聖經裡的動物 (1)

聖經裡的動物 (1)
聖經閱讀：士師記7:1-8 現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月15日(日)

　我喜歡動物！在接下來的幾天中，我們要來認識一些聖經裡的動物。
今天我們要來談一種我最喜歡的動物──狗。在經文閱讀中，我們得知上帝吩咐基甸帶領一支軍隊去打敗米甸人，有32,000人來加入這支軍隊，但是上帝說：「…跟隨你的人太多了…他們會以為那是靠他們自己的力量得勝的」（第2b節），所以基甸要害怕的人回家，於是有22000人回家了。
然後上帝告訴基甸，人還是太多了，於是基甸就把人們帶到水邊、要他們喝水，其中「有三百人用手捧著水舔，其餘的都跪下喝。」（第6節）。最後上帝揀選了那300人成為基甸的軍隊，因為他們像狗一樣舔水，表現出隨時警戒並注意著敵人的態度。
上帝幫助基甸和那300人打敗米甸人的大軍，上帝是大有能力的！今天祂就可以幫助你──就像祂幫助基甸一樣。 —JK

「基甸…回到以色列營裡，對他們說：『起來！上主把米甸軍隊交在你們手裡了！』」 士師記7:15b

禱告：上帝，謝謝祢是大有能力的上帝。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林煜茹譯)

Bible Animals (1)
Bible Reading: Judges 7:1-8
Sunday, May 15, 2016

I love animals! For the next few days we will learn about some animals in the Bible.
Today we will talk about one of my favorite animals — a dog. In our Bible verses, we learn that God told Gideon to lead an army to defeat the Midianites. 32,000 men came to be part of the army. But God said, “...you have too many men. I don't want the Israelites to forget me and brag that they saved themselves” (verse 2b). So Gideon told the men that were afraid to go home. 22,000 men went home.
Then God told Gideon there were still too many men. So the men were led to water and told to take a drink. “There were 300 men who used their hands to bring water to their mouth and lapped it like a dog does. All the other people bent down and drank the water” (verse 6). God chose those 300 men to be Gideon's army because they showed they were alert and watching for the enemy.
God helped Gideon and the 300 men defeat a huge army of Midianites. God is very powerful! He can help you today — just like He helped Gideon. —JK

“Then Gideon went back to the camp of the Israelites and called out to the people, ‘Get up! The Lord will help us defeat the Midianites.’” Judges 7:15b

PRAYER: God, thank You for being powerful. In Jesus’ name. Amen.