Thoughts on Egypt

Egypt seems to be holding the attention of much of the world - or at least the media's attention, recently.  The papers have pictures of protesters all over the front pages, and the "international" section is littered with articles and analysis.  It's an important part of the Arab world.  What happens in Egypt has huge impact on the rest of the Middle East.  Others in the Middle East have been motivated by what they see in Egypt.

And as people discuss the protests, many people - including myself - tend to talk about it as they would a football game.  Or a political contest.  Detached analysis that looks at the broad strokes.  There is certainly use for this kind of discussion.  However, the discussion often gets limited to that.  It's natural, of course, if you don't have any personal connection.  I talk the same way about the uprising in Kazakhstan last year, or the protests in  Thailand the year before that.

However, with the Egypt situation, we (Alison and I) have some connections that brings it closer to home.  We have some Egyptian friends in our small group who have family in Cairo and Alexandria.  A couple teachers who are from Egypt also worry about their families in Cairo.  I also have a few students who are from Egypt, living abroad in Bahrain.

These friends have strong opinions about Mubarak and what should happen if (when?) he resigns.  They (both Christians and Muslims) have strong opinions about the Muslim Brotherhood.  However, they are more concerned about the safety of their families, particularly as the police have abandoned many areas of the city.  They speak with a tired, concerned pride of how the people in their community have come together to provide for one another as the economy continues to suffer.

Of course, no one knows what will happen.  The protests seem to have waned and it looked as if Mubarak might be able to out-wait the protesters.  However, as I read CNN this morning, it seems as if new life has been breathed into the protests, for better or for worse.  Obama, I'm sure, wants to help move things along, but I'm sure he's aware that if makes the wrong step, he may make things worse rather than better.  Caution is the order of the day, and he's wise to heed that order.  (No matter what he does, there will be much criticism.  If he does nothing, he will be accused of not supporting the "freedom agenda".  If he tries to move things forward too much, he will be accused of using US power to bully).

Whatever happens, God is in control.  He appoints rulers and he removes rulers.  In our small group on Tuesday night, we prayed the following:

• God would grant wisdom, compassion and humility to those involved in the power transition (or whatever that may be) 
• God would provide comfort for those who live in Egypt, and those abroad who worry about their families