The news that Israel’s embassy has been attacked by Egyptians in Cairo is most distressing, especially considering the peace treaty between the two countries for the past 30 years.

In Bible prophecy, Egypt is one of the most prominently mentioned nations in the Old Testament. The prophets knew well the power to the south:

“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” (Hosea 11:1)

The Lord is saying that the nation of Israel was really born in the period of the Exodus, and it is considered that they became a nation at Mt. Sinai.

Early in Genesis, communications between Abraham and Pharaoh are quite compelling, and there is evidence that at one time, the Egyptians were monotheistic (and this is borne-out in archaeological findings).

Like the Hebrews, Egypt was under the heel of the Romans for a time, and of course has been predominantly Muslim for some time now, having been also the birthplace of the Muslim Brotherhood (interestingly, it is the Coptic Christians who are ethnically tied with the ancient Egyptians).

Prophetically, in an “endtimes” scenario, Egypt is like all those other nations that come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 10-14), yet the Lord loves all people, and he makes provision for the Egyptians to be restored to full health:

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 27:13)

Twice in 44 years, the Egyptians and Israelis have waged epic wars against each other, and twice the Egyptians lost huge on the battlefield. In the battle for public opinion though, internationally, they won back the Sinai in negotiations, culminating in Jimmy Carter’s Camp David dance with Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin.

People ask me continually where Egypt is in the last-days context. If Zechariah is to be believed, they will be among the confederacy of nations that come against the Jewish state to wage a final battle to obliterate the Jewish state. The latter, however, is a permanent people, and the Lord will preserve them.

In the meantime, let us all pray for the peace of that region, and remember to pray both for the Israelis and for the Egyptians.