Exodus 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
The law of kindness is all pervasive as it is dispensed by God to everyone and it includes all members of the human family, whether or not they are believers in God.
Therefore, in harmony with the decalogue, Jesus always made provisions for the strangers who lived amongst His people, so that they would be treated with respect, courtesy, and kindness.
God deals kindly with all people, whether they are Christians or of other persuasions because there are some fundamental mercies that pertain to everyone wherever and whoever they might be. For instance, He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just, and the unjust.
It is true that by a wrong course of action persons or nations can bring upon themselves natural curses as a result of deliberate sins, but it is very rare, if ever, that God would entirely deny food and drink to any person or nation.
Even in times of great apostasy, such as took place when Ahab and Jezebel ruled, the land was never entirely devoid of water for then, the entire nation would have perished.
Yes, it is true that Elijah was sent to prophesy that there would be no rain for a period of three and a half years, but there was still some water and food to be found. Let’s read:
1st Kings 18: 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
1st Kings 17: 2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
Again, during the times of the Antediluvians, God provided food and drink for the rebellious, up until the very day of the flood, for as was stated before, there are some basic fundamental mercies that God dispenses to all of humanity, including the stranger within thy gates.
This will also be manifested when the seven plagues of Revelation 16 are being poured out. They will not be universal in nature, for then all the inhabitants of earth would be destroyed. Let’s read:
[The Great Controversy pp 628] These plagues are not universal, or the inhabitants of the earth would be wholly cut off.
Just because Cain turned his back on God, it did not mean that he and his offspring would be deprived of the essentials for daily living. Yes, it is true that the natural consequences of his choices and actions will produce a natural curse as time went by, but Cain would have access to food and drink.
God does not starve sinners into submission as the devil would attempt to do in Revelation, chapter 13. Instead, The Lord gives to persons a lot of grace and mercy, even where sin abounds.
Thus, God sets the gold standard for the treatment of the strangers within our gates, and it is of critical importance for us Christians to reflect the goodness and character of God, for His character is magnified or reproached by what the professed Christian does or does not do. Let’s read:
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.
12 I have declared, I have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore, ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
Thus, The Lord caused instructions to be written in His word, for the treatment of strangers, foreigners and those persons who had come to live within the borders of the Hebrews. The instructions were not meant for the Hebrews only, for they represent a gold standard for all to follow. Let’s read:
Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourns among you.
Exodus 23: 9 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for you know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 19: 33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, you shall not vex him.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19: 9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.
10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
In other words, deliberate provision was to be made for the stranger, from the bounties God had blessed His people with. That same counsel is still alive, and well today, for whenever the Christian gets paid, he should not only think of returning tithes alone, with the rest of his salary being entirely devoted to bills.
The Christian should set aside something from his or her paycheck for the less fortunate the poor and the stranger. It’s not a mere suggestion; it’s a moral duty enjoined upon all who name the name of Christ.
These sums should not be given based on feelings, and emotion, which tend to fluctuate with the high cost of living, and tariffs.
A percentage of whatsoever is our increase should be laid aside for benevolent purposes, and should be a deliberate and well thought out pledge that is made for the advancement of God’s kingdom upon the earth, as it pertains to the exercise of kindness.
In other words, we should never entirely glean our fields, nor gather every grape for our own personal use. There is no support for that mode of thought and action in the Scriptures.
That’s what Boaz did, when Ruth the stranger came by looking for food and grain for Naomi and herself. Boaz did not leave it up to chance or feeling, neither did he inquire up front about where she was born.
All he asked was whose damsel is this, and when he learned that she was an immigrant who had come in with Naomi, it was enough to trigger the humanity in Boaz, since she needed food and drink.
Those basic needs touched a corresponding chord in the heart of Boaz, because the Christian must never be blind, or tone deaf to the plight, and suffering of his fellowmen, whoever they may be and thus, Boaz was deliberate in his instructions to the reapers. Let’s read:
Ruth 2: 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hear thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.
9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou are thirsty, go to the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.
10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?
11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knew not heretofore.
