The first thing people think of with Egypt are the iconic pyramids. After Memphis, we visited the location of the first “pyramid”, the step pyramid of Djoser. This structure was the architectural transition point from the old mastaba (bench) style of tombs to the pyramids. The complex around it is among the oldest surviving structures in the world. Columns were carved to look like trees bound together. The goal was to make a lasting world. Wood rots, but stone remains. (and those stones have remained nearly 5,000 years)
This kicked off the pyramid fad of the Old Kingdom, a period spanning several centuries of virtually uninterrupted economic prosperity. The most famous pyramids are at the Giza plateau, situated on the edge of Cairo today (OK, technically the city of Giza). These were all built around roughly 2600-2500 BC. By the time Abraham visited Egypt (Genesis 12), these structures were over 500 years old. That’s like us thinking back to when Columbus discovered the Americas. Add a few more centuries for Moses’ view of these structures. By the time Mary, Joseph, and Jesus sojourned briefly in Egypt, the pyramids were older to them than Jesus is to us. Topping it off, the Great Pyramid was the tallest building in the world (estimated 481 meters – it’s not all there anymore) until 1311 when it was eclipsed by the Lincoln Cathedral in London, holding the record for a whopping 3800 years! Of the original 7 Wonders of the World, it is the only one still standing. They built these things to last!
I attended a funeral early this week. Funerals are good reminders that we will all die one day (if the Lord doesn’t return first), which puts life into perspective. The ancient Egyptians knew that. That is why they spent enormous effort preparing for it. They didn’t view death as the end. Rather, it was the beginning of the next life. It is easy to get caught up in the anxieties of this world and lose focus. Those who place their hope in the Lord have assurance he will take care of them not just now but also in the world to come.