God loves Egypt.  Egypt is a country that links northeast Africa with the Middle East.  This interesting country dates back to the time of the pharaohs.  Biblical stories of Egypt tell of the captivity of the Hebrews and that God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” However, did you know that Jesus also lived in Egypt for several years?  In Matthew 2:13-21 (KJV), we read:

“….behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed intoEgypt:

¹⁵ And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

¹⁷ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

¹⁹ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

²⁰ Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

²¹ And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.”

The Coptic Church in Egypt states that St.Mark was an evangelist and preacher of the Christian faith in Egypt and Africa in the early part of the first century AD.  Thier website states that St. Mark was a native of the North Africa country of Libya. He was born in the city of Cyrene in Pentapolis, The western part of Libya, west of the border of Egypt.  St. Mark was born of Jewish parents three years after the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His original name was John and his last name was Mark.  Sadly, most of the early apostles and many early believers of Jesus were martyred. Mark was martyred in 68 AD when pagans of Serapis (the Serapion-Abbis Greek Egyptian god ) tied him to a horse’s tail and dragged him through the streets of Alexandria’s district of Bokalia for two days until his body was torn to pieces.  http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/mark.html

OpenDoorsUSA states that 10% of Egypt’s population believes in Jesus Christ.  (Population: 95 Million / 9.5 Million are Christians.)  The main religion in this country is Islam.  This ministry has asked us to pray for Egypt.  They ask:

• Pray for Christian converts who are ousted from their homes for leaving Islam. Pray that the Lord would provide for and comfort them.
• Pray that God would bring even the leaders of Islamist groups to Christ, that they might be used for His purposes.
• Pray for Christians who have been slighted in social, political and legal affairs to entrust their situation to God

Let us pray:

Dear Lord, we pray for the people of Egypt.  We pray for their families, for peace, and for them to find joy.  We pray that the supernatural power of your Holy Spirit will sweep through this land.  We pray a special prayer of protection for the persecuted.  Please bless their families and their children.  We pray that all Egyptians will have the opportunity to hear the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to accept you as their savior.  Lord, give us compassion and love for all the people of Egypt.  Lord your word tells us in Romans 10:9-13:

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Heavenly Father, please let the people of Egypt know that we are praying for them.  Please let them know that you are a God of miracles and that we are praying for the peace of God which passes all understanding to flood their hearts and minds.  Holy Spirit please guide them.  As Proverbs 3:5-6  states,

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Lord you instructed us in John 14, “If you love me, keep my commands.¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Lord thank you for this promise for the early disciples and for us today. We pray for a supernatural outpouring of your Holy Spirit on our brothers and sisters in Egypt. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

  © Margaret R. Wilder, 2018