Malcolm Cox

Refugees are in the news. I’m sure they wish they weren’t. Around 35 million refugees exist today. That’s the equivalent of the combined populations of Ireland, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lebanon, Palestine and Liberia. Sadly, refugees are not a modern issue. What relevance does this have for our relationship with God? Israel was a refugee from the promised land In fact, the status of Israel as a refugee goes back all the way to Abraham. He was driven to Egypt by famine. It was move — or die. “Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.” (Genesis 12:10 NIV11) The situation is repeated for his grandson Jacob (Israel). “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”” (Genesis 47:3-4 NIV11) Israel — as Abraham’s grandson and as the people of God — were shaped by movement, displacement and longing. Would they