四月三十日
以色列众人向摩西、亚伦发怨言……（民14:2）
现在基督徒当中也有很多发怨言的人，像古时的以色列人一样。有很多人当刑杖落到他们身上时，便抱怨起来，以为是被苦待了。他们说：“为什么我受这样的苦呢？我作过什么事才受这样的管教呢？”发怨言的人哪！让我对你说一句话。为什么你怨天父这样的安排呢？他待你曾过于你所应当得的吗？你想想你过去怎样的背叛神，但他却饶恕了你！若智慧的神认为现在管教你是合适的时候，那末你就不应当怨尤。总之，你觉得你所受的击打超过你的罪所当得的吗？你把你内心一切的败坏查看一下，你不觉得你极需刑杖来把它打出去吗？称称你自己，看看你的金子里有多少渣滓；烈火炼去你的很多渣滓时，你感到炽热难熬吗？你的骄傲悖逆不证明你的心还未完全成圣吗？那些怨尤的话不是与神子民的顺服的圣洁性情相违背吗？你不需要纠正吗？若你为所受的管教发怨言，要留意，发怨言的人所受的管教必更严厉。神常把他的孩子们管教两次，若他们第一次不耐心地忍受责打的话。但要知道一件事：他并不甘心使人受苦，使人忧愁。他一切改正你的方法都是以爱为出发，为要洁净你，吸引你亲近他。若你承认你父的手有权柄，就必须以顺服的心忍受他的管教。因为：“主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。你们所忍受的，是神管教你们，待你们如同待儿子。”“你们也不要发怨言，像他们有发怨言的，就被灭命的所灭。”
April 30
“And all the children of Israel murmured.” –Numbers 14:2
There are murmurers amongst Christians now, as there were in the camp of
Israel of old. There are those who, when the rod falls, cry out against the
afflictive dispensation. They ask, “Why am I thus afflicted? What have I
done to be chastened in this manner?” A word with thee, O murmurer! Why
shouldst thou murmur against the dispensations of thy heavenly Father? Can He
treat thee more hardly than thou deservest? Consider what a rebel thou wast
once, but He has pardoned thee! Surely, if He in His wisdom sees fit now to
chasten thee, thou shouldst not complain. After all, art thou smitten as hardly
as thy sins deserve? Consider the corruption which is in thy breast, and then
wilt thou wonder that there needs so much of the rod to fetch it out? Weigh
thyself, and discern how much dross is mingled with thy gold; and dost thou
think the fire too hot to purge away so much dross as thou hast? Does not that
proud rebellious spirit of thine prove that thy heart is not thoroughly
sanctified? Are not those murmuring words contrary to the holy submissive
nature of God’s children? Is not the correction needed? But if thou wilt murmur
against the chastening, take heed, for it will go hard with murmurers. God
always chastises His children twice, if they do not bear the first stroke
patiently. But know one thing–“He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve
the children of men.” All His corrections are sent in love, to purify
thee, and to draw thee nearer to Himself. Surely it must help thee to bear the
chastening with resignation if thou art able to recognize thy Father’s hand.
For “whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He
receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.”
“Murmur not as some of them also murmured and were destroyed of the
destroyer.”
