Friday, March 2, 2012

Bible Scripture Reading for Friday 2 March 2012

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 2 March 2012"

Today's Blog Title: "Egypt In Biblical Times"

In the last blog from Isaiah 19, Egypt is mentioned throughout, and I would like to write more  on Egypt during Biblical Times.

More is known of Egypt than any other ancient society.  Wall paintings on tombs, profusely portray daily life.  Documents preserved in the dry climate with inscriptions carved in rock, display Egypt's many cultural achievements.  These would include works on medicine, astronomy, and literature, as well as treatises on magic and religion. In addition, the tombs of Pharaohs have contributed many artifacts which display and artistic skills of the Egyptians.

Scripture acknowledges the accomplishments and even the legendary wisdom of the Egyptians (1 Kings 4:30).  Scripture also displays an appreciation for Egypt as a land of refuge.  Abraham found food there when famine stalked Canaan (Genesis 12:10).  Joseph rose to power in Egypt (Genesis 41-46).  There the Jewish population explodes to an estimated 2.5 million persons.  Also in the New Testament when King Herod was killing all male boys 2 years and younger Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt to avoid the slaughter of Innocent children (Matthew 2:13-15, 19-21).  Thus, Egypt is viewed with appreciation for its contribution to the shaping of the race.

But Egypt also was the land of bondage, where God's people were persecuted and mistreated.  In Egypt, the Children of Israel learned corrupt religious practices: displayed in the Exodus generation's worship of a golden calf (Exodus 32) and nearly 1,000 years later in the corrupt worship described in Ezekiel 8-11.  Throughout the time of Israel's kingdom, Egypt was either an unreliable ally or an open enemy of the Jewish state.  So Scriptures attitude toward Egypt is ambivalent.  While its  contribution is recognized and honored, Egypt's sins must also be punished.

Even though Egypt will suffer God's judgment, the Old Testament also looks froward to the day when Egypt will be converted to the Lord and worship Him.  Yesterday in Isaiah 19 we read about Egypt's judgment and it's salvation. In verse 2 of Chapter 19 we saw that there would civil strife, national defeat in verse 4, and terrible calamity's in verses 5-17.  Yet our Loving and Gracious Almighty God will send them a Savior in verse 20, He will also heal them and hear their prayers in verses 23-25.  When the Egyptians are converted in verses 18-22, they will openly honor God with an altar and memorial in verses 19-20.  They will pray to God and offer Him sacrifices and gifts in verses 20-21.  Then, with Assyrians and Israelites, the Egyptians too will serve the Lord in verses 23-25.

Other major predictive passages concerning Egypt are Jeremiah 46 and Ezekiel 29-30.  Jeremiah warms of Egypt's imminent defeat by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar, but promises the land will remain habitable.  Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, both predict a Babylonian victory.  Yet each of these may well the ultimate judgment and subsequent salvation of the Egyptian people, who through God's mighty acts of power will once again, realize the He truly is the One, True, Powerful and Merciful and Living Almighty God .    

Click on the link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for Today's Bible Verse from Mark 10:14-16.

Have a God filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness.
Love God More Today. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who are being persecuted for their Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ.  Pray for Youcef Nasdarkhani the Iranian pastor who has been sentenced to death for His for his refusal to denounce Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Pray for God's Peace on Jerusalem and His Blessings on the Nation of Israel.  Always remember that when you have a spiritual dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."

"Spiritual victories are often followed by testing."

Jesus Reigns and He is and ALWAYS WILL be in TOTAL CONTROL
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi       

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