Hey y’all! The past week or so have been crazier than anything I could have imagined, and infinitely more fun (though I admit not having reliable Internet was something of a struggle). I’ve posted some pictures from our time in Egypt, but I thought it would be a good time to sum up the experience for y’all.
Egypt in many respects was similar to home, but only because we did not spend much free time out in the city away from our fantastic hotels, which specifically cater to Western tourists. As y’all are undoubtedly aware, traveling in Egypt is not the safest pastime, nor is it particularly predictable; there does not seem to be much concern with keeping a strict schedule. I am very thankful that I am a fairly flexible traveler; otherwise, our four-hour late sleeper train to Cairo (and the subsequent trek through the construction zone, I mean, Cairo train station) would have been a nightmare. Also, I could never get used to the dust/sand/smog. The perfect storm of an industrial city and a nearby desert creates an atmosphere that clogs the throat and dries out the skin terribly.
In sum, Egypt was a blitz of museums, temples, and pyramids. Exciting and frantic, we raced through the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak and Luxor; the Valleys of the Kings, the Queens, and the Workers; the (new) Library at Alexandria; the former Royal Palaces at Alexandria; catacombs beneath Alexandria; the Corniche (a fortress on the site of the ancient Pharos lighthouse in Alexandria); Pompey’s Pillar; the Egyptian Museum; the Pyramids. I will elaborate on a couple of highlights. Walking through the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, what impressed me was the length the pharaohs went to preserve their earthly legacies and gain easy passage in the afterlife. Vast amounts of rock were cut out of the cliffs near Luxor, and were beautifully decorated, covering every inch of the tombs with various incantations to help their passage into the afterlife. The sheer amount of decoration and the intricacy of the images mixed with hieroglyphics was spectacular. Another highlight in Egypt was the last day: the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Again, the sheer size of the structures is indescribable; images do not do it justice. It is extremely interesting to view such structures as witnesses to the effort the Egyptians went to in preparation for death; certainly it is quite different from our “live life to the full,” “get what you can now” culture in modern America.
On a personal note (and if you’re not interested in this bit, feel free to stop reading), though my study of Acts, combined with our visits to the Egyptians’ attempts to attain a more comfortable afterlife, God has been revealing himself to me in new ways. Meditating on the purpose of the pyramids and tombs, I have been thinking about my own fruitless attempts to make a name for myself in this life, and to earn favor in God’s eyes. For instance, in conversation, I may try to compete to have the most original thought or the funniest comment, not for the purpose of fellowship and encouragement, but so that I can establish myself as someone who deserves fame. I also find myself easily getting wrapped up in the relationships I hold, because I like to think that with these people I will establish a legacy. I also entertain the thought that I can use these relationships to prove what a good person I am. My “kindnesses” toward the people with whom I’m in a relationship become a personal bargaining chip with God in a similar fashion as the pharaohs used their tombs and spells from the Book of the Dead. But when the character of God is rightly considered, I realize that such bargaining is totally inappropriate and offensive to a holy and righteous God. He cannot let my selfish acts simply be bought, so what am I to do?
I was greatly encouraged by Psalm 16, which Peter quotes in Acts 2 when he speaks at Pentecost. The psalm, written by David, praises the Lord for his faithfulness. Verse 8 says, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Similarly, Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Back in Psalm 16, verses 10-11 continue, “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” When David writes that the Lord is before him, he means that God goes before him, that He fights the battles of the one whom He loves. All of these promises tell us that God wants GOOD for us, and He will go to any lengths to make it happen. And in the person of Jesus Christ, He has conquered Death and given us joy and true Life. Although we still have some growing to do, the Lord will fulfill his promises of eternal pleasures. What a joyful and encouraging thought! From that point, and I will end with this, the next step is clear: “For I resolved to know nothing…except Jesus Christ and him crucified,” for it is through Jesus that the Lord will give Life (John 5:24-27).
Ok, if you’ve made it this far, well done. I’m putting up more pictures from Alexandria and Cairo, as well as the first couple of days in Greece. More to come soon!
