Europe and the United Estates close their frontiers to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, people who are trying to escape from a hell on earth, from racial persecution whether racial or ethnic, from Islamist terrorism, from wars forgotten  by media, from the lack of land sold to rich countries, from abuse of their rulers who sell their resources of their countries, from slavery, in search of a dignifying life for them and especially for their children.

The millions of people who have obtained a visa, their work permit or nationality and now live in the West know well what we are talking about. Mainly from countries in Africa, South America or Eastern Europe are the majority of those living their particular exodus.

Who wants to have an avalanche of immigrants who are poor, dirty, without resources, non educated, violent, next to their homes leaving garbage in their gardens and whom to feed and provide resources and medical attention?

That seems to be the only worry of the rich world who does not know how to use their resource, where those who rule 2 billion people –who have voted them– forget those who risk their lives on the other side, where the other 5 billion souls live. However they have not forgotten to overexploit their natural resources such as oil for our cars, gas for our stations, or coltan for our phones, and all valuable raw material.

They are the unwanted, nor in their countries nor in those they arrive. Israel also lived their particular Exodus, as we can all read in the book of the Old Testament that is part of the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses. Abraham had already been to Egypt once and it went bad for him. The second time, his grandson Jacob or Israel, also found himself in Egypt when one of his sons, one of the twelve that originated the twelve tribes of Israel, called Joseph was sold by his brothers as slave, for envy, as he was devoted to the Lord and loved for that by his father, to some Ishmaelite merchants who sold him to Potiphar the captain of the guard of Pharaoh. The story of Joseph is very deep and touches the heart of anyone who reads it, from what was his disgrace until becoming the fuler of all Egypt and savour or Israel when the seven years of ugly caws came. Genesis Chaps. 37-50. Yes, indeed it seems that the cycles of abundance and crisis succeed continuously, and serve as a permanent lesson, even though we do not seem to learn from them.

In our world we know of many recent stories like the thousands of Spaniards who emigrated to Germany after the war, to work. Or those of many South Americans to Spain or to the United States to provide their families in their countries of origin.

Does the rich world help? What is better: to receive immigrants or to help their countries of origin? The rich world does not do enough in any case, it is more preoccupied about the economy, the stock market, the material richness, and of enjoying the goodness they have been given. The churches and NGOs work non stop to help, going, informing, taking medical help, food and resources. But the Church, now in capitals, also and mainly is due to the Great Commission of changing people's hearts to receive Salvation, which provides a new and merciful heart and fearing God, that does not allow for the rich to live without helping the poor.

 

THE DOCTRINES OF EXODUS AND OF PROMISED LAND

Does only Israel deserve a Promised Land? The rest of people of every tribe, race and time also deserve it. But, is the Promised Land of Israel the same as the promise land to prosper? Is, today, the so called by some, Palestine, and by others, Israel, the Promised Land of the people of Israel?

The doctrines of Exodus, in capitals, and of exodus in low, are not comparables. I mean that God promised Israel a Promised Land in Canaan where they would be able to live a life that would please God and where they would be able to worship and obey Him, living under His protection and blessing. God chose Israel, a small ethnic group non relevant, not powerful, but who existed from many who feared God. Israel is the only nation made by God from His will, the rest are man made. The purpose was to serve as example to the rest of the world of the grace and blessing that man can enjoy if he loves God and obeys Him. Israel would soon leave the right path and would separate in two kingdoms. The rest we know, they were invaded, sold, spread and made slaves.

Then came the Messiah after a time of opportunity to return to their land but they did not receive Him. Jesus told them clearly that they would not see Him until: For I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Matthew 23:38. Israel has returned after the Holocaust and 6 million Jews exterminated by the genocide of the national Nazi socialist German government of the World War II. In 1948 the United Nations gave the land of Israel back, but their neighbours did not accept and went to war. Israel conquered Jericho when they entered by the hand of Moses, now they remain in conflict until they receive the Messiah Jesus Christ, Yahshua, for many in the millennium announced in Revelation.

But Israel, despite being disobedient to God and not receiving the Messiah, is the warrant of the Bible to the world, of the Word of God to the world, and therefore salvation comes from the Jews, and the rest of nations must preserve and protect their lives in their land if we love God, and let God Himself deal with this nation that He has created; as Jesus says when He was talking to the Samaritan woman: ...You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:22-24.

Any other promised land is merely the search of financial prosperity and quality of life with regards to material standards and enjoy, not to worship or please God.

And the Church? We Christians can live the Promised Land in any part because we recognize the entire universe is of God. Although on earth there will never be a system ruled by man that pleases God. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come –in words of the Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews 13:14. Our Promised Land is Christ, and Is found in the soul, in ours and in the one of any brother who loves Him, where milk and honey flow from the brotherly Christian love. Therefore, in Christ we await the Kingdom of God, the celestial Jerusalem that will come from heaven with Jesus Christ as King of kings.

 

THE CHURCH SERVES IMMIGRANTS AND NEEDED

Missionaries and Christian stewardship exist since the beginning of the Church, that to this date takes the Word of God and the help to the poor to all the world.

In the Old Testament we find specific commandments about how to treat immigrants, as Israel was a stranger, immigrant, slave in the land of Egypt: Exodus 22:21, 23:9, Leviticus 19:33-34. To avoid leaving the foreigner without justice we find Deuteronomy 24:17-22.

