Immigration in the Bible

Spiritual Growth StudyUMW-WNCCPfeiffer UniversityPhilip Wingeier-RayoJuly 26-29

Introductions

Right to left: Dana McKim, Joy Prim, Sandy Devoid (standing in for Alex), Nick Haigler & myself

May 2012 School of Religion graduatesBrad Kenn (in sunglasses)

Immigration in the BibleObjective: This study shares the story of the Bible as a narrative of immigrants and migration. Exploring the biblical and theological understandings of immigration, immigrants, and migration, this study seeks to enable the participants to examine

Objective (cont.)what it is to be a sojourner and to live into the biblical mandate of hospitality for “the stranger” and “aliens” in our midst. The study seeks to equip the participants to see the Bible as the ultimate immigration handbook in responding to immigrants.

What would you like to get out of this study?

Ground Rules for StudyRespect one another Listen before speakingTake turns speakingThere are no stupid questionsIt’s okay to make mistakesConfidentiality, safe spaceOther ground rules?

Discuss with your neighbor:Is immigration a blessing or a challenge?Is there a culture of hostility in your community/church against immigrants?

In the beginning…

In the beginning…God created the world and on the

6th day created humansWe are created in the image &

likeness of God: imago DeiOn the 7th day God rested and

said it was good

Genesis 1: 26-2726) Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27) So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. NRSV

Mirror image of God

Bible Outline of the Book of GenesisThe Seven Days of Creation Gen 1:1-2:3Adam and Eve Gen 2:4-25The Fall Gen 3Cain and Abel Gen 4Geneology - Adam to Noah Gen 5The Great Flood Gen 6-9The Table of Nations Gen 10The Tower of Babel Gen 11:1-9

Adam and Eve

Genesis 3: 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."

Adam and Eve (cont.)Genesis 3: 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Adam and Eve

Genesis 3: 23 therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

Have you ever been forced to leave a place? Evicted from an apartment? Laid off from a job? Sent to the principal’s office? How did you feel? Where did you go?

Tower of BabelGenesis 11:1-9

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Alan Manesson Mallet, Paris, 1683

Abraham and Isaac Gen 12:1-25:18

Abraham goes to Holy Land Gen 12-14God's Covenant Gen 12:15-17Sodom and Gomorrah Gen 18-19Abraham Sarah, and Isaac Gen 20-23Isaac and Rebekah Gen 24The Death of Abraham Gen 25:1-11

Abraham’s birthplace: Ur

Abraham's family started out from Ur of the Chaldees and traveled to Haran. (Genesis 11:27-32)Then God called Abram (as he was then called), and told him to travel to Canaan. (Genesis 12:1-5)Abram built altars to God at Shechem and Bethel (Genesis 12:6-9)

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Remember the time when you left your parents’ home on your own. Where did you go? What were your plans, hopes or dreams?

Mount Moriah (between Mount Zion (west) and Mount of the Olives

During a famine, Abram journeyed to Egypt (Genesis 12:10)He returned from Egypt, and settled in the southern part of CanaanBecause he and his nephew Lot had many flocks and herds there was not enough pasture for them to stay together, so Abram gave Lot the choice of the landLot chose the fertile valley of the Jordan, and went to live near Sodom (southern end of the Dead Sea)

Have you ever experienced a famine, recession or loss of a job? What did you do? Where did you go?

Abraham and Sarai in Egypt with Pharoah

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Why did you say, “She is my sister”, so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and be gone.’ And Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning him; and they set him on the way, with his wife and all that he had. --Genesis 12:19-20 NRSV

Abram moved to Mamre (a couple of miles north of Hebron) where he built an altar to God. He made friends with "Mamre the Amorite" and his brothers, and with "Ephron the Hittite"When Sarah died, Abraham bought the Cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite for a burying place. When Abraham himself died he too was buried there.

Cave Machpelah in Hebron

Travels of Abraham

Geneology - Ishmael Gen 25:12-18Jacob (Israel)Gen 25:19-36:43 Jacob and Esau Gen 25:19-27:40Jacob Flees to Aram Gen 27:41-28:22Jacob in Aram Gen 29-30Jacob faces Esau Gen 31-33Dinah Gen 34Jacob Returns to BethelGen 35Geneology - Esau Gen 36

Joseph Gen 37-50 Joseph Sold into Slavery Gen 37Judah and Tamar Gen 38Joseph in Egypt Gen 39-41Joseph's Brothers Come to Egypt Gen 42-45The Israelites live in Egypt Gen 46:1-49:28The Deaths of Jacob and JosephGen 49:29-50:26

Joy PrimMission Intern in Hong Kong