The character of God is evident throughout the Old Testament, with some aspects repeating over and over again. One thing easily picked up, particularly in God’s directions for the Israelites, is an emphasis on active care for four groups of people: widows, orphans, the poor, and foreigners/sojourners.
Though there are a variety of reasons why a foreigner might be in a particular place, it seems fair to say that the modern-day label of refugee fits cleanly within the biblical group labeled as foreigners or sojourners. They have traveled to a new place that doesn’t feel like home, they stand out as different, and life tends to be full of struggles, at least for a time.
Looking over the following verses selected to highlight Old Testament references to these special groups of people, what stands out to you? How does this apply to the church today?
Leviticus 19:33-34 (NIV) – When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 (NIV) – [The LORD] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 (NLT) – At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work.
Psalm 146:9 (NIV) – The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Ezekiel 47:21-22 (NIV) – You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.
Zechariah 7:9-10 (NIV) – This is what the Lord Almighty said: “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.”
Stay tuned for a post with New Testament highlights, as well as another with some more personal highlights from this busy summer season.
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