In the New Testament we find many references from the apostles on how to treat those in need, following the words of Jesus, knowing that God has chosen the poor or this world to be rich in faith. To not make partiality, and not to receive with joy the rich and in fine apparel, and not taking care of the poor in filthy clothes, James, chapters 2 and 5. Galatians 2. The example of Jesus who became poor being the Lord and lived amongst them 2Corinthians 8:9 and 9:9, gave to the poor, therefore His righteousness endures forever, because, Paul said in 1Corinthians 13:3 that if we give all our goods and even our own bodies to be burned and we have no love, it profits nothing.

Zacchaeus, tax collector and rich, showed he was in need and poor in spirit who wanted to see Jesus. A man who gave half of his goods to the poor, and who gave back four times what he could have defrauded, but who found himself not saved before God, because salvation cannot be earned but through the life of Jesus on the Cross. Righteousness we can earn before our neighbour, but if the most righteous man in the world does not believe in Jesus, he cannot become saved, because he does not accept he is a sinner and needed of God, does not humble before his Creator and Father. Zacchaeus was not accepted by the congregation but was giving half of his goods to the poor, with no synagogue and no NGO, because no one would receive him for his work, collecting taxes of his co citizens to give them to the Roman invaders.

Nowadays there is a debate with regards to the humanitarian help organization in part of the Church in comparison with NGOs. If indeed the Church is the light of the world because it carries the message of Jesus, which changes the heart of man, it also carries humanitarian aid. Instead NGOs can only help with regards to the immediate basic needs, but have no resources to help the people spiritually, to make someone a son of God, according to Jesus Christ, which changes for good anyone who knows Him and believes in Him for the great hope and strength that He gives us in this life and in the one to come. This power of His Spirit is the key to a full life.

Another mater is whether the Church should work as a team with the NGOs or not. While I write these lines Europe is debating about it. Lets hope that also in the United States churches accept to help south American immigrants, or in their home countries or receiving them with a complete plan. If you want to help the immigrants that are arriving to Europe you can travel there personally. If you cannot go now, tomorrow may be late, or you may send your financial aid through the churches and NGOs in this link: Humanitarian Aid.

But, if you are a Christian, also, do not forget something more powerful, a resource that makes those who have the power to use it well, that the unmerciful become merciful: prayer. Get on your knees every day, and in the name of Jesus Christ ask the Father to touch politicians, rulers and those who can help, and wait to see the news.

 

JESUS TEACHES ABOUT IMMIGRANTS AND THOSE IN NEED

Jesus did every good deed, and the greatest of all that only He could do, to give His own life, the life of the Son of God for us sinners and enemies of God a priori, for no one is born saved, we all have to be saved by God in His Grace. But Jesus talks to us in may ways today as He lives amongst us. In His living Word, the Bible, in the Gospels we find His specific Words (in read) to deal with immigrants and those in need:

...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16.

...Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you... ...and you will be sons of the Most High. Luke 6:27-36.

...But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:3.

...But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Matthew 9:13.

...They need not depart; give ye them to eat. "Feeding the 5.000" Matthew 14:16.

...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37.

...When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations. Matthew 25:37.

The Church serves, then, in obedience to the Lord Whom we love and to our neighbor as ourselves.

Jesus closes, after raising and before ascending to Heaven with: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Matthew 28:18.

 

CONCLUSION

Jesus will not come unless the falling away –the apostasy– comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition... 2Thesalonians, chap. 2, and ungodliness and all moral behavior against God. I believe society and existing cultures are nor worst than Sodom and Gomorrah which were destroyed. We can foresee the next destruction, the one of Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth, which makes commerce of souls, of which tells Revelation 17:5.

Therefore we cannot fall in the lie of comparing Church and its Great Commission with NGO and humanitarian mission, because the first includes the second, but the second excludes the first. God must be glorified in the work of the Church in all those who receive the good deeds, not only material help with the so called "Mute Gospel" –like a brother was mentioning these days talking about the situation.

The Third World lives its Exodus because the rich world of the West ignores it and it is not sensitive to their lives in desperation, although some part is, Church and NGO and all godly people who help them.

Not every exodus is justified. This is a message for those who are in their countries considering, like the saying "grass looks greener on the neighbor's garden", think twice, seek for resources, alternative jobs, other guilds, look into neighbor countries. Many who have tried have lost it all and cannot go back, they mourn, many others loose their lives daily. If you depart, it is very possible that you will not be able to return. Remember how Israel, once Moses took them out from Egypt through the desert, were lamenting and mourning in lack of faith, and that one was a plan of God. If your departure, your exodus, is a plan of God because you have asked Him and have received indubitable answer, then go ahead and don't look back, let it not occur to you like to Lot's wife.

The other message is to the rulers and in power to help in their countries of origin, against oppressive governments, and to receive the immigrant with dignity. Between us all we can manage, because God has placed mercy in our hearts, to His likeness and claims that we put it in action, even though humanity will not obey God, if you who read receive the message, pray and do what is in your hand, join to an active and Biblical church to love God and your neighbor.

I close with Proverbs 30:8,9 which tells how his author prays to God: "Give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor and steel, and profane the name of my God. Amen.