A Bible Study on God's Heart for the Alien and Stranger that I recently led

[John Becker]

A Biblical Look at Diaspora People

 Greek word: A scattering, dispersion (e.g. Acts 8:1).

How are these words associated with God and his people?

Refugee, Stranger, Alien, Marginalized, Minority

God’s grand design:

Acts 17: 26 “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

 

 

God’s heart for the Alien and Stranger:

 

Psalms 146:9 “The LORD protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow, But He thwarts the way of the wicked.”

He wants his people to reflect his heart for the Alien and Stranger:

In Identifying with them -

Exodus 23:9 "You shall not oppress a stranger, since you yourselves know the feelings of a stranger, for you also were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

Deuteronomy 10:18 "He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.  So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”

 

In meeting their needs through kindness, compassion -

Leviticus 23:22  ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’"

 

He will judge those who fail to act with justice and compassion to the Alien and Stranger:

Deuteronomy 27:19  ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

 

Malachi 3:5  "Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts.”

 

In the identity of Jesus and his followers:

 Jesus’ self identity-

Jesus left heaven and incarnated himself with an everlasting human body (Phil 2:5-11).

Jesus own journey in childhood as an asylum seeker (Mt 2:1-19).

Jesus chooses to be homeless and personified as the stranger in need (Mt 8:20; Matthew 25:31-46).

 

The make-up and identity of his people-

He builds the church with the Diaspora (Act 2).

 

He calls us to be aliens and strangers in this world (Mtt 28:18f; Heb 11, 1 Peter 2:9-11).

[Gary Casady]

John, Thanks for this great study.  I was just getting ready to shut down for the night after reading Romans 12:1-2 and realizing how easily we get pulled into conformity with the world, mostly because we are busy and inattentive.  We need to remember all the time that we are ambassadors of another Kingdom, citizens of another nation, a people for God's own possession.  Thanks for this reminder.