歸回安息就對了(賽30章)

主耶和華以色列的聖者曾如此說：「你們得救在乎歸回安息，你們得力在乎平靜安穩。」你們竟自不肯。你們卻說：「不然、我們要騎馬奔走。」所以你們必然奔走。又說：「我們要騎飛快的牲口。」所以追趕你們的、也必飛快。一人叱喝、必令千人逃跑．五人叱喝、你們都必逃跑．以致剩下的、好像山頂的旗杆、岡上的大旗。(賽 30：15-17)

「歸回安息」是得救的秘訣；「平靜安穩」是等候神的態度。

這章可以看見神對以色列選民的不滿，因為他們私自跟埃及聯盟，連問都不問神一下，孤注一擲。甚至神在講話的當下，猶大國的使臣已抵達埃及。

耶和華說：「禍哉、這悖逆的兒女．他們同謀、卻不由於我、結盟、卻不由於我的靈、以至罪上加罪．起身下埃及去、並沒有求問我．要靠法老的力量、加添自己的力量、並投在埃及的蔭下。所以法老的力量、必作你們的羞辱、投在埃及的蔭下、要為你們的慚愧。他們的首領已在瑣安、他們的使臣到了哈內斯。」(賽 30：1-4)

人生其實很簡單，只要懂得「歸回」就好。歸向誰？就是回到神面前，向祂禱告，跟祂交託。主說：「凡勞苦擔重擔的人、可以到我這裏來、我就使你們得安息。」(太 11：28)。「到我這裡來」是回轉歸向神的的意思。我們會遭遇困難，往往方向是「背向神」的，所以要「歸回」。歸向了神，就要得安息，不單是心理作用，而且是實質的問題解決。

最怕的是「你們竟自不肯」。這樣的不肯歸回，聖經說是出於「竟自」，也就是咎由自取的意思。神總是願意幫助我們，是我們自己不願意接受主的幫忙。那該怎麼做？

今天(2026.5.22)總會早禱會是黃嘉明傳道主領，主題經文是：以斯帖記第六章。他分享經文：那夜王睡不着覺、就吩咐人取歷史來、念給他聽。(帖 6：1)。他說：有誰失眠時會拿歷史來讀？在這關鍵的晚上為何會失眠？因為神要用「失眠」開啟祂救贖的計畫，這時神的選民將要被滅族，書珊城中神的選民無不人心惶惶，因著選民的呼求，神要拯救他們。

接著，失眠的王，聽到末底改的救駕有功，竟是在「正遇見」的巧合之中：正遇見書上寫着說：「王的太監中有兩個守門的辟探和提列想要下手害亞哈隨魯王．末底改將這事告訴王后。」王說：「末底改行了這事、賜他甚麼尊榮爵位沒有？」伺候王的臣僕回答說：「沒有賜他甚麼。」(帖 6：2-3)

早禱會時，心中突然出現一個念頭：若我是末底改，我可能會想：「早知道就不要救你這昏庸的王！救了你，你還傻傻地聽惡人哈曼的話，反過來要消滅我整個族人？」但是末底改不言語，也沒有抱怨，就只有「歸回神的面前」，其他的事都沒有做，真正平靜安穩地面對眼前的災難。

當人的自我意見越少，神成就的工就越大。末底改的平靜安穩態度，即使在後來哈曼自作自受，讓末底改得以穿王的朝服，騎著戴冠的御馬光榮遊街，結束後，末底改面不改色，仍安靜地回到他原本負責的朝門，繼續求告神。

於是哈曼將朝服給末底改穿上、使他騎上馬走遍城裏的街市、在他面前宣告說、王所喜悅尊榮的人、就如此待他。末底改仍回到朝門．哈曼卻憂憂悶悶地蒙着頭、急忙回家去了。(帖 6：11-12)

最後神真的拯救祂的選民，末底改也因此成了宰相，神的旨意原是好的，與神作對的都必滅亡。

當人不願意回轉歸向神，不但得不著神的幫助，而且還會在神的眼中罪上加罪。耶和華說：「禍哉、這悖逆的兒女．他們同謀、卻不由於我、結盟、卻不由於我的靈、以至罪上加罪。」

想起(賽 30：15)也是我女兒在國三面臨徬徨、深感無助時，神要我給她的話語。當下我寫在便利貼上，貼在幾乎絕望的女兒的書桌前。事實證明，神真的在她每個覺得不可能、幾乎要絕望的時候，只有安靜禱告神，神就一關一關、讓她神奇平安地度過，甚至成就今天美好的結果。

所以今天我們還在傷透腦筋設想自己的方法嗎？還是習慣把神撇在一邊不知求告嗎？要知道若不知依靠神，不但得不到從神而來的幫助，反而罪上加罪。平靜安穩吧！歸回神的安息吧！

主雖然以艱難給你當餅、以困苦給你當水、你的教師卻不再隱藏、你眼必看見你的教師．你或向左、或向右、你必聽見後邊有聲音說：「這是正路、要行在其間。」(賽 30：20-21)

By Isaiah Kao

Repentance and Rest — That Is Enough (Isaiah 30)

May 22, 2026

For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said,

“In repentance and rest you will be saved,

In quietness and trust is your strength.”

