Unrest continues almost unabated around the world. Many of the countries in the Middle East are watching with great interest the drama being played out in Egypt. Will President Mubarak go into exile, being driven out by the persistent voices of the people? Will Vice President Suleiman be able to create an interim government that will fill the void until the September elections? What role will the Muslim Brotherhood have in a new government? What form will democracy take in a new Egypt?
The Western news media has been so focused on Egypt that it has paid little attention to what has been happening in Tunisia. Late last month, the people rose up in protest because of high food prices, resulting in the exiled flight of their long termed president Ben Ali. Now, new violence has filled the streets of Tunis. There has been looting and even the burning of a small Jewish synagogue. The interim President Mebazaa is ruling by decree without any influence from the Parliament. Corruption, so prevalent in the Ben Ali days, is still rampant. Fears are mounting that this new wave of violence will lead, not to democracy, but to the rise of another radicalized Islamic state.
Could something similar happen in Egypt? Absolutely. How does a country make sudden changes? It is almost an impossibility. Time is needed, and in the case of both Tunisia and Egypt, time is not an ally but an opponent.
In near-by Jordan, protests are increasing, even though King Abdullah has appointed a new Prime Minister and a new Parliament. Will he call for new elections soon? Of interest to the protesters, is that of Jordan's Queen who has been accused of corruption. I have stated before in these blogs, that it is my belief that if Egypt falls, so will Jordan. Historically Jordan has played on the hems of Egypt's robes...not always to the best intentions of the Jordanians, I might add.
About the only country that is weathering this storm of protests is Syria. Last Saturday was to be a "Day of Rage" in Damascus, only no one showed up. The streets were vacant. The reporters were there, but no protesters. It seems, at least for the time being, President Assad is secure. However, the more I study Middle Eastern history, the more I am aware that nothing is as it appears. Perhaps it is because the Middle East is built upon sand...and the sands are ever shifting.
As believers in Jesus Christ and expecting His soon return, the events happening in the Middle East should excite us tremendously. I believe that God is preparing the way for the entrance of the King. There are still events that will need to be played out before He comes. God is causing nations to begin to align themselves for Psalm 83 War and beyond. Soon the trumpet will blow...don't get caught with plugged ears.
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1 comment:
I am not a scholar as you, so please keep us informed of the things happening in the Middle East. It gave me goose bumps when you wrote of the King's Coming.
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