Foreigners

S: Deuteronomy 15

At the end of every seven years, you shall cancel debts. ² This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbour. He shall not require payment from his neighbour and his brother, because Yahweh’s release has been proclaimed. ³ Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release. 

O: Verse 3 struck me, because I remember many passages, even in the Pentateuch itself, that says things like “you must have the same law for the native as the foreigner.” Exodus 12:49; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:15–16 say pretty much that, in slightly different words.

Many people, Christians included, want to have a different law for the local and for the foreigner. Many people, Christians included, are anti-immigrant, and anti-“illegal”-immigrant, even if the immigrant has lived and worked peacefully here for years – and sometimes, generations, e.g. the Bajau Laut – whether “legally” or “illegally.”

This is the case both here in Malaysia and in USA and Europe. In Europe and USA, especially, there’s a lot of Islamophobia and White Supremacist attitudes, sometimes disguised as “well, they’re ‘illegal’” but the difference between “legal” and “illegal” is often a matter of differences in opportunity – no “illegal immigrant” wants to be illegal and would be legal if they were given the opportunity. Here in Malaysia, a lot of “illegal foreign workers” actually came legally but were played out by unscrupulous employers and agents aided and abetted by a corrupt system.

The fact is that there are 2 different Hebrew words that are translated “foreigner”– נָכְרִי nokri, and גֵּר ger. The word used in Deuteronomy 15:3 is nokri, while the word used in the other passages I refer to above is ger. So the Bible is not contradicting itself: equal law is commanded for the ger (resident foreigner), while certain covenant-family economic protections did not extend to the nokri (who are just passing through).

And lest one argues that the ger are only those who convert or assimilate, that’s clearly not true for Deuteronomy 10:19, which says, “Therefore love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” uses ger. The Israelites had a different religion and race than the Egyptians, yet they were gerim. (Plural of ger.)

We ethnic Chinese are gerim in Malaysia – we decry the Bumiputera discrimination against us, yet the foreign worker also is ger and we don’t stand up for their rights. We are gerim, but treat foreign workers like nokrim though they live here for years to earn an honest living. In fact, we treat tourists better, when those rich people are actually nokrim.

I also see Malaysian Chinese Christians spread Islamophobic videos from UK decrying Muslim immigrants “taking over” London. People justify it by saying, “Look what the Taliban did” or “Look what the terrorists did” but the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful. And the fact that some Muslim-majority governments persecute Christians never licenses Christians to return evil for evil. Jesus commands love for neighbour and even for enemies. Our conduct must display His holiness and mercy, not the world’s fear and revenge. How can we show the love of Christ to an unbelieving world if we spread such hateful propaganda?

A: Let us check our own attitudes. Let us not spread hatred for foreigners. Jesus calls us to love everyone, of every race, of every national origin. We are to treat everyone well. We are not to oppress.

Greet the foreign worker with a friendly smile. Treat people of other races as what they indeed are – human beings created in the image of God.

Let us never speak in a racist manner. Let us eschew whatever-phobia. We are to be salt and light to everyone. That is our primary mission as disciples of Jesus. If our actions are not being ambassadors for Christ, we must repent – which means to turn around and go the other way.

P: Father, I am not perfect either in being Your ambassador and showing Your love to everyone. Help me, and help me to encourage other believers to be Your salt and light and a conduit for Your love. Give me courage to confront lies with grace, and wisdom to advocate justly for the foreigner and other oppressed. In Jesus’ name, amen.