Sojourner

Author: Joseph

Date: December 2, 2018

As Israel traveled into the wilderness, they were accompanied by various peoples, even from the time of leaving Egypt (Exodus 12:38). They were insignificant in size, but they accompanied the Israelites along their journey. God recognized their following and also knew that Israel needed guidance in how to relate to these sojourners.

The Lord spoke to Moses and told him that if any sojourner wished to make a sacrifice to God – an act of worship and submission – then they had to perform the sacrifice in the same manner that Israel was instructed to perform. God was to be treated the same way by all people; no one was an exception.

God reinforces this idea not only for sacrifices, but for all His teachings and instructions. “As for the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the alien who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the alien be before the Lord” (Numbers 15:15). This command from God was an everlasting command, a perpetual statue, that would be true forever.

When an outsider comes alongside God’s people and wants to serve Him and follow Him, they must be held to the same standard as those who are already followers of God. What standard should this be? The standard should be God’s own words and what He instructs His people to live by.

Just as Moses heard from God and communicated His words to the people, so we now have the written words of God in the Bible to instruct us in how to live our lives and how to instruct others in how to live when they join our community.

The word of the Lord cannot be adjusted for anyone. Rather, it is the person that must adjust their living to conform to the truth of God’s teachings. Freedom is found in being led by God and putting away sinful – disobedient – ways of living. God’s instructions are also an act of loving mercy. He wants us to relate to Him and so has given us instructions in how to avoid sin and be in communion with Him.

God also gives us a dire warning, “But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him” (Numbers 15:30-31).

In your community, do people eagerly look to the word of God for how to live out their lives? Do outsiders who come into your community get instructed in how to obey God and come into agreement with God’s standard of living?

God holds the outsider to the same standard as His people. Eagerly seek to follow God and live your life according to the wisdom of His words. Then, help the outsider to do the same, because God, no matter who you are, is still the Lord of all creation.

Bible Passage: Numbers 15:14-31

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org