[Darris McNeely] The crisis in Egypt continues to unfold. Thousands have been killed in recent days as rioting takes place and unrest in major cities across Egypt. Ever since July 3rd when the military deposed the newly elected President Morsi, the country has been going through a convulsion and changes as the military has asserted itself, making changes and basically overturning what has been put in place, had been put in place several months earlier by the Islamic Muslim Brotherhood group that had supported President Morsi.

When you look at what's taking place there, it's a true tragedy as people are dying, as this unrest continues to unfold and mount. The leadership there is dealing with it in its own unique way. Other countries making statements, but really every other country outside of Egypt is powerless to intervene and do anything. And so it unfolds. And the real victims? Well, they're the people in the street. They're the people in the farms and small villages. They're the little ones, the people who really just want to live a good life at peace, be able to raise their families, to make a decent wage, and have a peaceful dignity in their life.

It reminded me of a scripture in James chapter 5 that talks about the injustice of so much history over time in whatever country or whatever period you want to pick. And right now in the headlines and the stories unfolding in Egypt it might as well apply to what is taking place in Egypt where James writes this, "Come now you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are mothy" (James 5:1-3). Those who hold the power, those who hold the money at times are the ones who can sometimes engineer these difficulties, but certainly hold certain responsibilities in at least evening it out and bringing certain peace to pass. All of this he says, James says, are corroded and have a corrosive effect upon society.

In verse 4 he says, "The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out. And the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord. You've lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury. You've fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You've condemned. You've murdered the just. He does not resist you" (James 5:4-6).

I think that that pretty well explains in many ways what is taking place in Egypt. Those who are suffering the most are people who regardless of their political or religious stance essentially at heart want a good life and want a government, whatever government that it would be to provide that for them. That hasn't happened, and that's really at the heart of the tragedy we continue to see unfolding there, which does make us I think cry out, "Thy Kingdom come" to God above as we pray for those who are suffering in Egypt, other nations as well. But this one commands our attention today.

That's BT Daily. Join us next time.