The Sojourner

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

Exodus 22:21

A sojourner is a foreign individual or group who lives as a temporary or permanent resident in a place, not of their original birth.

Israel living in the land of Egypt is an example of them being sojourned.

Another example can be found in the book of Ruth between Ruth and Naomi. Naomi was originally from Israel, and Ruth was from Moab. Ruth didn’t want to leave Naomi’s side, even at the cost of forever leaving her people by birth. The Moabites in their day were known for worshiping false gods. Yet the bond between Ruth and Naomi was so strong that Ruth was willing to move with Naomi to a land and culture she had never known. Therefore Ruth was a sojourner in Israel because she stayed with Naomi, a native by birth.

When most of Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, & Esther. All were sojourners in lands that were not of their birth, their people, or their culture.

There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.

Exodus 12:49

The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.

Ezekiel 22:29

You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:34

There are numerous biblical references regarding how God feels about people willing to chase him, though they may not have begun life as kingdom citizens (Hint at where I’m going with this). But what qualifies a person to be a sojourner in God’s Kingdom?

The Answer: Exodus 12:43-49

If a sojourner is willing to partake in the Passover, he must circumcise himself and his sons. No uncircumcised male may eat from the Passover. In other words, they can not participate. AT ALL!!!!!

Remember, from The Circumcision topic, God is more concerned with the circumcision of our hearts, which can only be accomplished through Jesus Christ. Therefore, if we make our bed with a person who is not even willing to seek out our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, then they should not be anywhere close to the bedroom! They stay outside your heart & your home. They are then considered a Foreigner!