Egypt - Man's Plans and God's Desires

The main-stream media has taken its eyes off Egypt in recent weeks. It is almost as if the elections completed in February and the seating of the new Egyptian parliament meant that the Egyptian story was over. Let me just bring you up to date on what is happening in the land of the pyramids and pharaohs.

We need to remember that, as a consequence of the Egyptian election process that stretched over nearly three months, the Egyptian parliament is now composed with a strong majority of radical Islamists - either from the Muslim Brotherhood or the Salafist Al-Nour Party. On Monday, March 12, this parliament voted unanimously to support a document declaring Israel to be its number one enemy. The statement read, in part, "Egypt, after the revolution, will never be a friend of the Zionist entity, the first enemy of Egypt and the Arab nation." Then, this past Sunday, March 25, that same Egyptian parliament elected an Islamist-dominated panel to craft a new Egyptian constitution. This panel will be composed of 50 members from the parliament and 50 members appointed from the greater Egyptian community. Of the 50 members from the parliament, 39 are Islamists, a majority of those appointed from the community have strong Islamic interests. Do you believe that the new Egyptian constitution will be favorable to democratic reforms? Do you believe that Coptic Christians and other minority groups within Egypt will be represented in its creation? Do you believe that this new constitution will continue the viability of the 1979 Israel-Egypt peace accords? Or do you believe that Sharia law will dominate the Egyptian legal and political landscape?

Now what makes this so interesting is that on March 22, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, announced that she was resuming the $1.3 billion annual military aid to Egypt which had been suspended over concerns for the violation of human rights within Egypt. Evidently the Secretary of State has not read of the persecution of the Coptic Christians in Egypt - of pastors being murdered and of churches being burned. Evidently she has not read of the false imprisonment of leaders of NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) within Egypt who voiced opposition to the government. And, evidently she was not aware of the Egyptian parliament's declaration that Israel is now their number one enemy. I wonder how much of that $1.3 billion military aid will be used for weapons and to train Egyptian soldiers for hostilities against Israel?

If you have been following these blogs over the past several years, you will remember that I have repeatedly stated that, outside of Israel, Egypt is the country to watch within the Middle East. I believe what happens in Egypt is a barometer of what is or will take place within other Middle Eastern nations. But, here is the encouraging news. Like Israel, Egypt will go through some very difficult times. God will yet come in judgment against Egypt and her allies. The prophecies in Isaiah 19 make this very clear. Egypt's economy will be judged (verses 5-10). Egypt's government will be judged (verses 11-15). But, if you read the rest of this chapter you will notice that God also has some incredible plans for Egypt. There will come a day when the name of God will be revered within the borders of Egypt. There will come a day when Egyptians will travel to Jerusalem to do what? To worship the God of Israel. In fact, they will be joined in worship by the Assyrians - those living in the modern nation of Iraq. Go proclaim that news today in both Cairo and Baghdad and see what kind of a reception you will get!

So, as I look at what is happening in Egypt in 2012, I must look at it in the light of what God is yet to do to that ancient nation. Egypt is still part of God's final plans for this age. And I strongly believe that no Islamist constitution or military plan will interfere with what the Almighty God desires to do.