1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，

2. What a delight it is to know that you have tuned in to this broadcast.
多么高兴知道你能收听我们的节目。

3. We are continuing in the life of Moses
我们要继续查考摩西的生平，

4. and I want to begin today by asking you a question.
今天先让我问你一个问题：

5. Have you ever experienced unfair criticism,
你曾否面对过一些不公平的批评吗？

6. or, have you ever been criticized for doing something good?
或者你曾经因为作好事而被批评吗？

7. Then, you will understand how Moses felt.
那么你就会同情摩西的感受了。

8. There is something important I need to tell you here.
在这里，我要告诉你一些很重要的事。

9. Critical people do not focus on the important things.
挑剔的人不注意重要的事，

10. Critical people often criticize the trivial things.
挑剔的人只会吹毛求疵。

11. Why do they do that?
他们为什么会这样呢？

12. Because the root of their critical spirit is not what they are criticizing,
因为批判的心态，并不是基于所批评的事，

13. but it is often envy and jealousy;
而往往是出于嫉妒和吃味。

14. and envy and jealousy manifest themselves in being critical.
嫉妒和吃味表现出来，就是挑剔。

15. Critical people do not come out and say, “I am jealous of you because of this or that,”
好批评的人不会明说，我因为嫉妒你，所以才批评你。

16. or that, “I’m envious of what you have.”
或者说，我妒嫉你所有的一切。

17. No, no, no.
不，不，不。

18. They disguise their criticism.
他们掩饰批评，

19. They make their criticism sound so important.
他们包装自己的批评，使它看起来很重要。

20. They make criticism sound so spiritual.
他们使批评听起来好像很属灵的样子，

21. They disguise it in sound reason
他们以充足的理由来掩饰它。

22. and that’s what Miriam and Aaron did to Moses.
当年米利暗和亚伦，也是这样对待摩西的。

23. They were jealous and envious of Moses and his leadership.
他们嫉妒摩西和他的领导地位，

24. They were jealous and envious of Moses’ godly anointing;
他们嫉妒摩西得到神的恩膏。

25. so, instead of coming out and saying it in the open,
他们没有直接说出来，

26. they criticized him for marrying a Midianite wife.
他们只是批评摩西，说他娶了米甸人为妻。

27. I think there is a Miriam and Aaron in every family.
我相信每个家庭里都有像米利暗和亚伦这类的人；

28. I think there’s a Miriam and Aaron in every workplace.
我想每个工作场所都有像米利暗和亚伦这样的人；

29. I think there’s a Miriam and Aaron in every church.
我想在每个教会里都有像米利暗和亚伦这样的人。

30. A Miriam who would instigate the criticism,
总有像米利暗那样，专好批评的人；

31. and an Aaron who just goes along.
也有像亚伦那样，随声附和的人。

32. A Miriam who ferments criticism,
像米利暗那样吹毛求疵的人；

33. and an Aaron who says, “You’re right.”
也有像亚伦那样的应声虫。

34. A Miriam who starts the gossip chain,
像米利暗那样说长道短的人；

35. and an Aaron who naively repeats it.
也有像亚伦那样无知的传声筒。

36. Miriam’s role can be played by a male or female,
像米利暗这类的人，男女都有；

37. just as Aaron’s role can be played by a male or female.
像亚伦这类的人，也是男女都有。

38. Personal criticism, even when it is justified, is always painful;
对个人的批评，即使是公正的，也会带来痛苦；

39. but unjust criticism hurts deeply,
那些恶意的批评，则会带来更深的伤害了。

40. especially when it comes from someone whom you love and trust.
尤其是来自你最亲近，最信任的人。

41. What makes this criticism of Moses excruciating
对摩西的这个批评令人特难受，

42. is that it questioned his motives.
因为怀疑他的动机。

43. After all that Moses did for them,
摩西为他们付出了那么多，

44. after fighting so many personal battles with them
跟他们并肩作战，经历了那么多场斗争；

45. regarding their idolatry,
对付偶像敬拜，

46. regarding their immorality,
对付伤风败俗，

47. regarding their murmur;
对付牢骚怨言。

48. yet no one ever questioned his motive until now
从没有人怀疑他的动机，直到此刻，

49. and it comes from his own family -
而且是来自他的亲人，

50. his sister and his brother.
他的亲姊姊，和他的亲哥哥。

51. Let me give you an important principle.
让我告诉你一个重要的原则，

52. If you examine the heart of unfair criticism,
如果你去观察一下那些恶意的批评，

53. you will find jealousy and envy lurking in the dark.
你就会发现隐藏在背后的嫉妒心。

54. Try to make sense of this criticism if you can.
你说，这批评有没有道理？

55. Moses married Zipporah, a Midianite, many years earlier.
摩西在多年前，娶了米甸女子西坡拉。

56. He married her before the burning bush.
是在他遭遇火烧荆棘丛的经历之前就结婚的；

57. He married her before he was commissioned by God to deliver His people.
在他被神呼召去解救神的百姓前就娶的妻子；

58. This was before the plagues.
在十灾之前；

59. This was before the Red Sea.
在过红海之前；

60. This was before the Sinai desert.
在进入西乃旷野之前；

61. This was before God revealed Himself and gave Moses His commandments.
在神向他显现，并颁布十诫之前。

62. Why criticize him now?
为什么到现在才批评他呢？

63. I want you to notice the diabolical nature of unfair criticism.
请你留心，这些不公平的批评所包涵的恶意。

64. The Bible says
圣经说，

65. you should not marry an unbeliever.
不可与非信徒结婚。

66. But what Bible?
哪本圣经呢？

67. Moses was married way before the Word of God was given to him
摩西是在神的话还没有颁布之前已经结婚了。

68. and that is why criticism that stems out of envy and jealousy is basically irrational.
所以，发自嫉妒心的批评，往往是没有道理的。

