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Today I read Exodus 22–24. I understand why some people walk away from reading the Old Testament—especially the books of the law (Genesis through Deuteronomy)—thinking that God is all about “Do’s and Don’ts.” However, we need to remember what was discussed yesterday: God’s law is ultimately about love—specifically how we can show our love for Him and for others. We must also keep the broader context of the surrounding narrative in mind. Prior to this, Moses had been visited by his father-in-law, Jethro, who advised him to delegate the responsibility of judging smaller cases and to teach God’s laws to the appointed men so they could judge wisely. With that in mind, it makes sense why Moses would share the laws recorded in this section.

One particular law seems especially relevant to our modern-day situation in the United States. Exodus 22:21 states:

“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”

In recent years, immigration has become a major issue in our country, especially since COVID, as countless illegal immigrants have crossed the borders. Based on this passage alone, one could conclude that our responsibility is to care for the “sojourner” in our land. However, I was always taught not to build a doctrine or a Scriptural position on a single verse. Romans 13:1–3 makes it clear that people are expected to follow the laws of the government. Paul states that when someone does not—such as entering a country illegally—they will experience consequences, including fear and punishment, for having done wrong. Even the Israelites obeyed the law of the land when they were sojourners. In Numbers 20:20–21, when the king of Edom denied them entry into his land, they did not force their way through but instead took a different route to the Promised Land.

This tells us that while we are commanded to treat sojourners—whether legal or illegal—with love and kindness, we are also called to uphold the law of the land (Exodus 23:9). The two are not mutually exclusive; we can care for those in need while respecting and maintaining order within our society.

One final note worth mentioning—remember, we have been tracking the fulfillment of the promises God made to Moses at the burning bush. One of those promises was that Moses would return to serve Him on Mount Horeb. If you’re reading along, you might be wondering, “Where was Mount Horeb mentioned?” Interestingly, it wasn’t called by that name in these chapters. However, the mountain where God gave Moses the commandments was, in fact, Mount Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:2). Some believe that the eastern side of the mountain was called Sinai, and the western side was called Horeb. Others suggest that the mountain had two peaks, one named Sinai and the other Horeb. Either way, if you’re counting, God has now fulfilled three out of the four promises He made at the burning bush.

Takeaway: Every culture and society operates by certain norms and rules. A capricious god would not clearly communicate those laws and yet punish people when they unknowingly broke them. But God is not capricious—He commands from a place of love, not cruelty. We should approach Him with the trust that His commands are for our good. At the same time, for God to be both loving and just, there must be consequences for those who break His laws—just as failing to follow the law of the land can bring fear and punishment to the illegal sojourner. Our responsibility as believers is twofold: to treat all people with kindness and love, while also respecting and upholding the laws of the land in which we live.