埃及中，所作之工，都不成就(賽19章)

耶和華使乖謬的靈、攙入埃及中間．首領使埃及一切所作的都有差錯、好像醉酒之人嘔吐的時候、東倒西歪一樣。埃及中、無論是頭與尾、棕枝與蘆葦、所作之工、都不成就。(賽 19：14-15)

聖經中的埃及，是世界的代名詞之一。當古聖徒以撒遇到飢荒的時候，當時還在族長時期的他，成千上萬的家眷與牛羊都仰賴他下命令定決策時，他的領導理智告訴他：「下埃及，那裏有尼羅河，長年有可口的水，是渡過飢荒的正解。」於是他下令開始移動，來到基拉珥，非利士人的地。這時耶和華真神對他說：

在亞伯拉罕的日子、那地有一次饑荒．這時又有饑荒、以撒就往基拉耳去、到非利士人的王亞比米勒那裏。耶和華向以撒顯現、說：「你不要下埃及去、要住在我所指示你的地。」(創 26：1-2)

以撒聽話，就不再前行，停在基拉珥。經上說：「以撒在那地耕種、那一年有百倍的收成。耶和華賜福給他。他就昌大、日增月盛、成了大富戶。他有羊群、牛群、又有許多僕人．非利士人就嫉妒他。」(創 26：12-14)

當以賽亞先知的時代，選民面對窮凶惡極、勢如破竹的亞述帝國威脅，最後想到埃及。他們忘記先祖是如何在埃及被迫害、當奴隸的過去？埃及也是神一直明令不要再回去的地方，但是有真神可以依靠的選民，不依靠神，反而想要靠埃及。

對今日的我們而言，過度相信世界、科技、資源，卻不願意優先來到神面前，就是「下埃及」。人若不優先依靠神，神就不會優先照顧與幫助他。重視神的，必被重視，藐視神的，必被藐視。

因為尊重我的、我必重看他．藐視我的、他必被輕視。(撒上 2：30b)

在以賽亞時代，埃及國自己也四分五裂，因此這裡說：我必激動埃及人攻擊埃及人、弟兄攻擊弟兄、鄰舍攻擊鄰舍、這城攻擊那城、這國攻擊那國。(賽 19：2)。連原本被當時世界所稱羨的智慧人，都將因神讓謬妄的靈進入而失去智慧：瑣安的首領、都變為愚昧、挪弗的首領、都受了迷惑．當埃及支派房角石的使埃及人走錯了路。耶和華使乖謬的靈、攙入埃及中間．首領使埃及一切所作的都有差錯、好像醉酒之人嘔吐的時候、東倒西歪一樣。(賽 19：13-14)。

「下埃及」永遠不是對的對策，只有回到神面前才是上策。但是今日連教會內也高舉智慧、高舉科技的氛圍下，自以為是的知識份子高談擴論談科技、論技巧、講資源，甚至不喜歡提到禱告、交託、與依靠聖靈。許多教會看似忙碌做工，卻都沒有功效，甚至無慕道者、更別談有人受洗或受聖靈。

聖經這裡已經明說：埃及中、無論是頭與尾、棕枝與蘆葦、所作之工、都不成就。(賽 19：15)。唯有回歸對神憑信心的求告，所做的工才能再度成就。

他對我說：「這是耶和華指示所羅巴伯的．萬軍之耶和華說：不是倚靠勢力、不是倚靠才能、乃是倚靠我的靈、方能成事。大山哪、你算甚麼呢．在所羅巴伯面前你必成為平地．他必搬出一塊石頭．安在殿頂上．人且大聲歡呼、說、願恩惠恩惠、歸與這殿。〔殿或作石〕耶和華的話、又臨到我說：所羅巴伯的手、立了這殿的根基．他的手也必完成這工．你就知道萬軍之耶和華差遣我到你們這裏來了。誰藐視這日的事為小呢．這七眼乃是耶和華的眼睛、遍察全地．見所羅巴伯手拿線鉈就歡喜。(亞 4：6-10)

By Isaiah Kao

There will be no work for Egypt (Isaiah 19)

May 11, 2026

“The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, As a drunken person staggers in his vomit. There will be no work for Egypt Which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do.” (Isaiah 19:14-15 NASB2020)

Egypt in the Bible is one of the metaphors for the world. When the ancient saint Isaac encountered a famine, when he was still the leader, thousands of his family and livestock depended on him for commands and decisions. His leader instinct told him, "Go down to Egypt, where the Nile river flows, and there is always fresh water; this is the way to get through the famine." So he made a move to Gerar, the land of the Philistines. Then the Lord God said to him: 

“Now there was a famine in the land, besides the previous famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. So Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 26:1-2 NASB2020) 

Isaac obeyed and stopped at Gerar. The Bible says, “Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred times as much. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.” (Genesis 26:12-14 NASB2020)

In the time of the prophet Isaiah, the chosen people faced the fierce and unstoppable threat of the Assyrian Empire, and ultimately thought of Egypt. Had they forgotten the past of their ancestors' persecution and slavery in Egypt? Egypt was a place God had always explicitly commanded them not to return to, yet the chosen people, who had a true God to rely on, did not rely on God but instead wanted to rely on Egypt.

For us today, overly trusting the world, technology, and resources, while unwilling to prioritize going to God, is like "going down to Egypt." If people do not prioritize relying on God, God will not prioritize caring for and helping them. Those who honor God will be honored, and those who despise God will be despised.

“For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant.” (1 Samuel 2:30b NASB2020)

In Isaiah's time, the kingdom of Egypt itself was fragmented; therefore it says here: “So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians; And they will fight, each against his brother and each against his neighbor, City against city and kingdom against kingdom.” (Isaiah 19:2 NASB2020) Even the wise men, once admired by the world, will lose their wisdom because God allowed a spirit of error to enter: “The officials of Zoan have turned out to be fools, The officials of Memphis are deluded; Those who are the cornerstone of her tribes Have led Egypt astray. The Lord has mixed within her a spirit of distortion; They have led Egypt astray in all that it does, As a drunken person staggers in his vomit.”(Isaiah 19:13-14 NASB2020) 

Going down to Egypt is never the right solution; returning to God is the best course of action. However, today, even within the church, there's an atmosphere that exalts intelligence and technology. Self-righteous intellectuals talk endlessly about technology, techniques, and resources, but dislike mentioning prayer, surrender, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Many churches seem busy with their work, yet it's ineffective; there are no truth seekers, let alone baptizing people or receiving the Holy Spirit.

The Bible clearly states here: “There will be no work for Egypt Which its head or tail, its palm branch or bulrush, may do.” (Isaiah 19:15 NASB2020) Only by returning to God and asking in faith can the work be accomplished again.

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies. ‘What are you, you great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring out the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ” Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. For who has shown contempt for the day of small things? But these seven will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel—they are the eyes of the Lord roaming throughout the earth.”” (Zechariah 4:6-10 NASB2020)

By Isaiah Kao