Immigration 4

So far we have examined the matter of immigration during the age of the patriarchs from the perspective of God's people, noted the impact of being aliens on God's people, and briefly inspected the experience of Anabaptists as aliens in practically every setting they have ever found themselves in.

Let's focus now on the reality that aliens were an expected, normal part of Israelite culture.

At the institution of the Passover recognition, the Lord uttered these words to Moses (Ex. 12), "For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born."  The assumption is that aliens (non-Israelites) will be living amongst the Israelites.  The consequences of consuming foods containing yeast pertains to both the kin of Abram as well as those who are strangers.

This assumption is confirmed in Leviticus 24:22, "You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born."  Israelites will have aliens amongst them and if they are living as a part of the Israelite culture, are to be come under both the privileges and responsibilities of God's Law.

The Lord knew that aliens were going to be naturally vulnerable living within Israelite parameters.  He therefore set up guidelines to aid His people in relating to these folks.  Check out this three-verse stretch in Exodus 22: "Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed. Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan."

In between a very strong admonition for the Israelites to stay away from false gods and a command to not abuse widows and orphans, the Lord instructs the Israelites to avoid mistreating aliens amongst them.  Why?  Because the Israelites themselves were once aliens themselves and were oppressed and enslaved by a tyrannical people.  The Lord is making it clear that such behavior is not in keeping with the ways of righteousness and His people are to behave differently. 

This command is so important to God that it is repeated in the very next chapter, "Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt" (Ex. 23:9).  For good measure, take to heart the words of Deuteronomy 24:17-18.  Notice how the words of the OT often place widows, orphans, and aliens together.  "Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this."

Not only are God's people to avoid mistreating aliens, they are also to make special provisions for their well-being and are to love them.  Such behavior leads to blessings from the Lord. 

•   Lev. 19:10, 33-34 -  "Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God."  "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
• Dt. 10:18-19 - "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt."
• Dt. 14:28-29 - "At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands."

The OT message in regard to aliens is clear.  They will be a normal part of life.  They are to be treated with dignity.  God's people are to make sure aliens have what they need to live on.  They are even to be loved because God loves them.  And all of this because God's people knew full well what it was like to be oppressed aliens at the mercy of a mighty and rich people.

But that is not the only reason...