Diaspora: People on the Move, God at WorkSample

Lesson 6 - God’s Protection for the Sojourner

How should we treat sojourners, people from other places temporarily living among us? God says we should remember when Israel was a nation of sojourners. Israel's responsibility towards sojourners is grounded in their history of being welcomed and loved by God during their time of wandering. As beneficiaries of divine grace, Israel is called to extend empathy to the sojourner, mirroring the same welcoming and loving spirit they received from God. In this interconnected relationship, just as God compassionately guided Israel through their journey, they are to exhibit similar care and love towards the sojourners among them.

Scripture clearly outlines this principle:

• Exodus 22:21 and Exodus 23:9: The command not to wrong or oppress sojourners is grounded in Israel's experience as sojourners in Egypt.
• Leviticus 19:33-34: Israel is directed to treat sojourners as native born, emphasizing love and compassion due to their shared experience of being strangers in Egypt.
• Deuteronomy 10:19: The call to love the sojourner is underlined by the reminder that Israel was once a sojourner in Egypt.

This principle of treating sojourners is not confined to the Old Testament era; it also transcends into the New Testament. Christ's example is a cornerstone, urging believers to extend hospitality and love just as Jesus welcomed them. Hebrews 13:2 echoes this sentiment, reinforcing the importance of showing hospitality to sojourners.

Furthermore, this concept isn't merely a good deed but a mandate engrained in the fabric of Israel's laws:

• Exodus 12:49: The same law applies to both natives and strangers.
• Leviticus 19:33-34: Sojourners are to be treated as native-born and loved as oneself.
• Zechariah 7:9-10: Justice, kindness, mercy, and care for the widow, fatherless, and sojourner are interwoven divine expectations.

This call to treat sojourners justly and lovingly is not a mere suggestion but a foundational principle interwoven into the very essence of God's people. The message reverberates through centuries, reminding believers that their journey as sojourners in a fallen world binds them to extend grace, compassion, and hospitality, mirroring the divine love they have experienced. Through the pages of Scripture, the tapestry of God's love for His people and their response to that love unfolds, urging us to continue this legacy of hospitality and care for the vulnerable, thereby reflecting the heart of our Creator.

Kurds are one of the largest ‘stateless’ people groups today. They are sojourners. The Kurds have attempted to form an autonomous state multiple times, but the region’s governments have opposed those actions. The Kurds have been marginalized, abused, neglected, and pressured to assimilate into their host country’s culture. This abuse and turmoil have prompted many Kurds to resettle in North America. Take a moment to pray for the 15-20,000 Kurds of Nashville, TN.

The final questions for us to consider today are: Who, How, and When?

• Who today best represents the sojourner that the Bible talks about?
• How should we respond to the sojourner?
• What did the sojourner do to receive compassion, love, and provision?