神既選擇安靜、我又何需驚惶？（賽18章）56歲生日的敬頌

耶和華對我這樣說：「我要安靜、在我的居所觀看、如同日光中的清熱、又如露水的雲霧在收割的熱天。收割之先、花開已謝、花也成了將熟的葡萄、他必用鐮刀削去嫩枝、又砍掉蔓延的枝條。」（賽 18：4-5）

這段是預言亞述的滅亡，但是是針對「古實」、原文稱為「衣索比亞」，其實是指埃及而言的預言。

1-2節提到的「河外翅膀刷刷響聲之地」是指尼羅河流域；「坐蒲草船過海」就是指埃及的蒲草船；「高大光滑的民」是指黑人，因為他們毛細孔極細，身材高大。美國的NBA籃球員曾出現過衣索比亞鄰國「南蘇丹」國籍的球員Manute Bol，身高超過200公分，達到231公分。當時埃及國與亞述國在爭世界強權的地位，神藉先知以賽亞預言，亞述國已在神的滅亡清單中，叫埃及不用勞師動眾，要他們的使者返回。

歷史上，亞述國是在主前609年左右亡於巴比倫，是在以賽亞先知預言後將近百年才應驗，先知是看不到的。因此，當先知做如此預言的時候，人們無法證實他所說的是對、還是錯，但是先知卻勇於說出預言，因為神已給他「受教者的舌頭」，既然受教了，焉能不說？

這段經文告訴我們：對於整個世界的局勢，早已在神的計劃之中。既然已經計劃好，神的態度就是「安靜」。

人世間的計畫，常常趕不上變化；變化有時候趕不上「一通電話」。人世間總是充滿變數，但是在神手中的計畫，「沒有變數」，因為神的應許都是「是的」。既然一切都在神手中，神必不著急，祂必然「安靜」。

屬神的人，面對一切的情勢，當如我們的神一樣：「我要安靜」，正如神「在我的居所觀看」，以安靜的心執行的「清熱」、「露水」、「雲霧」，都是為成就祂應許的必要作為，因神的旨意必然成就。

甚至最後提到埃及也必來錫安山祭拜神。在使徒時代「埃提阿伯」就是今日索比亞，一位財務大臣（聖經稱為太監）因為腓利的傳福音，已來受洗歸入基督的名下，並將使徒教會的教訓帶到衣索比亞，此預言也已應驗。

到那時這高大光滑的民、就是從開國以來極其可畏、分地界踐踏人的、他們的地有江河分開、他們必將禮物奉給萬軍之耶和華、就是奉到錫安山、耶和華安置他名的地方。（賽 18：7）

有主的一個使者對腓利說：「起來、向南走、往那從耶路撒冷下迦薩的路上去。那路是曠野。」腓利就起身去了．不料、有一個埃提阿伯〔即古實見以賽亞十八章一節〕人、是個有大權的太監、在埃提阿伯女王干大基的手下總管銀庫、他上耶路撒冷禮拜去了．現在回來、在車上坐着、念先知以賽亞的書。（徒 8：26-28）

局勢動盪，世界雖有苦難，但是在主裡面必有平安。所以我們要安靜，要知道耶穌是主，祂是掌管宇宙萬有的真神。

你們要休息、要知道我是　神，我必在外邦中被尊崇、在遍地上也被尊崇。萬軍之耶和華與我們同在、雅各的　神是我們的避難所。（詩 46：10-11）

By Isaiah Kao

Since God Chooses to Be Quiet, Why Should I Be Dismayed?(​Isaiah 18)Praise the Lord on my 56 yrs' birthday

May 10, 2026

​"For this is what the Lord has said to me: 'I will quietly look on from My dwelling place like dazzling heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.' For before the harvest, as soon as the bud blossoms and the flower becomes a ripening grape, then He will cut off the sprigs with pruning knives and remove and cut away the spreading branches." (Isaiah 18:4-5)

This passage is a prophecy regarding the destruction of Assyria, but it is specifically addressed to "Cush" (traditionally translated as Ethiopia, though in this context referring to the region of Egypt).

Verses 1-2 mention a "land of whirring wings" which refers to the Nile Valley; "sending envoys by the sea, even in papyrus vessels" refers to the iconic Egyptian papyrus boats; and "a people tall and smooth" refers to the tall, dark-skinned inhabitants of that region. In modern history, players like Manute Bol from South Sudan (bordering Ethiopia) reached heights of 231 cm, reflecting this physical description. At that time, Egypt and Assyria were contending for world dominance. God used the prophet Isaiah to declare that Assyria was already on His list for destruction. He told Egypt not to mobilize their armies but instead to have their messengers return home.

Historically, Assyria fell to Babylon around 609 BC, nearly a hundred years after Isaiah’s prophecy. The prophet did not live to see it. When he made this prediction, people could not verify if he was right or wrong, yet he courageously spoke because God had given him the "tongue of the disciple." Having been taught by God, how could he remain silent?

This scripture tells us: the entire world situation is already within God’s plan. Since it is already planned, God’s attitude is to be "quiet."

In the human world, plans often cannot keep up with changes, and changes sometimes cannot keep up with "a single phone call." Human life is full of variables. However, in the plans held in God’s hands, there are no variables, because His promises are always "Yes." Since everything is in His hands, God is never in a hurry; He remains "quiet."

Those who belong to God should face all situations just as our God does: "I will be quiet." Just as God "looks on from My dwelling place," performing His necessary actions through the "heat," "dew," and "clouds" to fulfill His promises, His will shall surely be accomplished.

Finally, it is mentioned that even Egypt (Cush) will come to Mount Zio to worship God. In the Apostolic age, an Ethiopian eunuch—a high official in charge of the treasury—was baptized by Philip and brought the teachings of the church back to Ethiopia. Thus, this prophecy was fulfilled.

​"At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the Lord of armies from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared far and wide, a powerful and oppressive nation, whose land the rivers divide—to the place of the name of the Lord of armies, to Mount Zion." (Isaiah 18:7)

​"But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.' (This is a desert road.) So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah." (Acts 8:26-28)

The situation may be turbulent, and the world may have many troubles, but in the Lord, there is peace. Therefore, we must be quiet and know that Jesus is Lord; He is the True God who rules over the entire universe.

​"Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of armies is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold." (Psalm 46:10-11)

​By Isaiah Kao