I was doing a search for Bible verses that refer to 'aliens and strangers' ahead of Sunday's service - I was looking mostly for the ones about gleaning to provide a bit of context for the Ruth story, but also others about treating 'aliens' (foreigners) well.  Two bit stood out for me... the verses from Ezekiel 47, above and some from Deuteronomy 27, listed below, emphasis mine.  In amongst all the apparently divinely sanctioned genocides of the Hebrew scriptures, there are some repeated, clear and stern teachings about the treatment of 'resident aliens' along with widows and orphans...

The same day Moses charged the people as follows: “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.  And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. Then the Levites shall declare in a loud voice to all the Israelites,

 “ ‘Cursed be anyone who makes an idol or casts an image, anything abhorrent to the Lord, the work of an artisan, and sets it up in secret.’ All the people shall respond, saying, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who dishonours father or mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbour’s boundary marker.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who deprives an alien, an orphan, or a widow of justice.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has violated his father’s rights.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with any animal.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbour in secret.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by observing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Although I make a lot of mention of 'Vicar School', I usually (intentionally) avoid naming it, in the same way that I use thinly veiled names for the churches I serve/served.

However, I am proud to part of this college, and want to do my tiny bit to spread the word of who we are and what we are about, so I am sharing this advert for our upcoming online 'Explore Your Call' event.

I'm using this hymn today.  I don't know it, but it fits to the fairly well known tune Quem Pastores, and fits the theme of Jesus' Mother Roots...

Child of Abraham the wand'rer
leaving wealth enough to squander,
on God's promised hope to ponder -
Abram's child, hope for us all.

Child of Tamar stripped of honour,
bruised, abused for others' pleasure;
yet to God a priceless treasure -
Tamar's child, hurt for us all.

Child of Ruth, Naomi's shadow,
faithful friend to friendless widow,
destitute in harvest meadow -
Ruth's true child, befriend us all.

Child of Rahab, trait'rous harlot,
rescued by a cloth stained scarlet,
sharing God's invasion secret -
Rahab's child, come save us all.

Child of David's bride, Bathsheba,
victim of a lust most eager;
sign that God forgives for ever -
Sheba's child, forgive us all.

Child of Mary, virgin mother,
bearing for us God, our brother,
so we'd learn to love each other -
Mary's child - God with us all.

John Campbell based on Matthew 1vs1-21 © 2016

Sometimes there are those 'hmmm' moments that help me detect what God might be saying or doing, and this week there have been a few...

Spotting a link between the two services I've just done related to Safeguarding (on 'listening well' and 'forgiveness') and the series I am about to lead, which is a revisit of one I led in Dibley in 2006 and at The Gathering Place in 2018 looking at the women in Jesus' genealogy.

And then a link from both of these to the Bible Study series someone else is leading on the OT Joseph (him of the fancy coat).

And even a link to the Lent Series I'll be leading based on the film 'The Greatest Showman'.

Maybe, as someone wise said to me a lifetime ago, it's me making the connections, but I like to think that God has something to do with it.

Tomorrow I'm preaching about Tamar - one the stories that the Bible study series jumps past.  It's a story that is decidedly difficult to read as being remotely 'holy writ'.  It's interesting to reflect on the dysfunctional ancestry of Jesus of Nazareth, and to ponder what that might say about God.