But you were not willing,

And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,”

Therefore you shall flee!

“And we will ride on swift horses,”

Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.

One thousand will flee at the threat of one man;

You will flee at the threat of five,

Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top

And as a signal on a hill. (Isaiah 30:15–17, NASB2020)

“Repentance and rest” is the secret of salvation.

“Quietness and trust” is the attitude of waiting for God.

In this chapter we can see God’s displeasure toward 0the people of Israel, because they secretly formed an alliance with Egypt without even asking God. They betted everything on their own decision. Even while God was speaking, the envoys of Judah had already arrived in Egypt.

Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD,

“Who execute a plan, but not Mine,

And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,

In order to add sin to sin;

Who proceed down to Egypt

Without consulting Me,

To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh

And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt!

Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame

And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.

For their officials are at Zoan

And their ambassadors arrive at Hanes. (Isaiah 30:1–4, NASB2020)

Life is actually very simple. One only needs to know how to “return.” Return to whom? Return to God, pray before Him, and entrust everything to Him. The Lord said:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NASB2020)

“Come to Me” means to turn back and return to God.

When we encounter difficulties, often our direction is “away from God,” so we must “return.” Once we return to God, we receive rest. This is not merely psychological comfort, but real resolution to problems.

The most fearful thing is: “But you were not willing.”

This unwillingness to return comes from oneself; it is self-inflicted. God is always willing to help us, yet we ourselves refuse to accept the Lord’s help. So what should we do?

Today (2026.5.22), the General Assembly morning prayer session was led by Preacher Huang Chia-Ming. The theme passage was Esther chapter 6. He shared this verse: During that night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the Book of Records, the Chronicles, and they were read before the king. (Esther 6:1, NASB2020) He said: Who reads history books when suffering from insomnia? Why was the king unable to sleep on this critical night? Because God would use this “sleeplessness” to begin His plan of salvation. At that time, God’s chosen people were about to be destroyed, and throughout the citadel of Susa the people were filled with fear. Because of the cries of His people, God was about to save them.

Then the sleepless king heard about Mordecai’s worthy of deed in saving the king’s life. It happened in what seemed to be a “coincidental encounter”:

And it was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, that they had sought to attack King Ahasuerus. And the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (Esther 6:2–3, NASB2020)

During the morning prayer session, a thought suddenly came to my heart: If I were Mordecai, I might think, “If I had known this earlier, I would not have saved you, you foolish king! I saved you, yet you still listened to the evil Haman and in turn wanted to destroy my entire people?”

But Mordecai did not speak or complain. He simply “returned before God,” and did nothing else. He truly faced the disaster before him with quietness and trust.

The less self-opinion a person has, the greater the work God can accomplish. Even later, when Haman brought ruin upon himself and Mordecai was clothed with the king’s robes and honored through the city on the royal horse with a crown, Mordecai remained calm. Afterward, he quietly returned to the king’s gate where he had originally served, continuing to call upon God.

So Haman took the robe and the horse, and dressed Mordecai and paraded him through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king desires to honor.” Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered. (Esther 6:11–12, NASB2020)

In the end, God truly saved His chosen people, and Mordecai became prime minister. God’s will was good from the beginning, and all who opposed God were destroyed.

When people refuse to turn back to God, not only do they fail to receive God’s help, but in God’s eyes they add sin upon sin.

"Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD,

“Who execute a plan, but not Mine,

And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit,

In order to add sin to sin. 

Isaiah 30:15 also reminds me of the words God moved me to give my daughter when she was in the ninth grade, facing confusion and deep helplessness. At that time I wrote the verse on a sticky note and placed it on the desk of my nearly hopeless daughter. The result proved that whenever she felt something was impossible and was close to despair, as long as she quietly prayed to God, He carried her through one difficulty after another in a marvelous and peaceful way, even bringing about the beautiful outcome she has today.

So today, are we still exhausting ourselves trying to devise our own methods? Or are we used to pushing God aside without seeking Him? We must know that if we do not rely on God, not only will we fail to receive His help, but we will also add sin upon sin.

Be quiet and trust. Return to God’s rest.

Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will see your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left. (Isaiah 30:20–21, NASB2020)

By Isaiah