In The Bible: When many people today consider Egypt, they often think only of Pharaoh, the pyramids and perhaps the Nile River. While this is correct, it is incomplete. Egypt is mentioned nearly 700 times in the Old Testament and 25 times in the New Testament — more than any other place outside of the land of Canaan/ Israel. According to the Bible, Egypt has always had close ties with God’s people. For example:

1. Abraham and Sara
   1. As they were traveling to the land of Canaan, they went down to Egypt to escape a famine. Abraham asked Sara to say that she was his sister, when her beauty was praised to Pharoah (Gen 12:10-20).
   2. Hagar – Sara’s maid servant, with whom Abraham bore Ishmael, was from Egypt (Gen 16:1). Later Hagar would take a wife for Ishmael from Egypt (21:21).
2. Joseph and the store house
   1. Joseph’s brothers sold him to Ishmaelites, who were on their way to Egypt (Gen 37:25-28), later he was sold to Potipher, an official of Pharoah (Gen 37:36). Eventually, Joseph ended up in prison, but rose from being a prisoner to overseeing Pharaoh’s household to bring Egypt through 7 years of famine (Gen 41).
   2. There was famine all throughout the land, with the exception of Egypt, which led Joseph’s brothers back to Egypt to settle.
3. The Israelites who settled in Egypt eventually became slaves (Exodus). So the Lord arranged in His sovereignty for the daughter of Pharaoh to adopt the baby Israelite boy named Moses. After Moses became a man, he eventually let his people out of Egypt.
4. On Mount Sinai, God spoke to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments.
5. Additional examples are:

1. • Solomon marrying pharaoh’s daughter – 1 Kings 3
   • Jeremiah 42-43- The people of Judah escape to take refuge in Egypt against God’s command and the prophet Jeremiah’s warning.
2. A unique portion about Egypt in the Bible in the book of Isiah:

1. 1. “In that day there will be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to Jehovah near its border; And it will become a sign and a testimony to Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry unto Jehovah because of their oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and Mighty One; and He will deliver them. And Jehovah will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know Jehovah in that day; they will worship Him with sacrifice and offering and will vow a vow to Jehovah and accomplish it. And Jehovah will strike Egypt, striking yet healing; and they will turn to Jehovah, and He will be entreated of by them and will heal them. In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land, With which Jehovah of hosts will bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people and Assyria the awork of My hands and Israel My inheritance.” Isiah 19:19-24.
2. Then in the New Testament we see:

1. • Jesus’s earthly parents took him to Egypt to escape Herod’s persecution.
   • Apollos, a Jew who labored with Paul, was from Alexandria – Acts 18:24
   • Even later, legend says the Apostle Mark went down to Egypt to preach the gospel and started churches.
2. In Christian history, many of the “fathers of the church” came out of Egypt. For example, Athanasius was an Egyptian leader of the 4th century who is well known for his role in the conflict with Arianism and his affirmation of the orthodox teaching about the Trinity. The city of Alexandria in particular became the major center for noted Christian scholars and theologians. The Nicaean Creed was actually written in Alexandria.
3. Some other early church fathers from Egypt include Clement, Origen and Cyril of Alexandria. In more recent history, some of the earliest known manuscripts of the New Testament were found at the foot of Mt. Sinai at Saint Catherine’s monastery,
4. Today, Egypt has the largest population of Christians in the Middle East – well over 10 million. According to Isaiah 19:19, Egypt has been blessed because of its role in Christian history. The fulfilment of God’s blessing upon Egypt is still taking place. Surely such a place is worth visiting!