Today, we’re tackling another hot topic – we’re talking about what a Biblical perspective would look like on the topic of immigration. Hopefully, the position you take on this issue rests more in what God’s Word says than the platform of the political party you’re affiliated with. This is one of those issues that can get messy really fast because it involves real people and real issues that affect many of us.
We’re going to be looking at quite a few scriptures from the Old Testament and the commands God gave the Israelites regarding the treatment of foreigners. We do want to recognize that the nation of Israel was a Theocracy and then eventually a monarchy. The U.S. is a Democratic Republic so you can argue that the application of these principles might be different. Truth is truth, though. I think we also need to recognize that sometimes individual response is different than corporate or national response. Forgiveness, turning the other cheek, etc. are something we are called to do as individuals – but what does that look like in terms of nations? Are the requirements exactly the same?
Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.
- We all know that not having self control is a bad thing. It leaves us vulnerable to attack. This is a very negative thing for a city to not have walls or to have walls that are broken down and ineffective. I’m not saying this is a direct correlation to building a wall on our borders, but the principle of being able to offer protection is certainly there.
- When Israelite Kings had victories they often re-established outposts that had been lost to enemies. These outposts were important in the safety of the nation. These are always seen as positive things for the nation of Israel. They could slow down enemy attack. They could serve as an observation point to let warn Israel’s citizens of impending attack.
Nehemiah 2:11-15 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding. 13 After dark I went out through the Valley Gate, past the Jackal’s Well,[d] and over to the Dung Gate to inspect the broken walls and burned gates. 14 Then I went to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey couldn’t get through the rubble. 15 So, though it was still dark, I went up the Kidron Valley[e] instead, inspecting the wall before I turned back and entered again at the Valley Gate.
Nehemiah 2:16-18 The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. 17 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king.
- Nehemiah is back in Jerusalem for only three days before he inspects the wall. It was of utmost importance to him to rebuild and repair the wall. The repairing of the wall didn’t eliminate all foreigners from coming into Jerusalem, but it did provide protection. It allowed the incoming and outgoing of both Jews and foreigners to be regulated.
- We see the completion of the wall as something that is celebrated. You see no mixed feelings on the part of Nehemiah or the Israelites involved in the repair. I looked at dozens and dozens of references in scripture pertaining to walls or borders and could not find a single one that had a negative connotation or was condemned as sinful. I may have missed one, but I think you’ll find it hard to find one that is negative.
- This didn’t mean Nehemiah lacked compassion – Nehemiah 5 – Nehemiah defends the oppressed, put a stop to charging interest, didn’t take his food allowance, – He was a man of integrity who cared for the less fortunate and put his money where his mouth was. It was his right to take a food allowance, but he refused to do that while others were going hungry. We’re going to talk more about that before we wrap up the podcast as we discuss what we should do as individuals.
Numbers 9:14 A foreigner residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”
- The foreigners in the land were required to observe the same regulations that the Israelites were to observe. In our application, I believe this means that anyone wishing to immigrate to the United States is required to observe the laws and statutes, including the laws governing legal immigration into the country.
Philippians 3:20 (NLT) 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
