在我们基督徒生活的第一阶段，我们经历神的看顾；在第二阶段，我们经历神的家；在第三阶段，我们经历基督的出生，基督的彰显。基督的出生和基督的彰显，需要付出。我们都需要三根柱子。我们的基督徒生活必须有三段：神看顾的一段，神家的一段，和基督彰显的一段。在教会的聚会中，年轻的人，就是刚得救的人，应当见证神的看顾。但我们也需要一些关于神的家和基督的彰显的见证。
神终极的目标乃是基督的彰显，这需要我们付出天然的拣选，天然的愿望，和天然的生命。我们在第一根或第二根柱子那里，都没有看见死和坟墓。在第三根柱子那里，才有拉结的死和坟墓。但立在拉结墓上的柱子，乃是在往伯利恒的路上。因此，这根柱子是在向着基督的路上，指引人向着基督。
雅各立起第三根柱子以后，『起行前往，在以得台那边支搭帐棚。』（创三五21）。按希伯来文，以得的意思是『羊群。』在弥迦书四章八节，同样的希伯来辞译为『羊群的高台。』在以得台这里，雅各碰到污秽、羞耻、和不道德的事：他的儿子流便与他的妾行淫。这不是发生在柱子那里，乃是发生在台这里。我相信以得台，羊群的台，指明生活的安逸。雅各有许多羊群。他经过以得台的时候，也许认为那是休息的好地方。他没有往前到目的地希伯仑，却停留在以得台旁。这指明雅各来到一个能享受安逸生活的地方。当他享受安逸生活的时候，罪恶的事发生了。罪，尤其是奸淫的罪，总是在我们安逸的时候进来。流便与雅各的妾在那地方行淫，指明雅各不该停留在那里。他该直接前往希伯仑。他若没有在以得台旁支搭帐棚，也许这件邪恶的事就不会发生了。
虽然雅各立起三根柱子，但他无须建造以得台，因为这台已经像网罗一样立在那里。在你跟随主的路上，附近总有一个台要诱陷你。逃避这陷阱的路就是不要停顿，甚至不要看他。你不可以在以得台旁支搭帐棚，你必须从旁经过。无论我们在基督徒生活的任何阶段，总有一个台要诱陷我们。生活的安逸对跟随主耶稣的人总是一个试诱。每个跟随主的人都晓得，最终的目的地离他很远。因为旅途这样遥远，你就盼望沿途找到休息的地方。但每当你来到羊群的台，你不该以为这是休息的地方，这乃是网罗。你要从旁经过，继续往前。你若这样作，就会得着保护和拯救，脱离网罗。
信息重点：三根柱子启示三个阶段：神的看顾、神的家、基督的彰显；以得台却提醒我们，属灵经历以后仍可能面对安逸的网罗。我们不能因已有一些经历就停下来，乃要继续往前。
应用祷告：主耶稣，求你带我从经历你的看顾，往前顾到你的家，并让基督更多得着彰显。也保守我不因已有的经历而停顿，不落在安逸的网罗里，乃继续跟随你往前。阿们。
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The Tower of Eder — The Snare of Ease — Gen. 35:21-22
In the first stage of our Christian life, we experience God’s care; in the second stage, we experience God’s house; in the third stage, we experience the birth of Christ, the expression of Christ. The birth of Christ and the expression of Christ require a price to be paid. We all need three pillars. Our Christian life must have three sections: the section of God’s care, the section of God’s house, and the section of Christ’s expression. In the church meetings, the young ones — those newly saved — should testify to God’s care. But we also need some testimonies concerning God’s house and the expression of Christ.
God’s ultimate goal is the expression of Christ, which requires us to pay the price of our natural choice, our natural desire and our natural life. At the first or second pillar, we do not see death or the grave. Only at the third pillar do we find Rachel’s death and grave. But the pillar set up at Rachel’s grave is on the way to Bethlehem. Therefore, this pillar is on the road toward Christ, pointing people toward Christ.
After Jacob set up the third pillar, he “journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder” (Gen. 35:21). In Hebrew, Eder means “flock”. In Micah 4:8, the same Hebrew word is translated “tower of the flock”. At Eder, Jacob encountered defilement, shame, and immorality: his son Reuben committed adultery with his concubine. This did not happen at the pillar; it happened at this tower. I believe that Eder, the tower of the flock, signifies ease in life. Jacob had many flocks. When he passed by Eder, he may have thought it a good place to rest. Instead of going on to his destination, Hebron, he stayed by Eder. This indicates that Jacob came to a place where he could enjoy a life of ease. While he was enjoying this ease, sin occurred. Sin, especially the sin of adultery, always comes in when we are at ease. Reuben’s committing adultery with Jacob’s concubine there shows that Jacob should not have lingered there. He should have gone directly to Hebron. If he had not pitched his tent at Eder, perhaps this evil deed would never have happened.
Although Jacob set up three pillars, he did not need to build Eder, for this tower already stood there like a snare. On your way of following the Lord, there is always a tower nearby waiting to trap you. The way to escape this trap is not to stop, not even to look at it. You must not pitch your tent by Eder; you must pass by. No matter what stage of the Christian life we are in, there is always a tower waiting to entrap us. The ease of life is always a temptation to those who follow the Lord Jesus. Everyone who follows the Lord knows that the final destination is far away. Because the journey is so long, you hope to find places to rest along the way. But whenever you come to the tower of the flock, you should not consider it a resting place — it is a snare. You must pass by and continue on. If you do so, you will receive protection and salvation, and be delivered from the snare.
Message Main Points: The three pillars signify three stages — God’s care, God’s house and the manifestation of Christ; but the tower of Eder reminds us that even after we have had spiritual experience, we may still face the snare of ease. We must not stop because of experiences we already have; we must continue on.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, lead me on from experiencing Your care to caring for Your house, and let Christ be expressed more. Keep me from stopping because of past experiences, and from falling into the snare of ease, but let me continue following You onward. Amen.