再思基大利當時的三種人（耶41章）

以實瑪利又殺了在米斯巴基大利那裏的一切猶大人、和所遇見的迦勒底兵丁。他殺了基大利、無人知道、（耶 41：3-4）

「無人知道」，卻被記載在今天全世界最暢銷的聖經裡，使得這件事、這個人的惡行，如今無人不知、無人不曉。

關於這位以實瑪利，因狂傲自大，不能接受基大利成為領袖，甚至痛下殺手，還進行大屠殺。他所行的，自以為天衣無縫，甚至可以假裝哀哭，欺騙來米斯巴敬拜神的人，將這些無辜之人一起殺滅。他的貪心，可以在屠殺這些人時，只因為當中有人說他們有一些物品可以送給他們，以實瑪利就為了貪財，沒將這些人殺盡。這位以實瑪利的窮兇惡極，大概是聖經中的惡人榜的前幾名了。

以實瑪利除了貪財，可能也貪色。見人就殺的他，卻特別將眾公主準備擄到亞捫人那裏。

以實瑪利將米斯巴剩下的人、就是眾公主、和仍住在米斯巴所有的百姓、原是護衛長尼布撒拉旦交給亞希甘的兒子基大利的、都擄去了．尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利擄了他們、要往亞捫人那裏去。（耶 41：10)

後來約哈難和屬於他的人來與以實瑪利的人爭戰，以實瑪利和屬他的八個人就逃往亞捫人那裡。看似最後沒有得到應有的審判，但是神都看見。

關於本章的省思，就是面對神的百姓的軟弱時，身為領導者的人，是用甚麼方法在面對問題？

一、基大利：是勇於承擔的工人，卻在靠神的心志上不足，加上缺乏警覺的心，終究失去了生命。

二、以實瑪利：是心懷不軌的工人，雖擁有一定的資源，卻濫用神所給的資源與恩賜。他是極為世俗化的工人，只依情慾行事，貪財、貪名、貪色，樣樣都來。他必然有一定的聰明，也有一定的群眾影響力，卻用在錯誤的方向上。他刻意掩蓋所犯罪惡，粉飾太平，巧言令色，蒙騙大眾。他的行徑，如同今天的「主內外邦人」，甚至還擁有群眾的魅力。外表極為虔誠，內心卻是外邦不信主的態度，甚至犯了罪卻刻意掩藏，繼續沽名釣譽，是今天教會中最需防備的一群人。

三、約哈難：心雖正直，但卻缺乏屬靈的智慧，只有以自己的認為作為依據，不知求問神，否則不會決定要離開耶路撒冷到埃及避難。這正如今日教會中，雖是神的正直的工人，但是沒有完全依靠真理的心、沒有靈修的生活、沒有智慧，仍然用個人的經驗、世俗的判斷在行事。雖沒有私心，卻也沒有屬靈的智慧。這樣的人對教會也是沒有幫助，因為他的一定程度的影響力，帶領教會走錯誤的方向。

所以耶穌說、你們舉起人子以後、必知道我是基督、並且知道我沒有一件事、是憑着自己作的．我說這些話、乃是照着父所教訓我的。那差我來的、是與我同在．他沒有撇下我獨自在這裏、因為我常作他所喜悅的事。(約 8：28-29)

能力越強，不僅是責任越大，而且破壞力也越強！

當效法耶穌，因為雖然無人有像他一樣的聰明與智慧，仍舊依靠神，「沒有一件事是憑著自己做的」。所言、所行，都完全照著天父所教訓祂的。祂的榜樣，就是要我們時時注意主的命令是甚麼？身邊是否有人違背真理，是我們該提防的？我這樣的決定，神是否喜悅？

By Isaiah Kao

A Further Reflection on the Three Types of People Around Gedaliah (Jeremiah 41)

August 7, 2026

"Ishmael also struck down all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were found there. He killed Gedaliah, and no one knew it."

(Jeremiah 41:3–4, NASB 2020)

"No one knew it." Yet today, this event has been recorded in the best-selling book in the world—the Bible. As a result, Ishmael's evil deeds are now known throughout the world.

As for Ishmael, his pride and arrogance would not allow him to accept Gedaliah as the leader. He even murdered him and carried out a brutal massacre. Believing that his crimes would never be discovered, he pretended to weep in order to deceive those who came to Mizpah to worship God, only to slaughter these innocent people as well.His greed was equally evident. While massacring them, he spared several men only because they offered him hidden supplies. His love of money went over even his desire to kill. This evil man of Ishmael is probably the top few of the list of wicked people in the Bible. 

Ishmael may also have been driven by lust. Although he killed nearly everyone he encountered, he deliberately spared the king's daughters and intended to take them captive to the Ammonites.

"Then Ishmael took captive all the remnant of the people who were in Mizpah, including the king's daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had put under the authority of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam. Thus Ishmael the son of Nethaniah took them captive and proceeded to cross over to the sons of Ammon."

(Jeremiah 41:10, NASB 2020)

Later, Johanan and his men fought against Ishmael's forces. Ishmael eventually escaped with eight of his men and fled to the Ammonites. Although it appeared that he escaped the judgment he deserved, nothing escapes God's eyes.

The reflection from this chapter is this: When God's people are weak and troubled, how should those in leadership respond?

1. Gedaliah: A Worker Willing to Bear Responsibility,

Gedaliah was willing to shoulder responsibility, but his dependence on God was insufficient. In addition with a lack of vigilance, it ultimately cost him his life.

2. Ishmael: A Worker with Evil Intentions, 

Ishmael possessed considerable resources, yet he abused the gifts and opportunities God had given him. He was an extremely worldly worker, driven entirely by sinful desires—greedy for wealth, reputation, and even lust. He was undoubtedly intelligent and influential, but he used those abilities for evil. He deliberately covered up his crimes, created a false appearance of peace, and deceived others with flattering words and outward piety.

His behavior resembles what we might call "believers who are acting like Gentiles.", Such a person may appear godly on the outside, while inwardly possessing the heart of an unbeliever. Even after committing serious sins, he deliberately conceals them and continues seeking honor and reputation. Such people are among those the church must guard against most carefully.

3. Johanan: Johanan's heart was upright, yet he lacked spiritual wisdom. He relied on his own judgment instead of seeking God's guidance. Otherwise, he would not have decided to flee to Egypt instead of remaining where God intended.

Likewise, in today's church, there are sincere and upright workers who nevertheless do not fully depend on God's truth. Life without spiritual cultivation or spiritual wisdom, they make decisions based on personal experience and worldly reasoning. Though they may have no selfish motives, they still lack spiritual discernment.

Such people cannot truly benefit the church either, because their influence may unintentionally lead God's people in the wrong direction.

"So Jesus said, 'When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own, but I say these things as the Father instructed Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.'"

(John 8:28–29, NASB 2020)

The greater a person's ability, the greater not only the responsibility, but also the potential for destruction.

May we follow the example of Jesus. Although no one has ever possessed wisdom and understanding like His, He still depended completely on the Father. "I do nothing on My own." Everything He said and everything He did was according to what the Father had taught Him.

His example reminds us to ask ourselves continually: What is the Lord commanding me to do? Is there anyone around me who is departing from the truth and whom I should be careful of?

Is the decision I am about to make pleasing to God?

By Isaiah Kao