【双语灵修】“这是什么”饼？"What Is It?" Bread

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“以色列人看见，… 就彼此对问说：‘这是什么呢？’” - 出 16:15

在旷野的以色列民不大相信神是良善的，他们也想像不到神会用什么方式来供应他们的需要。然而，正如神曾应许过的，他们在野地面上看到“状如白霜的小圆物。”根据民数记 11:7-8的记载，这些小圆物像芫荽子，用它做成的饼有橄榄油的味道。小圆物是淡黄色的，颜色像某种芳香树脂。值得我们留意的，这种芳香树脂是伊甸园里一种珍贵的物产（创世记 2:12，修订标准版）。作者或许旨在说明，就如神在伊甸园供应的丰富物产，衪也再次在旷野供应衪子民的需要。

我们可以理解以色列民对这些小圆物即刻做出的反应：“这是什么呢？”摩西告诉他们，这是神给你们吃的食物。这些食物后来被称为吗哪，因为吗哪这个字的读音和希伯来文的“这是什么？”很相似。尽管百姓不大熟悉这种食物，但他们仍然收取并以它作为粮食。

在基督教历史中，很多学者对主餐时领受的饼和葡萄酒（或葡萄汁）都各执己见。这饼和酒具体是什么？神如何使用它来喂养我们的灵命呢？这些都是重要的议题，因为它们能够帮助我们思想神的能力和慈爱。然而更重要的是，我们吃这饼，喝这杯，是为了藉此记念耶稣牺牲自己的性命、使我们的罪得赦免。

祷告

主啊，你的行事方式时常是不可思议的，然而我们知道，你对我们的爱是充足有余的。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

出埃及记 16:14-18

14露水上升之后，不料，野地面上有如白霜的小圆物。
15以色列人看见，不知道是什么，就彼此对问说：“这是什么呢？”摩西对他们说：“这就是耶和华给你们吃的食物。
16耶和华所吩咐的是这样：你们要按着各人的饭量，为帐篷里的人按着人数收起来，各拿一俄梅珥。”
17以色列人就这样行，有多收的，有少收的。
18及至用俄梅珥量一量，多收的也没有余，少收的也没有缺，各人按着自己的饭量收取。

"What Is It?" Bread

"When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was." - Exodus 16:15

The Israelites in the wilderness had little faith in God's goodness, and they had little imagination for how God might provide for them. But, just as God had promised, they found "thin flakes like frost" on the desert floor. According to Numbers 11:7-8, these flakes were like coriander seed, and cakes of it tasted like they were made with olive oil. The flakes were whitish-yellow like a resin called bdellium. It is worth noting here that bdellium was one of the valuable resources in Eden (Genesis 2:12, RSV). Perhaps the author was pointing out that just as God provided resources in Eden, God was again providing for his people in the desert.

The Israelites' first reaction to this substance is understandable: "What is it?" Moses replied that it was bread from God. Eventually it became known as manna, which sounds like the Hebrew for "What is it?" The people did not fully understand this food, but they could still receive it and be nourished by it.

Throughout Christian history many scholars have argued about the bread and wine (or juice) given at the Lord's Supper. What is it, really? How does God use it to give us spiritual nourishment? These are important discussions that can help us reflect on God's power and love. But it is more important to eat and drink, remembering that Jesus gave himself for the forgiveness of our sins.

Prayer

Lord, your ways can be mysterious, but we know that your love is more than enough for us, in Jesus. Amen.