Exodus 22: 21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Exodus 23: 9 “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.”
First, I noticed that very closely together, it was commanded that foreigners not be oppressed. So often, foreigners in any modern nation are reviled by the current native population. We should have mercy upon immigrants.
Expositors Bible Commenttary says:
21-27 These verses treat various forms of oppression against the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the alien. Since these have few or no natural protectors, they are to be shielded in their vulnerable estate. Both the sojourner or resident alien and the widows and orphans are to be protected (see 23:11; Lev 19:9-10; Dt 14:21; et al.).
A basic word study seems to under-gird my proposition:
H4175 כָּשַׁף kāšap, v.den. [6] [→ 439, 4176, 4177]. [P] to engage in witchcraft, be a sorcerer:– sorcerers (3), engages in witchcraft (1), sorceress (1), sought omens (1)
(NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary)
We are to treat immigrants with concern and make sure they are taken care of.
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In the NT, Jesus gives us the clearest sign of the end of the age:
Matthew 24: 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Perhaps this is one of the reasons we are commanded to take the gospel to the world, to help usher in the age to come!
Maranatha!
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Prayer for today:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please be with those who have been recently attacked in Somalia and Kenya by Al- Shabaab, and those in danger of being attacked by those who hate Christ. Please change the hearts of those who would inflict violence upon Your children. By the power of the Holy Spirit we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.