How we treat refugees and vulnerable foreigners is never far from the centre of God’s concern. In this series we go beyond the classic texts to delve deeper into the heart of God’s desire for how we treat those who come to us seeking safety, and for how we define who is ‘in’ and ‘out’ of our society.

Today we begin a new series, Refugees: God’s concern, which has been prepared by Justin Whelan.  Justin is education manager at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

The Bible, on the other hand, is full of forced displacement, refugees, slavery, and living under military occupation. Indeed, one of the unique features of the Bible is that it is largely history ‘from below’, rather than the history of the victors. 
The people of God knew full well what it is like to have to flee for safety, and to experience the yoke of oppression. 

And this is important when we approach the Bible as 21st Century Australians. This collection of books of history, poetry, prophecy, lamentation, encouragement, admonition and that whole new category called ‘gospel’ – these were largely written by and for people who understood what it means to be at the mercy of world events, and yet to trust in God in all things.  If we can read the Scriptures with this in mind, it opens up all sorts of fresh insights for us that can then indeed apply to our own, very different lives. Do we have eyes to see?

Question: Is there a time in your life when you have been unsafe, or in crisis, or turned
upside by events beyond your control? How does that experience inform your understanding of the Bible? How might people forced to become refugees experience the Bible differently to us?

Prayer:  Holy God, we give thanks for your steadfast love through our times of crisis and despair. Help us to use these experiences to find fresh insights as we read the Scriptures and encounter your Word. Amen.

We are reading the Bible with Justin Whelan  until 16 June.