Our Sabbath School lesson this week takes up the topic of the “stranger in our gates”, and I think it’s very important to know all we can from God’s word about this, considering how much immigration is such a concern in our world today.
How does God expect us to treat people who come to our country, hoping for a new life and opportunities? In many cases, these people are desperate and forced to leave their home country due to economic hardship and/or violence of some kind. For most of them, it’s a matter of survival, and we can barely comprehend the sacrifice they must endure to put themselves on such a dangerous journey to another country, far from loved ones left behind.
But there are only so many resources available to help these immigrants. Many, but not all of them, can eventually become productive citizens and give back to their new country. But, there remains a considerable amount of help to be given in the interim period till they are settled among us.
Today, almost all developed nations of the world are seeing a frightful increase in foreigners, fleeing one thing or another and finally reaching their borders. Bible prophecy points to times getting harder and harder, as we near the Second Coming of Christ. Wars, famines, and natural disasters lead to economic hardship, and unfortunately, many deaths. Leaving their home country is often their last hope for a life of any kind.
The Bible is clear, and Deuteronomy in particular, that we should treat foreigners always with compassion and the same humane treatment we would expect for our own family members. Politicians and world leaders, of course, have different ideas about how to accomplish this seemingly impossible task of dealing with foreigners. But as Christians, I think our stand should clearly be for unselfish, benevolent care, as much as feasibly possible, in the countries receiving these battle-worn immigrants.
Let’s be wary of being fearful of strangers in our gates or at our gates. This fear often leads to harmful policies against foreigners, motivated by hatred and selfish attitudes that impact and degrade our own lives, as well as the lives of those we have been told to respect and care for.
“He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:18, 19 NKJV
Here’s my summary and commentary of this week’s lesson from our quarterly, titled “Present Truth in Deuteronomy”…
https://outlookmag.org/the-teachers-notes-the-stranger-in-your-gates-lesson-5/
