[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during May 2024]
Our title is taken from the first line of a popular song from the early 1950s. In its original form it was a reminder to servicemen that, no matter where they were, there was someone waiting for them. Later it was taken to include anyone travelling far away from home.
The Bible does not mention the pyramids but it certainly does have a lot to say about the Nile, starting with Pharaoh’s dream. We know the story of the young Moses being found amongst the reeds lining the river bank and later how many of the plagues were linked to the river. However the Nile became a symbol of the wealth of Egypt, giving rise to pride and idolatry, and several of the Biblical prophets issued warnings about the impending consequence of failing to acknowledge the Lord as the true source of their blessings.
Because you said, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it,’ therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.
Ezekiel 29 v9-10 [NIVUK]
What else comes to mind when you think of north Africa? Those of a certain generation may well think of El Alamein, Benghazi and the desert battles which comprised the North Africa campaign of the Second World War. The advances and retreats on both sides left their mark on history, but not more so than earlier events in that area.
Tradition suggests that the gospel-writer Mark came from Cyrene, a town in what is now Libya, and that after he had written his gospel he returned to Alexandria in Egypt where he was eventually martyred. The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke each include the account of Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Later, the book of Acts records that men from Cyrene were sent as missionaries to Antioch.
But that is not all. How many of us recall (or even knew) that north Africa was once a bastion of Christianity. As post-reformation Protestants we are tempted to dismiss some of the deliberations of early church history as irrelevant squabbling, but it is our loss to do so. Many of the fundamentals of our faith were championed by men who have largely been forgotten; men such as Alexander, who was influential in the writing of the Nicene Creed, and Athanasius, credited with identifying the 27 books that form the New Testament. Both men lived in north Africa and both men suffered for their faith.
As we conclude our glance at church history we return to the song that supplied our title; not to its first line but to the refrain that concludes each verse: “You belong to me”. A divine expression of that sentiment appears in many places in Scripture; here are two examples which include the reminder that someone is waiting for us to come home:
“They will be Mine says the Lord of All, “on that day that I gather My special people”.
Malachi 3 v17 [NLV]
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am.
John 17 v24 [NIVUK]
Throughout the centuries there have been people who have belonged to the Lord. Are you reassured by knowing that you belong to him too?
References:
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Last week’s reflection: It’s in Your Court
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys