ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Pulelulu Me 3, 2023

Resident Aliens in Israel   גר 

KO E KAU NOFO MULI ‘I ‘ISILELI

NUMBERS 15:14

"AND IF A STRANGER IS SOJOURNING WITH YOU, OR ANYONE IS LIVING PERMANENTLY AMONG YOU, AND HE WISHES TO OFFER A FOOD OFFERING, WITH A PLEASING AROMA TO THE LORD, HE SHALL DO AS YOU DO."

NOMIPA 15:14

Pea ka ‘oku ‘āunofo kiate kimoutolu ha muli, pe ko hai ‘oku ‘i homou lotolotonga ‘o laui to‘utangata, pea ka ‘oku ne pehē ke feia ha feilaulau tutu mo‘o ngangatu fakahōifua kia Sihova; hangē ko ho‘omou fai, ‘e pehē ‘ene fai.

Never forget who you once were. That dictum defined how Israelites were to treat a ger ("resident alien"). God told them, "You shall not oppress a ger. You know the heart of a ger, for you were gerim in the land of Egypt" (Exod. 23:9). Like refugees today, a ger left land, home, and property to seek refuge in a foreign country. Though not given full citizenship in Israel, they were protected and - if they maintained ritual purity - even allowed to participate in the Passover (Exod. 12:47-48) and other sacrifices (Num. 15:14). Israel was proactively to incorporate Gentiles into Yahweh's ways and worship.

God desired foreigners to join themselves to him, minister to him, and offer sacrifices on his altar. Why? Because, he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isa. 56:7). Jesus quoted these words when he drove the money changers out of the temple (Matt. 21:13). By so doing, he was announcing the death of the old temple and the birth of the new, for the Messiah is the new temple and new Israel, where believing Jews and Gentiles alike have full citizenship.

"O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells" (Ps. 26:8).