從受咒詛到成為福音渴求之地的推羅（賽23章）

七十年後、耶和華必眷顧推羅、他就仍得利息〔原文作雇價下同〕與地上的萬國交易。〔原文作行淫〕他的貨財和利息、要歸耶和華為聖、必不積儹存留．因為他的貨財必為住在耶和華面前的人所得、使他們喫飽、穿耐久的衣服。（賽 23：17-18）

本章為最後一章關於列國的預言，在以賽亞書這11章（13-23章）列國預言清單中，有些國直接滅亡，不復存在；有些國則在受咒詛、衰落之後，竟成為神預言福音要傳到外邦的預告，如：19章的埃及、及本章23章的推羅。

推羅在當時神藉以賽亞先知的預言中，確定將因為驕傲、自大、奢華而遭到神的打擊，方法就是列國輪流攻擊、迫害，然後衰落。但是神也定了年限70年，似乎跟猶大國滅國回歸的年數相互呼應，讓推羅這大城得以有喘息恢復的機會。

埃及和推羅，在以賽亞書中另有重要的預言，就是福音傳到外邦。在新約時代，傳到埃及的重要事件就是「埃提阿伯」的財務大臣因著在車上讀以賽亞書（令人覺得神奇與不解的行為），神差腓利靠近埃提阿伯的車（似乎是貼地飛行靠近車子），最後埃提阿伯的財務大臣「主動」要求受洗，成了帶入衣索比亞的第一個種子，至今也在非洲發現與真耶穌教會教義極為接近的基督教派。（參 徒 8：26-38）

關於耶穌時代的推羅，福音書中的記載證明以賽亞書的應驗：

耶穌在諸城中行了許多異能、那些城的人終不悔改、就在那時候責備他們說：「哥拉汛哪、你有禍了、伯賽大阿、你有禍了、因為在你們中間所行的異能、若行在推羅西頓、他們早已披麻蒙灰悔改了。但我告訴你們、當審判的日子、推羅西頓所受的、比你們還容易受呢。」（太 11：20-22）。這是耶穌稱讚當時推羅西頓的人，在福音的追求上比猶大地區的哥拉汛、伯賽大還單純、認真。

耶穌離開那裏、退到推羅西頓的境內去。有一個迦南婦人、從那地方出來、喊着說：「主阿、大衛的子孫、可憐我．我女兒被鬼附得甚苦。」耶穌卻一言不答。門徒進前來、求他說：「這婦人在我們後頭喊叫．請打發他走罷！」耶穌說：「我奉差遣、不過是到以色列家迷失的羊那裏去。」那婦人來拜他、說：「主阿、幫助我！」他回答說：「不好拿兒女的餅、丟給狗喫。」婦人說：「主阿、不錯．但是狗也喫他主人桌子上掉下來的碎渣兒。」耶穌說：「婦人、你的信心是大的．照你所要的、給你成全了罷。」從那時候、他女兒就好了。（太 15：21-28）。這就是發生在推羅西頓境內，眾所熟知的「迦南婦人」哀求耶穌，甘願被貶抑成「狗」的蒙恩見證。可見他們在主耶穌天國福音上的渴求與單純。

耶穌從那裏起身、往推羅西頓的境內去．進了一家、不願意人知道、卻隱藏不住。（可 7：24）。這是形容耶穌即使刻意隱藏自己前往推羅西頓，但是還是引起當地人的尋求。這點讓我深深感動，因為今天即使住在真耶穌教會附近、甚至是隔壁的外邦人，對附近的真教會竟毫無知覺、知識與感動，不像當時推羅西頓的人一樣，即使耶穌來推羅西頓是來「休息」的，沒打算傳福音給他們，但是他們不放棄聽道理的機會，甚至之後，再遠，都要跟著主走，只為聽福音：

耶穌和門徒退到海邊去．有許多人從加利利跟隨他．還有許多人聽見他所作的大事、就從猶太、耶路撒冷、以土買、約但河外、並推羅西頓的四方、來到他那裏。（可 3：7-8）。這裡也提到推羅西頓人遠從家鄉徒步來到猶大境內，來到加利利地要聽耶穌的福音。

耶穌和他們下了山、站在一塊平地上．同站的有許多門徒、又有許多百姓、從猶太全地、和耶路撒冷、並推羅西頓的海邊來．都要聽他講道、又指望醫治他們的病．還有被污鬼纏磨的、也得了醫治。眾人都想要摸他．因為有能力從他身上發出來、醫好了他們。（路 6：17-19）。這裡記載推羅西頓人來，「都要聽他講道、又指望醫治他們的病」。

讀完的心得，感受到那原本該承受救恩的猶大選民們，最後卻輕看這份救恩；那些原本不配得救恩的埃及、推羅西頓，卻在追求福音上蒙受恩典。主說：「這樣、那在後的將要在前、在前的將要在後了。〔有古卷在此有因為被召的人多選上的人少〕」（太 20：16）。

這幾天聽到一位與家父同時受訓（長執按立前講習），後來按立的一位執事，因為家父那一期只有四人，彼此都很認識，聽到我前往當地教會做聖經講習會，要我詢問他的近況。一經詢問之後才知道早已離道，全家離開真耶穌教會，也不接受訪問，令人不勝唏噓。

