲜血的标记。{SR 118.3}[22]
§51
Every plague had come a little closer and more severe, and this was to be more dreadful than any before it. But the proud king was exceedingly angry, and humbled not himself. And when the Egyptians saw the great preparations being made among the Israelites for that dreadful night, they ridiculed the token of blood upon their doorposts. {SR 118.3}[22]