69. It says, “My mind is made up. Don’t confuse me with the facts.”
他说，不要再跟我讲事实，我已经认定了。

70. There is something else that you need to understand.
你还需要明白另一点，

71. Moses, Miriam and Aaron belonged to the same family.
摩西、米利暗和亚伦都是一家人，

72. They had the same father and mother.
他们同父同母，

73. They were Moses’ two older siblings.
他们是摩西的哥哥、姊姊。

74. They, too, had been chosen to play a role in God’s deliverance of His people.
在神解救祂百姓的计划中，他们都被拣选担任一个角色。

75. Miriam was the song leader
米利暗是领唱，

76. and Aaron was the high priest.
亚伦是大祭司。

77. In fact, it is because of their connection with Moses that they received the honor and the privilege of serving.
老实说，正是因为他们跟摩西的关系，才能得到侍奉神的特权和荣誉。

78. It is because of their relationship with Moses that they were in a position of authority and responsibility.
正因为他们跟摩西的关系，才能够站在这个担负责任和权威的位置上。

79. It is because of their relationship with Moses that they became prominent;
正因为他们跟摩西的关系，才有这显要的地位。

80. Then, why is the discontentment and criticism?
那么，他们为什么还要不满，还要批评的？

81. The Scripture does not give us a clear answer as to why the criticism of Moses’ wife came to this point.
圣经并没有清楚说明，为什么在此刻他们突然要批评摩西的妻子。

82. Some scholars have said that Moses’ first wife, Zipporah, died and that he married this Cushite woman without consulting with his sister, Miriam.
有些圣经学者认为，这时候摩西的元配西坡拉去世了，摩西又娶了一个古实女子为妻，却没有征询姊姊米利暗的意见。

83. If this is true, this can be the reason.
如果真是这样，很可能这就是其中的原因。

84. There are some controlling people who would not want you to breathe without asking their opinion;
有些喜欢掌控一切的人，你若不征询他的意见，他就不给你留任何余地。

85. and, if they were not consulted before every decision, they can get bent out of shape in a hurry.
如果在每一个决定之前，不先问问他们的意见，他们就会大动肝火。

86. The second scenario, which I’m more inclined to agree with is this:
还有另一个看法，也是我比较同意的。

87. Moses left his wife and children with his father-in-law, Jethro;
摩西把自己的妻子儿女留在岳父叶忒罗家里，

88. so, throughout the time of coming out of Egypt and organizing the people, teaching them to worship and leading them and managing them,
因此，当摩西领以色列民出埃及，忙着组织他们，管理他们，并教导他们如何敬拜时，

89. Miriam had been the premier woman.
米利暗是他们中间最重要的女领导。

90. After they settled in Sinai,
但当他们在西乃旷野安定下来时，

91. we are told that Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, and his brother-in-law, Hobab, came to visit.
圣经告诉我们，摩西的岳父叶忒罗，和他的内兄何巴来探望他。

92. In fact, his father-in-law gave him some very good management advice.
事实上，他的岳父叶忒罗，在行政管理方面为他提供了很好的意见。

93. When they came from Midian, they most likely brought Moses’ wife, Zipporah, with them
当他们从米甸来访时，很可能是带着摩西的妻子西坡拉一起来的。

94. and she began to get the people’s attention
她受到百姓的注目，

95. and Miriam is no longer the queen of the castle.
米利暗不再是最显要的女领导了。

96. When Moses’ wife showed up, Miriam and Aaron were stewing in jealousy
当摩西的妻子来到时，米利暗和亚伦心中开始产生忌妒，

97. and they began to look for a reason to put Moses down.
并且想方设法地要推翻摩西。

98. Do you know the reason why anyone tries to put somebody else down?
当一个人想要推翻别人时，你知道是什么原因吗？

99. Generally, it is to build themselves up.
通常都是为了要提升自己的地位。

100. They don’t like the spotlight to be on someone else,
他们不喜欢聚光灯射在别人身上，

101. so they spout their own wisdom to show that they are just as important;
因此想尽办法，表现自己的重要性。

102. but here’s the problem -
然而问题是，

103. self-importance has nothing to do with God’s calling upon an individual.
自以为重要，跟神的呼召是两码子事。

