“This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia. O people of Tema, bring water to these thirsty people, food to these weary refugees. They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle. The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the Lord, the God of Israel, have spoken!””
Isaiah 21:13-17 NLT
We come to the third oracle that Isaiah wrote about in this, his 21st chapter. This time, the focus is on Arabia, and the references within our verses today contain some local knowledge, with references to Dedan, Tema and Kedar. Arabia was a wilderness territory between Judah to the north and Babylon to the south. The focus is on a group of refugees from a place called Dedan. In Isaiah’s prophecy, these caravanning merchants will be forced off the main roads into hiding among thickets to avoid being captured or killed. Isaiah calls on the people of a town called Tema to bring bread and water for these refugees who have been displaced, likely by the conflict between Assyria and Babylon. Isaiah concludes this chapter by warning that the glory of the people of the Kedar region will be taken away. The Kedar region refers to a powerful northern Arabian desert tribal group descended from Ishmael’s second son Kedar. Known as nomadic tent-dwellers and skilled archers, their wealth and military strength were prophesied to face near-total destruction within a single year. This will all happen because the Lord has deemed it to happen. So Isaiah 21 offers a snapshot that, at least superficially, holds some interest for us pilgrims, but there seems to be little in the way of devotional content that will help us in our own journeys. However, when we consider the human element of this cameo of Middle Eastern life, we can see similarities with world events currently unfolding today.
There have always been times when people of one region have been displaced to another. In our Western societies, we may move between regions, perhaps for employment opportunities, but most of us have never been forced to move because of famine or war. But such a necessity is with us today, in places in Africa such as Sudan. In the Bible, there is an account of a family from Bethlehem who went to live in Moab. Not far by modern standards, about 50-75 miles, but in those days it would have taken them about 7-10 days to walk it. And we read in Ruth 1:2 that, “The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there”. This was a family who had little choice other than to move because of famine.
There was another family flight, the time recorded in Matthew 2:13-14, “After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother”. This was another reason for being a refugee, because Herod was intent on eliminating Jesus, who he feared would challenge his cosy life as king of that part of Judah.
To consider refugees in the UK today, there is much discussion going on about the immigrants who reach our shores in small boats or in other ways. In the main, these are adult males, mostly from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, and Somalia. Without a doubt, these are deprived and fractious areas of the world, and to escape them is a priority for those who have been persecuted or disadvantaged by the local circumstances in these countries. But how should we Christians respond amid the political and antagonistic rhetoric currently dominating news reports? I suppose Christians should respond to immigration by balancing compassion for the vulnerable with respect for the law. Biblical teachings emphasise loving the stranger and recognising human dignity, while civic responsibilities involve supporting orderly governance. Because opinions among believers vary widely on specific public policies, the core mandate remains treating every person with kindness and justice
There is an interesting take on this in Leviticus 19:33-34, “And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God”. And then we have Zechariah 7:8-10, “Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other”.
So, having determined that foreigners (immigrants) are to be treated with kindness and compassion, the challenge for the authorities here in the UK is discerning who is genuinely in need and who is here for more nefarious purposes. And once here, we need to have in place the infrastructure and employment opportunities they need. Prayer is the answer. Prayer for our governing authorities and politicians so that they do what is right for the country as a whole. And we must pray for ourselves, that we respond to those who come to our shores with the kindness and compassion that God has asked of us. And who knows, there may be a practical way we can help, perhaps by volunteering with an organisation that supports those in need after they reach our nation.
Father God. There is much we should be doing to help those in need, particularly immigrants who reach our country. Please lead us, we pray, to make the right response when we have the opportunity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 