I have a tendency to be a self-centered Christian, believing that God resides wherever I am. I have a tendency to limit His presence to areas of the world that resemble peace, liberty, and justice for all.
But today I was reminded of my great error. God is not limited by human behaviors. He is not limited by laws. He is not bound to certain lands. His love reaches through all boundaries and barriers. His presence permeates every part of our world. Today, I was reminded that He is Omnipresent...He lives in my heart, in my home, in my country...but He also lives in Egypt.
It's hard to imagine God's presence with the chaos that is going on right now in that beloved country of mine. But today I had a picture of Jesus walking through the streets of Egypt, tears in His eyes. He was looking at His people in love, whispering to them through the noise that He has a special place in his heart that is just for them.
Isaiah 19 is a prophetic reminder that God has special plans for this country, and that in the end- after the pain, the chaos, the hurt and the fear...they WILL invite Him in, and He will make His home there:
"The Egyptians will lose heart,
and I will bring their plans to nothing;
they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead,
the mediums and the spiritists.
4 I will hand the Egyptians over
to the power of a cruel master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,”
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty.....
When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.
24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing[b] on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”
In the end, there is always a plan.
Blessed be Egypt, His people.
Wow Debbie, that was awesome! I have been thinking about you and your family and how hard it must be to see a place that is so dear to your heart in such turmoil!
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to Egypt along with my prayers... Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this posting, Debbie. I've been praying for Egypt and your family!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading and most of all thanks for your thoughts and prayers...God will hear our prayers, that's for sure. It's hard to see a place you love so much in such disarray. Appreciate it everyone!!
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