By: Sharona

In the past week, we saw the result of the first free and democratic election in Egypt-the voting in of the Muslim Brotherhood to control the government of Egypt through the victory of their candidate, Mohammed Mursi. This raises many questions: What happens when democracy results in an outcome that is far from Godly and far from best for the people? Should we be happy that the citizens were able to freely vote and that they are not ruled by a dictator or should we be dismayed by the fact that they have voted for a new tyrant-Islam?

Sometimes, as believers, we tend to put too much trust in the systems of this world and when they result in an undesirable outcome, we do not know what our stance should be. The majority of Egyptians may have really wanted the Muslim Brotherhood to be in power, as the results of the election seem to indicate. This is assuming that the election was truly honest and the results were not tweaked out of fear of another uprising. However, the Muslim Brotherhood was known to take better care of the common people than the previous government. They provided social services, schools and financial help, while Egyptians lived under the dictatorship of Mubarak. This was part of the Muslim Brotherhood’s strategy, as they knew that providing for the people would lead to support. However, it does not detract from the fact that Islam is a tyrant as strong as any dictator and that it will destroy the society that it rules. In Egypt, both “systems” have failed the people, whether a dictatorship or a democracy.

The Muslim Brotherhood has made it clear that they do not intend to pursue a secular or moderate agenda, though they have promised to be “inclusive” of all groups and to “uphold international obligations.” However, they are not known for upholding their promises in the past, leaving both believers and seculars within Egypt, as well as residents of Israel and the West very wary about the new government.

This election caused many to be confused about what is right, especially when looking at the situation as a believer. Hosni Mubarak was not known to be the most righteous leader, himself, and often persecuted both believers and Muslims alike. However, the rise to power of an Islamic government could bring much worse, upsetting the entire balance of power in a region already beset by troubles and placing all of Egypt under the bondage of Islam.

It is interesting that Isaiah seems to have predicted a time like this, where He says, “I will stir up Egyptian against Egyptian…I will hand the Egyptians over to a cruel master” (Isaiah 19:1-4). God goes on to declare that there will be an economic crisis in Egypt and that He will strike Egypt, Himself (Isaiah 19:5-16). However, God loves the Egyptians and declares that, “When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender and He will rescue them. 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. The Lord will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the Lord and He will respond to their pleas and heal them.“ (Isaiah 19:19-22)

God finishes the passage by describing a highway connecting Egypt, Syria and Israel, a place of peace and blessing (Isaiah 19:23-25).

Though the situation in Egypt today seems very hopeless, we, as believers, know that God is still in control and trust that He is working and loves the Egyptians and desires that they come to Him. Furthermore, it seems that they will play a great part in His future plans over the region. Though we can have no confidence in the current systems controlling the world-even Western, democratic systems-as we watch these dire circumstances unfold in Egypt we can continue to have confidence in the Lord’s plan and in His goodness. In the meanwhile please continue to pray for:

• Believers in Egypt to be strong and courageous and not to compromise on truth
• That there would be a revival with many coming to the Lord during this time
• Peace between Israel and Egypt and that God would thwart the enemy’s plans for harm and turn it to good
• Wisdom to be given to all the decision-makers and military of both Israel and Egypt
• Protection over the populations of both Egypt and Israel-that God would miraculously save people from both physical and spiritual harm