Promises Made, Promises Kept

I recently returned from an incredible journey to Egypt and Jordan.  The trip was adventurous and exciting with pyramids, royal tombs, ancient temples, hot air balloons, and hieroglyphics. I learned about the culture of the common people, the practices of ruling kings, and how the country revolves around the Nile River, the same river that was turned to blood by Moses, who once hid in its reeds. I experienced the arid environment in 117° F heat.

Parky and I planned this trip about 1.5 years ago. My sister Nancy and her husband decided to go, too. I liked the idea of traveling to a part of the world I had never seen. I also liked checking off “pyramids” from my bucket list.

As departure time drew near, Parky and I had an unexpected surprise. And it wasn’t a good one. Our Irish Setter, O’Kelley, developed a life-threatening condition. Parky took him to the vet, who immediately started IV fluids and antibiotics. Thankfully, O’Kelley responded quickly but still needed additional treatments.

We were scheduled to leave in two days. Parky made the decision to stay home. O’Kelley required follow-up oral medication. We canceled the “summer camp” kennel we had planned. We declined leaving him in a cage at the vet’s for two weeks. And we didn’t feel good putting greater responsibility on our house/dog sitter.  

I opted to go on without Parky. At least Nancy and Henry would be there. Of course, I was sad Parky could not join me. I held to the promise of John 16:32. “ . . . I am not alone because the Father is with me.”

Our first excursion out of Cairo was to Sakkara, where the world’s first pyramid was built. It had six tiers reaching 204 feet high. Each tier brought the deceased a little closer to heaven as they crossed from this life into the next. What an architectural genius of Imhotep to build this magnificent structure for the king’s eternal resting place. Imhotep’s step pyramid became the envy of succeeding kings, who also had pyramids built.

The idea of being buried in something to help transition into the heavenly afterlife is ludicrous! There is only one way into heaven: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). No pyramid, no mask of gold, no good deed secures a ticket into heaven. “ . . . When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

The treasures they buried with them for their afterlife were also pointless. No one can take anything with them anywhere after death!

I was continually astounded by the intricate carvings, the colorful paintings, and the shockingly tall structures in the ancient temples, demonstrating Egyptian beliefs and practices of the day. Temples were dedicated to mythical gods, goddesses, deities, and/or pharaohs. None were dedicated to the One True God, the supreme being, the Creator and Source of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.

I found it difficult to imagine how the Egyptians could worship a water god said to be the guardian of the Nile River, who fashioned humankind from his potter’s wheel, or a crocodile god thought to have created the world! There were gods to the sky, the sun, the underworld, the desert, fertility, writing and wisdom, and on and on and on. Then there were sons and daughters of gods. One was said to be conceived from a god dismembered by his brother in anger. His pieces were scattered around the countryside. His wife collected them and pieced her husband back together. She found all of the pieces except for one – the piece required for procreation. His wife molded that “piece”, turned herself into a bird, mounted and impregnated herself from her dead husband! Wild, huh?  

Elaborate delusions pervaded the culture, blinding them to Truth. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (I John 5:20). The promise of Truth lies in the scripture spoken by Jesus in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Following Egypt, I traveled to Jordan for a few days. One of the most surreal moments there was at Mt. Nebo, where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land before his death. As I looked over the same expansive land that Moses did, it was easy to imagine the twelve tribes living in designated areas of the Promised Land. A map at the site showed the different cities.

Although the Israelites elongated their time before claiming the land of “milk and honey”, their relocation did happen. The promise was kept.

His promises are always kept.