104. God doesn’t seem to call important people.
看来神没有呼召重要的人，

105. He specializes in using the unimportant people.
神总是呼召卑微的人。

106. The Bible said
圣经说，

107. that it was only with Moses that God would speak face to face.
神只跟摩西面对面说话。

108. Through the years, I’ve had some wise advice from wise men regarding receiving criticism.
在接受批评这方面，多年来我得到了一些很有智慧的忠告。

109. A friend once told me,
一位朋友曾经对我说，

110. “When people kick you in the back, rejoice. That means that you are in front of them.”
要庆幸有人在你背后踢你一脚，那表示你在他前面。

111. Another one really taught me to listen to criticism carefully.
另外还有一句忠告，教导我要仔细听别人对我的批评。

112. If it is justified, do something about it.
若是公正的批评，就要做出回应；

113. If not, ignore it.
若是不公正的，就不用理会。

114. In fact, there is an old proverb that goes something like this:
原来有句古老的箴言这么说，

115. “If one person calls you a donkey, pay no attention to him;
如果有一个人骂你是驴，不必理睬；

116. but if ten people call you a donkey, go out and buy yourself a saddle…”
如果有十个人都骂你是驴，就去给自己买个马鞍吧！

117. but this criticism of Moses was not only unfair and unjustified,
但对于摩西的批评，不仅是不公正，没道理的，

118. but it was blatantly sinful;
更是恶毒的。

119. but I don’t want you to miss Moses’ reaction to criticism.
不过，我希望你不要忽略摩西对这些批评的反应，

120. He could have lashed out and said many things
他大可以据理力争，或破口大骂，

121. and most of it would have been justified,
而且骂得有理，

122. but he didn’t.
但他没这么做。

123. He could have accused him of hypocrisy,
他可以指责对方假冒为善，

124. but he didn’t.
但他没这么做。

125. He could have defended himself,
他可以为自己辩护，

126. but he did not.
但他没这么做。

127. Because Moses knew that, if they were really concerned about his past life and his present spiritual condition, they would have approached him privately,
因为摩西知道，如果他们真实关心他从前的生活，和现在属灵光景的关系，就应该私底下来跟他谈。

128. Moses knew that they were serving their own purpose
摩西知道他们有私心，

129. and that is why they made their accusation in public;
所以他们才公开指责他，

130. but Moses exhibited the forgiving spirit.
然而摩西却表现出饶恕的精神。

131. Now, I’m not saying that it is not right sometimes to defend yourself against false accusations,
我并不是说，你不该在被人诬告时为自己辩护，

132. but, in this situation, Moses chose not to defend himself.
只是，摩西在这种情形之下，他决定不替自己辩护。

133. Why?
为什么？

134. Because of his humility and his deep love for his brother and sister;
因为他为人谦和，并且深爱他的哥哥姊姊，

135. but, also, because of his absolute belief that God is his defender
同时，也因为他坚定相信，神会为他辩护。

136. and God had to judge Miriam with leprosy
结果，神以大痲疯来惩罚米利暗，

137. and Aaron, the high priest, had to go through the agony of pronouncing her leprosy.
身为大祭司的亚伦，则需要忍痛宣布，她得了痲疯病。

138. But what did Moses do?
摩西做了些什么呢？

139. He interceded on their behalf.
他为他们代祷，

140. He cries to the Lord to heal Miriam.
他呼求神医治米利暗。

141. I often find myself not only praying for those who falsely accuse me,
很多时候，我不但为冤枉我的人祷告，

142. but I find myself praying for opportunities to serve them;
我更求神给我机会，去服事他们，

143. to do something good for them in order that they will be blessed.
好好帮助他们，使他们也能蒙福。

144. My listening friend, I want to tell you this before I conclude.
亲爱的朋友，在结束前让我告诉你，

145. You will never lose when you do that.
如果你也这么做，你绝不会有损失，

146. You will always win.
你永远是赢家。

147. Now, I’m not saying it’s easy,
我并没有说这是容易的，

148. but what I’m testifying to you is that it gets easier once you decide to do it.
但我可以作证，只要你下决心要这么做，就会越来越容易了。

149. God responded to Moses’ prayer, but he would not heal Miriam instantly.
神回答了摩西的祷告，但神没有立刻医治米利暗。

150. Why did God take seven days to heal her?
神为什么等了七天才医治她呢？

151. God was teaching all of His people that you cannot make false accusations and get away with it.
神趁机教导祂所有的百姓说，你不能诬告人而脱罪的。

152. My listening friends, let me ask you this:
我亲爱的朋友，请问你，

153. are you a critical person?
你是个好批评的人吗？

154. Are you a person who criticizes people of whom you are jealous?
你是否去批评那些你嫉妒的人呢？

155. Repent of that today.
今天就认罪悔改吧！

156. Are you in pain from unjust criticism?
你是否落在被诬告的痛苦中？

157. Are you hurting to the point of sickness because someone is showering you with criticism?
你是否因别人的批评而忧伤，以至于病倒了呢？

158. Take them to the Lord today.
今天就把他们带到主面前，

159. Let Him deal with your critics.
让主自己来对付那些批评你的人。

160. Pray for your critics
为批评者代祷，

161. and begin to receive God’s victory.
并接受神所赐的胜利。

162. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，我们下次节目再会。