Troubled Copts
We are all very concerned about what is happening in Egypt to our beloved Christian brothers and sisters, and we rightfully ask God; why is this happening?
Nations in suffering
Many times in history God allowed nations to be in bondage and under occupation of a foreign religion and foreign God.
In Christmas time, we are reminded of the condition of the Jews 2000 years ago, under harsh Roman occupation, Mary had to walk 10 miles in a very harsh terrain to obey a Roman decree, to be following by killing of every Jews baby.. can you imagine how you feel if this is today?
Today, many (if not most) Christians around the world live under a regime or a culture that opposes them and oppresses them and it is only natural to ask:
- Why does God allow this to happen?
- How are we supposed to deal with this as Christians?
- For how long is this going to last? Does God have a plan to save His people?
God's Plans
God hears our cries and have a plan for our salvation.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" Jer 29:11
A Savior is Born
2000 years ago, on that first Christmas day, the bible tells us "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
Jews of that time were waiting for a savior to save them from the occupation of the Roman Empire and many thought finally, God has fulfilled his promised by saving them one more time from bondage.
But Jesus told them ""My kingdom is not of this world" John 18:36, Is not He the waited Messiah that will save the nation Israel?
Back to Jeremiah 29.
"For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope" Jer 29:11
Please read-on:
"Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jer 29:12
God's answer to the world problem is not WHAT but WHOM.
For "He is the WAY, TRUTH and LIFE"
To Save us from our SINS
The Son became flesh to Save the world not from political and military occupation, not yet, but to save us all from our SIN, its source, its consequences and its destruction, "For the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23
God does not treat the symptoms but heals us, not only heals us, He transforms us, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
In order to live a full life we need a relationship with the source of Life and such a relationship is not possible since we broke it with our sins, so Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father and forgive us our sins.
Governance will be His
Gods ways are superior than ours, first He wants us to come to Him and fix our hearts, because man's heart is wicked, only then peace and justice is ever possible.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6
"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil 2:10-11
You see my friend, God gave Adam dominion over the world, but Adam foolishly gave that dominion over to Satan when he sinned!
Therefore, God is always ahead of the game with a better options, he turns evil into good, not just good but greatness!!
This world has been corrupted by sin and men with wicked hearts, so there will be a better new Earth and New Heaven where will Jesus will be the Governor and true Justice, Peace and Love will be prevailed.
But there is a catch, this new Heaven and New Earth is by INVITATION ONLY, we are all invited but you must respond to that invitation.
What about now?
God is concerned with all nations, He is in control of the rise & fall of all nations! as He is longing for them to turn to Him.
Jesus refused to be King of Israel, but remained to be Lord of Heaven and Earth. God is in charge at all time, He appoints Kings and Rulers.
We have so many examples in the Bible of how God allows a newborn baby to be adopted by a king and then to take over the kingdom
or a young man to be sold into slavery to rule over Egypt
Also, there is an upcoming blessing for Egypt, after they suffer from this judgment and they return to the Lord
Isiah 19 talks about 3 countries will be bless together and many scholars believe that this prophecy didn't happen yet!
Dr. Maher Samual believes that the first part of Isiah 19 was already fulfilled (there were 18 kingdoms in Egypt at 700 BC) but the second half of Isiah 19 is yet to come
Jewish Response
Many Jews being burden with their sins and blinded by Satan rejected the message of Jesus, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." John 1:11-12 Romans 11:7-9.
Some 30 years after his resurrection they took the matter into their own hands and revolted against the Roman Empire in (66-73 A.D.), this revolt ended in a total calamity for the the Jewish nation, with over 1 million killed and more sold to slavery and expelled from the land. Jewish Revolt in Wikipedia
The mistake that many Jews committed 2000 years ago, is to reject such an invitation and focus on their own plight and misery taking matter in their hand and missing the opportunity God has prepared.
Egypt's Response
Egypt's Greatness
Egypt was a great nation, Egyptians were the brightest people. God blessed Egypt with :
- Wisdom: even Moses learned from the Egyptian culture
- Stability: Egypt is very unique in its stability with weather and natural resources, its Nile had so many branches to cover most of the nation
Biblical Prophecies about Egypt
Three Biblical prophecies concerning Egypt:
- Isaiah Isaiah 19 in 8th Century BC
- Jeremiah in 6th Century BC
- Ezekiel Ezekiel 29-31 in 6th Century BC (after Jeremiah)
These prophecies declare that Egypt will go from a great nation to destruction until the people come to the Lord and then He will bless them
Most scholars agree that some of these prophecies has already taken place "Literally and very accurately" and others are yet to come.
We can certainly take heed from these warning and search our hearts.
Egypt's Rejection
Pride
Worshiping false gods
God's Judgment on Egypt
Egyptians became proud and arrogant against God, not only worshiping other gods but themselves as well
These prophecies reflect God's Judgment over Egypt
- Economic destruction; only 3% of the land is not baren, destroyed land yields to baren desert (fill in bible reference..)
- Occupation, ruled by foreigners Ezekiel 30:6,12
Egypt has suffered instability for over the last 2500 years, not ruled by its people, one occupier after another
God uses the political instability to shake the nation spiritually, so Instability leads to Spiritual Revival
Ezekiel 31:13 :
"According to its wickedness I have driven it away. 12“Alien tyrants of the nations have cut it down and left it; on the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land. And all the peoples of the earth have gone down from its shade and left it. 13“On its ruin all the birds of the heavens will dwell, and all the beasts of the field will be on its fallen branches"
Ezekiel 31:12 :
“By the swords of the mighty ones I will cause your hordes to fall; all of them are tyrants of the nations, And they will devastate the pride of Egypt, And all its hordes will be destroyed.
we must concede to this judgment, and confess our sins, it is not luck from 525 b.c.
We must admit to the sin of pride , we must humble ourselves
"Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin." Jer 36:3
If my people of Israel . themselves and return from their evil ways I will listen
Acceptance
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, "John 1:12-13
Sure, many if not all of them suffered persecution and still do today! but they have a comforter and are able to say:
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18
Message to Egypt
The message of Egypt is no different, Jesus came to save us from the burden of OUR SIN, not to free us from others sin, because this is useless, this will only place us under another occupation; capitalism, communism, liberalism ..... the list goes on.
But God's patience is coming to an end very soon, this is the last call, Romans 9:22
today is the day of salvation Very soon the door will be closed.
"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS" Heb 3:15
now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION 2 Cor 6:2
Role of Christians
Sounds great, but what I am supposed to do?
- RECEIVE HIM
- Understand HIS WILL in your life and live accordingly
- Declare HIS TRUTH, boldly and gracefully
Live an active life
How to conduct ourselves in the midst of this crisis Jer 29:4-11
God has a plan for us to live in Egypt, we don't have to wait
Practice our legal rights
Jesus during His trial reprimand the servant who slapped him
Don't try to be more humble than Jesus, it
Love that is not based on power is cowardly, be powerful in your Love, be wise when to speak and when "don't toss your bread to the dogs"
The other example, is when Paul protested how he was treated, when he practiced his legal rights as a Roman citizen
Understand our purpose in life
We are not here to build a Christian state or an Egyptian state , "For God's kingdom does not consist of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy produced by the Holy Spirit." Rom 14:17
Our primary We must be active in proclaiming His Truth