12 The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Furthermore, the stranger or foreigner was not to be excluded from the religious services, once he or she had fulfilled the prerequisites given by God. In fact, the 4th commandment pertaining to Sabbath worship, also includes the stranger that is within thy gates, from which the title of the study is lifted. Let’s read:
Isaiah 56: 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Several passages in the Bible echo these truths and they are written so that people, the world over will follow God’s lead. In fact, true religion is defined in large part by the way kindness and benevolence are dispensed toward everyone, regardless of creed and race, or cultural backgrounds.
Thus, the following truths, which are lifted directly from the Scriptures are to inform our understanding and practice as we seek to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Pay close attention to His universal approach to benevolence and kindness, for it pertains to all people.
[1] The basic essentials such as food, clothing, and shelter are provided, and intended for all of God’s creation even for those who don’t acknowledge Him as God, even for individuals who may be His sworn enemies. Let’s Read:
Psalms 104: 10 He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
14 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart.
23 Man goes forth unto his work and to his labor until the evening.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
Matthew 5: 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Psalms 68: 18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
[2] The value of the human soul is based upon the price paid for our redemption, and therefore, in our treatment of strangers and foreigners, Christians are to consider that Jesus died for them. They are not things, they are people. Let’s read:
John 12: 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Romans 5: 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[15 LTMS LT 27, par 7] The value of one human soul is more than the value of the whole world.
[3] One Race is not of more value in the sight of God than another. This particular error God corrected at the time He gave Peter the vision of unclean beasts.
At the foot of the cross, all human beings stand on a level playing field. Let’s read:
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Acts 17: 24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.
Acts 10: 9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
This leads us to the story of the good Samaritan, by which Jesus sought to set the record straight on the compassion that is to be exercised towards every person, regardless of race, creed, culture, or their country of origin.
The great lessons Jesus then taught are particularly pertinent, and applicable in our day, where there seems to be an increasingly warped perspective on the value of human life.
Every person on the planet belongs to God, and any unwarranted ill treatment of anyone is an affront to God who created them, and died to redeem all.
The man in the narrative had fallen amongst thieves and he, being severely beaten and bruised, it was the moral duty of any other human being passing that way, to stop and render unconditional help.
It just seems as if the humanity has gone out of the hearts of many in our day, hence the reason why it’s necessary to revisit the story, so that our views on what Christianity consists of could be informed, or otherwise corrected as the case may be. Let’s read:
Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, what is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
36 Which now of these three, do you think, was a neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
There are several questions the good Samaritan did not ask and we owe it to ourselves to take note.
[1] He did not ask the man which country he was born in, or what language he spoke.
[2] He did not ask what religion he belonged to.
[3] He did not ask whether the man was a Sabbath keeper.
[4] He did not ask the man for payment for medical services, for helping the wounded was a moral duty even if it would cost.
It becomes obvious that we are in deep trouble, for some Christians in our day have become very far removed from the gold standard set forth in the Scriptures.
When Christ reproves the Laodicean church in the book of Revelation, chapter 3, He is speaking about persons who have adopted the Christian name, but whose works and actions are of such that The Lord neither recognizes, or endorses them.
Great changes in perspective, and practice are now warranted, for there is a callous view on human life that has come to be the norm in many places and in many countries. Starvation of the less unfortunate is used as a weapon, and the stranger within our gates is being brow beaten, to say the least.
God is now calling on those who name the name of Christ to consider your ways, for even though these things have been predicted to come to pass, God is not pleased with the deteriorating state of things.
And as our first passage stated, God will intervene in the fulness of time, for the time is coming when He will say thus far and no further. It is not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Let’s read:
Isaiah 59: 14 Judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.
Now is the time for the Christian to shine amidst the moral darkness that is now enveloping the earth like a pall. The glory of God’s character and the light that streams from Calvary are meant to dispel the clouds that are gathering on the horizon, even as we speak.
Therefore, let us in our neck of the woods be found living in harmony with the great moral law, for the Scripture that says “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you” is scheduled to be fulfilled in due season.
We therefore end with a passage that’ll encourage us to make changes in perspective and practice as is necessary for God will bless all sincere efforts aimed at reform and change, in the right direction. Let’s read:
James 3: 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
God Bless!