能被按立為長執，想必也有一定程度的愛主表現吧！但是怎麼會離棄真道？跟家父報告之後，他也很驚訝！今天我們也該自我警醒，我們相對於初信的弟兄姊妹，會不會也如當時選民相對於推羅西頓的外邦人？信主久了，逐漸驕傲自大，自以為穩穩得救？反倒是初信的同靈，因為自覺不足，拼命追求真理，就好像我在20歲左右遇到80歲剛受洗的王進福弟兄一樣，他是很著急自己「聖經都不懂」，急著要趕快唸一遍聖經。而我們呢？近年來，當我走過六個國家去實地接觸各地的真耶穌教會，與臺灣總會的各地教會，常常發現我們這些居住在臺灣，最早擁有真理的美地，對於純正話語的真理，竟不如其他比我們還慢得到真理的各國。難道真的要如主耶穌的感嘆一樣？

然而有許多在前的將要在後、在後的、將要在前。（可 10：31）

By Isaiah Kao

From Cursed to Becoming a Land Thirsting for the Gospel (Isaiah 23)

May 15, 2026

“After the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre. Then she will go back to her hire and prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the earth on the face of the earth. Her gain and her hire will become holy to the LORD; they will not be stored up or hoarded, but her gain will become sufficient food and choice attire for those who dwell in the presence of the LORD.” (Isaiah 23:17–18, NASB2020)

This chapter is the final prophecy concerning the nations. Among these eleven chapters of prophecies against the nations in Isaiah (chapters 13–23), some nations were directly destroyed and disappeared forever. Yet some nations, after being cursed and brought low, later became prophetic signs that the gospel would reach the Gentiles, such as Egypt in chapter 19 and Tyre in this chapter.

In the prophecy given through Isaiah, Tyre was destined to be struck by God because of pride, arrogance, and luxury. The method was that nation after nation would attack and oppress her until she declined. Yet God also appointed a limit of seventy years, seemingly echoing the years of Judah’s exile and return, giving this great city an opportunity to recover.

Egypt and Tyre also carry another important prophecy in Isaiah: the gospel reaching the Gentiles. In the New Testament era, an important event concerning Egypt was the Ethiopian treasurer reading the book of Isaiah while riding in his chariot, a scene both amazing and difficult to understand. God sent Philip to approach the Ethiopian’s chariot(It seems to be flying close to the chariot), and in the end the Ethiopian official himself “asked” to be baptized, becoming the first seed brought into Ethiopia. Even today, Christian groups have been found in Africa whose teachings are remarkably close to those of the True Jesus Church (cf. Acts 8:26–38).

Concerning Tyre in the time of Jesus, the records in the Gospels confirm the fulfillment of Isaiah:

“Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.’” (Matthew 11:20–22, NASB2020)

Here the Lord Jesus praised the people of Tyre and Sidon, saying that in seeking the gospel they were more simple and earnest than Chorazin and Bethsaida in the land of Judah.

“Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.’ But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us!’ But He answered and said, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ Yet He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord; but please help, for even the dogs feed on the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed at once.” (Matthew 15:21–28, NASB2020) This well-known testimony of the Canaanite woman took place in the region of Tyre and Sidon. She pleaded with Jesus and was even willing to humble herself as a “dog” in order to receive grace. This shows their longing and simplicity toward the gospel of the kingdom.

“Now Jesus got up and went from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know about it, and yet He could not escape notice.” (Mark 7:24, NASB2020) This verse describes how even though Jesus intentionally tried to remain hidden while going to Tyre and Sidon, the local people still sought Him out. This deeply moves me. Today, even Gentiles living near a True Jesus Church, even next door, may have no awareness, knowledge, or stirring toward the true church. Yet the people of Tyre and Sidon were not like this. Even though Jesus came there mainly to rest and had no intention of preaching to them, they still would not give up the chance to hear the truth. Later, no matter how far the journey, they followed the Lord just to hear the gospel:

“Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a large number of people from Galilee followed; and also from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and from the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard about everything that He was doing and came to Him.” (Mark 3:7–8, NASB2020)

This passage also mentions s that people from Tyre and Sidon traveled far from their homeland into the region of Galilee in order to hear the gospel preached by Jesus.

“And Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled by unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.” (Luke 6:17–19, NASB2020)

This passage says that the people from Tyre and Sidon came “to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases.”

After reading these passages, I deeply feel that the Jewish people, who originally should have received salvation, eventually despised it. Yet Egypt, Tyre, and Sidon, who originally seemed unworthy of salvation, instead received grace because they pursued the gospel.

“So the last shall be first, and the first, last.” (Matthew 20:16, NASB2020)

These past few days, I heard about a deacon who was trained together with my father before ordination. Since there were only four people in my father’s training class, they all knew one another very well. When he heard that I was going to his local church to hold a Bible seminar, he asked me to inquire about his situation. After asking, I learned that he had long ago left the faith. His whole family had left the True Jesus Church, and they were unwilling to receive visits. It was truly sorrowful.

To be ordained as a minister, one must surely have shown a certain degree of love for the Lord. But how could someone abandon the true faith? After I told my father about it, he was also very surprised. Today, we too should examine ourselves carefully. Compared with newly baptized brothers and sisters, have we become like the chosen people in comparison with the Gentiles of Tyre and Sidon? After believing for many years, have we gradually become proud and self-confident, thinking that our salvation is secure? Yet newly baptized believers, because they feel their own lack, strive desperately to pursue the truth.

This reminds me of Brother Wang Jinfu, whom I met when I was around twenty years old. He had just been baptized at about eighty years of age. He was very anxious because he felt that he “did not understand the Bible,” and he eagerly wanted to finish reading through the Bible as quickly as possible.

What about us? In recent years, as I have traveled through six countries and personally visited the True Jesus Churches in different places, as well as churches throughout the Taiwan General Assembly, I have often discovered that we who live in Taiwan — this blessed land that first received the truth — sometimes understand the pure truth of God’s word less than those countries that received the truth later than we did.

Could it really be just as the Lord Jesus lamented ?

“But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.” (Mark 10:31 NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao