Treating the Foreigner

https://odb.org/MY/2023/02/03/we-are-strangers

In Leviticus 19:34, the LORD commanded the Israelites to treat the foreigner like a native born. They are to love them as themselves as they themselves were foreigners in Egypt. In verse 36, the LORD reiterated that He is the LORD, their God who brought them out of Egypt.

In Deuteronomy 24:19, the law was that when they harvested the fields, they should leave something behind for the widows, orphans, and foreigner. That was a command from the LORD that they remember that they were once slaves in Egypt. This is the origin of the rule in Leviticus 19:34, and as we can see, it covers not only foreigners but is broader, covering orphans and widows in their midst. Basically, people who are disadvantaged at that time as they didn’t have a land of their own. The background to that is that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land, every family was given a plot of land to cultivate as it was a land flowing with milk and honey. It is likely that inheritance laws were such that the land stayed within the larger family, and over time, those who were orphaned and widowed were left out. The widows and the orphans may have lost their title to the land, but the law ensured that they may still glean, and it was mandatory that there must be leftovers for them to harvest and live on.

In issuing these laws, note that God reminded the Israelites that they were once slaves and foreigners in Egypt. As they are living comfortably now in the Promised Land, they must be grateful and thankful and thus be generous. Note too that although they are to leave behind something for the widows, orphans, and foreigners to harvest, those people were never involved in the cultivation of the harvest and the rule is that a labourer is also entitled to his wages. But in the plenty, there must be gratitude and generosity. They must always remember Egypt and that the LORD is the LORD their God.

The lesson today, I believe, is that as much as we are entitled to all that we earn as the just and rightful reward for our sweat and toil, we must remember the times when we were just starting out and struggling to make ends meet. The times when we couldn’t afford a car or have a property to our name or had little money in our bank account. As we have progressed in life, the Lord is not saying that we are not entitled to the fruits of our labour, but we must be kind and generous to others who may need our help. Give when we see a need. Be like the Israelites; leave some behind for the widows, orphans, and foreigners. In our case, give some to the needy and the oppressed. The little we give will go a long way in their lives as well to the heart of God.