Compassion Without Borders
Embracing the Stranger
"You are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt." — Deuteronomy 10:19
Today's Scripture
Deuteronomy 10:14-19
Today's Insights
In Deuteronomy 10, God instructs Moses to recreate the stone tablets of the law, replacing those broken during the people's earlier apostasy. This moment represents a profound covenant renewal, calling Israel to a holistic obedience that encompasses fear, love, and service to God. Moses emphasizes that loving God is intrinsically linked to loving others, particularly those who are vulnerable or different. This principle finds its ultimate expression in Jesus' teaching that love for God and love for neighbor are the greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).
Today's Devotional
During the dark years of Nazi occupation, the people of Le Chambon, France, emerged as a beacon of hope and heroism. Their community risked everything to save approximately five thousand individuals, many of them Jewish children, by hiding refugees in their homes and farms. Pastor André Trocmé inspired his congregation by directly referencing Deuteronomy 10:19, calling them to love those who were foreigners—just as they themselves had once been strangers.
The biblical passage begins by reminding us that the entire earth belongs to God—the "mighty and awesome" one who chose to love the Israelites despite their unworthiness. God's heart extends special care to those in vulnerable positions, including foreigners outside the traditional community. As the Israelites settled in their new homeland, they were commanded to mirror God's compassionate nature, showing kindness to strangers by remembering their own experiences of displacement.
In our contemporary context, this divine principle translates to everyday opportunities for compassion. Whether you've been at the same job for years or lived in the same community for a long time, God provides moments to extend kindness to those who feel like outsiders. This might mean offering helpful advice to a new coworker, assisting a recently relocated family, or simply making someone feel welcome in an unfamiliar environment.
Prophetic Significance
The biblical mandate to love foreigners carries profound prophetic implications for the end times. As global displacement increases and cultural divisions deepen, the church is called to embody a kingdom perspective that transcends human-made boundaries. This radical hospitality serves as a prophetic witness to God's ultimate plan of reconciliation and unity.
Scripture prophetically points to a future where nations and peoples will be restored and gathered, where the stranger becomes family (Isaiah 49:6, Revelation 7:9-10). The compassion demonstrated in passages like Deuteronomy 10 foreshadows the inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan—a plan that breaks down walls of separation and creates a new humanity united in Christ.
Moreover, the command to love foreigners becomes a prophetic sign of the coming kingdom, where divine love overcomes fear, prejudice, and cultural barriers. As global tensions increase, the church's capacity to welcome and love those who are different becomes a powerful manifestation of God's transformative grace—a preview of the ultimate restoration promised in Scripture.
Reflect & Pray
When did someone show you kindness recently? How might you care for someone else?
Heavenly Father, please help me to extend Your love and care to others.