出埃及記第三章（二）：事奉神才是首要

「神說：我必與你同在。你將百姓從埃及領出來之後，你們必在這山上事奉我；這就是我打發你去的證據。」（v12）

此節經文好像在文筆上有一些問題，為何用後來未發生的事作證據，去證明已發生的事。神像問非所答……先看看不同版本的經文：

NET ©
He replied,“Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain.”

the sign: In view of Moses' hesitancy, a sign is necessary to support the promise. A sign is often an unusual or miraculous event that introduces, authenticates, or illustrates the message. One expects a direct connection between the sign and the message (for a helpful discussion, see S. Porúbcan, “The Word ’OT in Isaia 7,14,” CBQ 22 [1960]: 144-49). In this passage the sign is a confirming one, i.e., when Israel worships at the mountain that will be the proof that God delivered them from Egypt. Thus, the purpose of the exodus that makes possible the worship will be to prove that it was God who brought it about. In the meantime, Moses will have to trust in Yahweh.

serve: The verb תַּעַבְדוּן (ta’avdun, “you will serve”) is one of the foremost words for worship in the Torah. Keeping the commandments and serving Yahweh usually sum up the life of faith; the true worshiper seeks to obey him. The highest title anyone can have in the OT is “the servant of Yahweh.” The verb here could be rendered interpretively as “worship,” but it is better to keep it to the basic idea of serving because that emphasizes an important aspect of worship, and it highlights the change from Israel’s serving Egypt, which has been prominent in the earlier chapters. The words “and they” are supplied to clarify for English readers that the subject of the verb is plural (Moses and the people), unlike the other second person forms in vv. 10 and 12, which are singular.

This sign is also a promise from God – “you will serve God on this mountain.” It is given to Moses here as a goal, but a goal already achieved because it was a sign from God. Leading Israel out of Egypt would not be completed until they came to this mountain and served God. God does not give Moses details of what will take place on the road to Sinai, but he does give him the goal and glimpses of the defeat of Pharaoh. The rest will require Moses and the people to trust in this God who had a plan and who had the power to carry it out.

NIV ©
And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."

NASB ©
And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."

OJB
And He said, Certainly Eh-heh-yeh (I will be [see verse 14 below]) with thee; and this shall be haOt (the Sign) unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth HaAm out of Mitzrayim, ye shall serve HaElohim upon this Har.

在和合本，翻譯作「證據」不太合宜，應翻譯作「記號」、「標記」、「方向」……更好。老師提供以下兩段英文可幫助我們認識更多

猶大解經家Rashi：
"...they are destined to received Torah on this mount, three months after they left Egypt."

解釋Rashi說的是甚麼：
"Not a privilege but a responsibility awaited them. Not so much as a reward for past good behavior but as a prelude to their future destiny. This release from slavery, this bringing forth was inspired by a purpose and goal rather than a motivating cause."

神從前呼召以色列人離開埃及，主也呼召我們跟從他。祂不是有福氣，好處給我們，我們才聽祂的呼召。祂是有責任給我們。以色列人來到西乃山，神有責任（不是特權）給他們。

神是有方向給以色列人，因要他們在山上等候神的律法及誡命，也要在山上事奉神自己。這就是神給他們的目標。所以，摩西不用理會自己是誰和法老的攔阻，以色列人一定是可以離開埃及。

我們得救，不錯是可離開永死，沒有火湖；但這是次要。首要卻是神有目標給我們，就是來事奉祂。

回想聖經，神由創世記第三章始祖犯罪開始，神沒有放棄人，神一直尋找（工作）人來事奉（工作）祂，回祂身邊。

直接回應一開始的問題：神一定能領以色列人出埃及，因為神有目標給他們。這就是給摩西的最好的證明。

延伸閱讀：Who am I to Go to Pharaoh