以法蓮的鑒戒（何9章）

我的神必棄絕他們、因為他們不聽從他．他們也必飄流在列國中。（何 9：17）

本章繼續提到以色列的悖逆，神用「以法蓮」代表以色列，因為他在眾支派中為首。神提到他們的毀滅，不是因先天不足、後天又不良的原因，而是因自己「不聽從祂」。其實信仰是一件很簡單的事情，只要「聽」了又願意確實遵「從」就對了。

主說：「我遇見以色列如葡萄在曠野、我看見你們的列祖如無花果樹上春季初熟的果子．他們卻來到巴力毗珥專拜那可羞恥的、就成為可憎惡的、與他們所愛的一樣。」（何 9：10）

這裡神感嘆，以法蓮本來是美麗的「葡萄」、「無花果」，是被神所揀選的，卻作賤自己，最後失去神百姓的身份。曠野，其實是沒有葡萄的；無花果，是夏天才會結果。所以「如葡萄在曠野」、「如無花果樹上春季初熟的果子」，是形容神的初戀、一見鍾情的驚喜。但是卻像鍾愛的妻子出軌一樣，讓身為丈夫的真神悲憤。

神其實從來沒有要我們特別卓越、能力超強、充滿點子，祂只要我們「聽話」。主說：

凡稱呼我主阿、主阿的人、不能都進天國．惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人、纔能進去。當那日必有許多人對我說：「主阿、主阿、我們不是奉你的名傳道、奉你的名趕鬼、奉你的名行許多異能麼？」我就明明的告訴他們說：「我從來不認識你們、你們這些作惡的人、離開我去罷。」（太 7：21-23）

主的意思是，只要遵行天父旨意的人，也就是完全聽從神命令、且切實去行的人，就可以進天國，因為這才是進天國的「唯一條件」。所以並不是說「奉你的名傳道、奉你的名趕鬼、奉你的名行許多異能。」這看起來很認真、有卓越表現的人，才是神所喜愛的。神只喜歡聽祂話的人。

我曾經在某個安息日結束後，看見一位站在教會門口等待的老姊妹。詢問之後，才知道他兒子要來載她去吃母親節大餐。當下我向他表達肯定。沒想到這位老姊妹轉眼很慎重地看著我說：「啊！沒用啦！都沒在聽我說話，就只是會在母親節請個大餐而已。吃得那麼豐盛，是要我中風啊？」當下，心中有無限感慨！原來老媽媽，只是要孩子聽話而已，其他其實別無所求！

是啊！我們總以為在神面前展現魄力、有一番作為，就是愛主，卻在最基本的聖經真理上，不願意完全遵行，這樣有用嗎？

主曾說：

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)

主耶穌的意思，是「我總是聽天父的話，祂沒叫我做的、我絕對不做；祂要我做的，一定使命必達。你看！祂喜悅我，因為我常做祂喜悅的事，也就是完全聽祂的話。」耶穌也可以很有創意、很有魄力，但是，祂並不這麼做。

所以以法蓮的鑒戒，就是「因為他們不聽從他」，也因此「必飄流在列國中」，被神拋棄。所以信仰很簡單，在信仰上最重要的，就只是學習完全去聽神的話，願意完全捨己，不要自己的意見，只單純去做神喜悅的事。

因為我從天上降下來、不是要按自己的意思行、乃是要按那差我來者的意思行。（約 6：38）

By Isaiah Kao

The Lesson of Ephraim (Hosea 9)

October 31, 2026

My God will reject them because they have not listened to Him; and they will wander among the nations. (Hosea 9:17)

This chapter continues to describe Israel's rebellion. God uses the name "Ephraim" to represent Israel because Ephraim was the leading tribe among the tribes of Israel. God speaks of their destruction, not because they were disadvantaged by nature or had failed due to unfavorable circumstances, but because they "did not listen to Him." In fact, faith is a very simple matter: we simply need to "listen" to God's word and be willing to "obey" it faithfully.

The Lord said, "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the first ripe fruit on the fig tree in its first season. But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved." (Hosea 9:10)

Here, God expresses His sorrow. Ephraim was originally beautiful, like "grapes" and "figs." They had been chosen by God, yet they degraded themselves and eventually lost their identity as God's people. In the wilderness, grapes are not normally found, and figs do not bear fruit until summer. Therefore, the expressions "like grapes in the wilderness" and "like the first ripe fruit on the fig tree in its first season" describe God's delight and the wonderful surprise of falling in love at first sight. Yet Israel's unfaithfulness was like that of a beloved wife who commits adultery, bringing deep sorrow and indignation to the true God, her husband.

God has never required us to be exceptionally outstanding, extraordinarily capable, or full of brilliant ideas. All He asks is that we "listen" to Him and obey.The Lord said:

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" (Matthew 7:21–23)

What the Lord means is that only those who do the will of the heavenly Father—that is, those who fully listen to God's commands and put them into practice—can enter the kingdom of heaven. This is the "only requirement" for entering the kingdom of heaven. It does not mean that those who appear to be very zealous and accomplish great things, such as "prophesying in Your name, casting out demons in Your name, and performing many miracles in Your name," are necessarily the ones whom God delights in. God delights in those who listen to and obey Him.

I once saw an elderly sister standing at the church entrance after a Sabbath service, waiting for someone. When I asked her, I learned that her son was coming to take her out for a Mother's Day feast. I immediately expressed my affirmation to him. Unexpectedly, the elderly sister turned to look at me very seriously and said, "Oh, it's no use! He never listens to what I say. All he does is take me out for a big meal on Mother's Day. Why does he give me such a rich meal? Does he want me to have a stroke?" At that moment, I was deeply moved. I realized that all this elderly mother really wanted was for her child to listen to her. She actually expected nothing more!

Indeed, we often think that demonstrating our abilities and accomplishing great things before God means that we love the Lord. Yet, when it comes to the most fundamental biblical truths, we are unwilling to obey them completely. What good is that?

The Lord once said:

"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 initiative, but I speak 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)

What the Lord Jesus meant was: "I always listen to My heavenly Father's words. Whatever He has not told Me to do, I will never do; whatever He wants Me to do, I will certainly carry it out. See how pleased He is with Me? It is because I always do what pleases Him—that is, I obey His words completely."

Jesus could also have been very creative and confident, but He did not choose to act that way.

Therefore, the lesson of Ephraim is this: "They did not listen to Him," and as a result, they would "wander among the nations" and be rejected by God. Faith is simple. The most important thing in our walk of faith is to learn to obey God's word completely, to be willing to deny ourselves fully, to set aside our own opinions, and simply do what pleases God.

"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38)

By Isaiah Kao