With world events dominating the headlines, a stranger and I got talking about global unrest. Particularly, we shared a concern for the world our children are inheriting. It is increasingly far different than how either of us imagined it would be. Global unrest, shifting alliances, fractured national relationships. Certain political and financial positions that once looked unshakable are fractured.
This conversation has left me wondering – how do we, as Christ-followers, make sense of these turbulent times? Where do we find a vision for the future that is grounded in hopefulness that comes from knowing God’s faithfulness, instead of a future based in fear?
As a youth pastor, I know that my students would have come to me with these concerns on their mind. They talk about them at home and at school, and yet, in the church, we’re often very hesitant to address world events. However, as Next Generation ministry leaders, it’s important that we consider how we will respond. Without giving into the polarization, without creating atmospheres of fear, how do we point our youth and children to God? What messages of hope do we share with our young people?
As 2025 began, I felt a nudging from the Lord to change my bible reading habits. Almost every year for the last decade, I have read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It has been foundational in shaping my imagination, drawing me towards the big picture of what God is doing. I have seen how God is ultimately in control of history, drawing world powers and events ultimately towards God’s promised future.
But this year, I felt drawn to take a deep dive into the book of Isaiah, reading it alongside some commentaries. Over the last couple of days, I’ve been dwelling in Isaiah 19, and have found it compellingly applicable in this uncertain week.
Isaiah 19 is titled “A Prophecy against Egypt,” and in this message, the prophet outlines the social, economic, and political collapse of the mighty Egyptian empire. In explaining this collapse, the prophet looks beneath the surface and recognizes that Egypt’s downfall stems from its refusal to acknowledge the Lord. As global powers do, this empire rested on human determinism to meet human needs and self-confident wisdom to solve every problem without the Lord. They propped up their empire with the worship of idols, but ultimately, the empire collapsed under the outstretched hand of the Lord Almighty.
However, the prophet doesn’t end his message with the collapse of Egypt. He points his audience to a certain future, one in which five cities of Egypt will pledge allegiance to the Lord. From there, their new allegiance will spread across the former empire. In that day, people will turn to the Lord, and become part of a new global power, one that will see the Lord reign over the globe, with all nations gathering together to worship the Lord. God’s final word for the nations is not one of desolation, but rather one of worship and healing and coming together.
We still live in the not-yet part of the prophet’s vision. Since his day, multiple empires have risen and collapsed. Global powers have continually failed to acknowledge the Lord and have chosen instead to rest on their own determinism and self-confident wisdom. We may be living in days like those Egyptians. Like Egypt, many global powers today rely on their own wisdom, economic might, and political alliances, rather than turning to the Lord. But Isaiah reminds us that God’s plans reach beyond the rise and fall of nations.
As people of hope, we know that an imperial collapse is not the end of the story. Although we have no promises of financial or social security, we are the people of the Lord Almighty. And we can trust that the Lord is working to draw all people to pledge allegiance to him, so that we can all be called his people.
Next Steps:
- Maybe you want to consider studying Isaiah 19 with your youth group. Invite a small group to read this together.
- Help students name their fears and concerns about global events. Create a space where they can voice their questions without shame. Don’t blame particular leaders or parties, but recognize that a lot is shifting on the global stage.
- Help them recognize that humanity has been here before, and the Lord has always been with his people. Don’t make promises that everything is going to work out. God is with us, but that doesn’t mean we won’t face challenges and hardships along the way.
- Help them get to know the character of God. Instead of just seeing God as distant or only involved in judgment, help them see how God’s ultimate vision is one of reconciliation. Acknowledge that God does cause the rise and fall of global empires, but his heart is well expressed in Isaiah 19:23-25. He envisions a world where all cultures and all peoples will turn their hearts toward him.