Recently, we have seen more and more news about street violence, vigilantism, horizontal conflicts, and public anger that easily explodes on social media. In the midst of such situations, campaigns such as "The people take care of the people" have emerged as a sign that many people are tired, disillusioned and have lost faith in the system that is supposed to protect them. When people continue to live in oppression, injustice and insecurity, people slowly become more suspicious, irritable and less compassionate. At that point, it is not only the social system that cracks, but also the relationship between people. People no longer exist as neighbours who support each other, but as parties against each other.

Isaiah 19 speaks in a similar situation. This prophecy is addressed to Egypt, a great civilisation known for its political, economic, and cultural power. But beneath the splendour, Isaiah describes a country that is crumbling from within. People were divided, leaders were disorientated, counsellors were confused, and the fabric of life was slowly weakening as the symbol of life, the Nile River, dried up. What is happening is not just a political crisis, but a humanitarian crisis.

Isaiah shows how a society can lose the power to care for its neighbours when fear and self-interest dominate over concern for others. Under collective pressure and frustration, people easily vent their anger, look for scapegoats, and lose sensitivity towards others. As a result, social relations slowly change from a space of mutual care to a space of battle. It is at this point that Isaiah's message becomes very relevant: the destruction of a nation does not always start from an external enemy attack, but often from the hearts of people who have lost love, trust, and the ability to see their neighbours as human beings.

Friends of the Bible, in a world that is increasingly prone to anger and prejudice, God's word invites us to maintain a tender heart. Faith is not only about personal life, but also about preserving humanity in the midst of a world that is slowly losing care. May God help us not to be swept up in a culture of judgement and attack, but to remain individuals who bring shade, justice, and love to others.