Sometimes men use different words to get people to react differently towards others. God and Jesus His Son used all of these terms and responded to them the same way. God and Jesus said LOVE THEM, TREAT THEM GOOD BECAUSE GOD LOVES THEM. When God brought His people out of Egypt He taught them to treat others the way they wanted to be treated no matter how they were treated. God gave many examples of blessings if they followed His ways and God gave many examples of consequences if they failed to follow God’s way. God’s people did fail from time to time and God sent His prophets to warn them but when they would not turn and listen they did suffer the consequences. God’s people were sent to foreign lands because of the way they were treating the foreigners among them. God’s people were sent to live as foreigners, aliens, and slaves in other countries because of the way they treated those who were foreigners, aliens, strangers, and the poor among them . God’s consequences are just and fit the crime. God’s blessings are great even when we fall short because God is always ready to forgive if only we see our sin and turn away from it God will restore. Are we listening? Will we listen before it is too late?
Leviticus 19:33-34 And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 10:16-19 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. 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.
Most all of our ancestors came to this land 250 years ago for freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It was not their land! They were strangers, aliens here. I would guess they looked pretty strange to the people of this land when they came here. God told His people never to return to Egypt. That not only meant the land of Egypt but the mind set and the ways of Egypt. Are we listening? Will we listen? Love your neighbor, love your enemies, take care of the orphans, widows, and the poor. It is amazing in keeping God’s commands, God’s ways the blessings that can come. Helping others, other countries in their time of need helps our own country. We are not an island. We are all connected by a plane ride, boat ride, car ride, and a walk away from one another. We are all neighbors! GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY IN LOVE OR IN JUSTICE. GOD SEES OUR HEARTS OUR MINDS NOT OUR SKIN. Are we listening?
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