Israel immigrated to Egypt; they received hospitality, food, and were given work; they thrived there for centuries before the arrival of an unknowing pharaoh (Exodus 1: 8). There are many stories of people migrations throughout ancient and Biblical history. They were either fleeing violence or food shortages in search of something better for themselves and especially their families. Jesus’ family immigrated to Egypt to escape the violence of Herod and were refugees there. Jesus descended from a Moabite immigrant (Matthew 1:5); her name was Ruth. She received hospitality and food from Boaz and was protected by him from exploitation and likely rape as she worked in the fields (Ruth 2:9, 22). The hospitality that Israel received became a command of hospitality for all succeeding generations of God’s kingdom citizens.
“When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34 (NASB)
