How can we apply Deuteronomy 23:15 to modern issues of asylum and refuge? Setting the Text in View “Do not return a slave to his master if he has taken refuge with you.” — Deuteronomy 23:15 Original Backdrop • Israel was surrounded by nations where run-away slaves were summarily punished or killed. • God commanded Israel to break with that pattern, sheltering an escaped slave rather than repatriating him. • The command protected one fleeing abuse and affirmed that every person bears God’s image, not just the free and powerful. Timeless Principles Carried Forward • Human dignity outweighs property claims or political convenience. • Compassion must be shown at personal cost. • Refuge is not merely passive safety; it involves active non-surrender to the oppressor. • The authority to provide asylum ultimately rests in God, who delivered Israel from bondage (Exodus 20:2). Scripture Echoes that Reinforce the Theme • Leviticus 19:34: “The foreigner living among you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself…” • Numbers 35:11: “You are to designate a city to serve as a city of refuge.” • Matthew 25:35: “I was a stranger and you took Me in.” • Proverbs 31:8-9: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…” Applying the Verse to Modern Asylum and Refuge 1. Recognize legitimate flight from persecution. – Political or religious dissidents, victims of trafficking, minorities hunted for their faith mirror the “escaped slave.” 2. Refuse complicity in oppression. – Handing over such persons to regimes that will imprison or torture them violates the spirit of Deuteronomy 23:15. 3. Practice tangible welcome. – Housing, food, legal counsel, friendship, language classes—modern parallels to “let him live among you” (v. 16). 4. Balance compassion with order. – Romans 13:1 upholds government authority; wise policy can vet threats while still honoring the mandate to protect the persecuted. 5. Mobilize the local church. – Congregations can sponsor refugee families, partner with resettlement ministries, and advocate biblically for just asylum processes. Guardrails for Discernment • Distinguish between genuine persecution and criminal evasion; governments bear the sword against wrongdoing (Romans 13:4). • Do not neglect care for one’s own household while serving newcomers (1 Timothy 5:8). • Maintain a gospel witness—meeting temporal needs while offering eternal hope in Christ. Practical Steps for Believers and Churches • Educate: Host a study on biblical hospitality; teach the congregation the refugee narratives of Scripture. • Support: Donate to trusted Christian refugee agencies; volunteer as airport greeters or ESL tutors. • Advocate: Write respectful letters to officials urging fair, humane asylum procedures that protect the persecuted. • Integrate: Invite refugees to meals, worship services, and community events, reflecting Ephesians 2:19—“you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens.” Living the Mandate Today By refusing to “return the slave,” God’s people model His heart for the oppressed. In every era, including ours of complex migration crises, the command calls believers to courageous compassion—defending the vulnerable, honoring just authority, and extending Christ’s welcome to those who seek refuge among us. |
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