How does Deuteronomy 23:7 guide us in treating foreigners and former enemies? Setting and Context • Moses addresses Israel as they prepare to settle in Canaan. • Surrounding nations included Edom (descendants of Esau) and Egypt (former oppressors). • God inserts a surprising command to temper nationalistic pride and personal bitterness. The Command Itself “Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you were a resident alien in his land.” (Deuteronomy 23:7) Key Observations • “Do not despise” ― an inner heart attitude, not merely external politeness. • Two different groups, one a blood relative (Edom), the other a former enemy (Egypt). • The motivation differs: – Edom: shared ancestry (“your brother”). – Egypt: shared experience of sojourning (“you were a resident alien”). • God roots ethical treatment in history and covenant, not in changing feelings. Reasons Behind the Command 1. Family connection with Edom reminds Israel that kinship transcends past grievances (Genesis 25:24–26; 33:1–4). 2. Egypt’s hospitality, though mixed with later oppression, still provided survival during famine (Genesis 47). Gratitude must outlive resentment. 3. God models consistent mercy: “The LORD, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger…” (Exodus 34:6). Timeless Principles • Shared humanity outweighs historic hostility. • Remember your own outsider status before treating another as outsider (Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34). • Gratitude is a spiritual discipline; it keeps bitterness from taking root. • National security and cultural identity matter (vv. 1-6, 8) yet never justify contempt. New Testament Echoes • Jesus widens the same ethic: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). • The Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25-37) personalizes love across ethnic lines. • Christ “has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). Practical Application Today • Examine speech: Are jokes, social media posts, or casual comments despising any group? • Replace despising with deliberate acts of goodwill—hospitality, advocacy, fair hiring. • Teach children the family stories: where God used unlikely people—even adversaries—for our good. • Pray for the flourishing of nations that once harmed yours; this reflects trust in God’s justice. • Support ministries that serve refugees and immigrants, embodying the remembrance of being “resident aliens.” Summing Up Deuteronomy 23:7 calls us to treat foreigners and former enemies with dignity anchored in shared origin and shared experience. The verse pulls Israel—and us—away from contempt and toward humble, grateful, proactive love. |
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