Readings for today: Joshua 19-22
We are living through one of the greatest periods of human migration ever recorded in history. The sheer numbers are staggering. As of 2024, approximately 304 million people live outside their country of birth. That’s 3.7% of the global population and a doubling of international migrants since 1990. 36.9 million are refugees and 8.4 million are asylum seekers. Much of the migration is due to conflict or poverty or some other form of life-threatening condition. The corruption and violence in some of the countries of origin is overwhelming and many of the migrants are simply looking for a way out for them and their children. However, things get complicated as soon as they cross borders. They run afoul of immigration laws. They struggle to find adequate social services. Adapting to a new culture and new language and new systems can be extremely challenging. Some suggest the problem lies with borders in the first place. They would prefer a world without borders or a world with open borders. Some flip to the other side and want to lock down borders. Deport everyone back to their home country. Still others want some form of middle ground between the two. It’s a complicated problem with no easy answers.
The Bible talks about borders. In fact, it is God Himself who not only establishes the borders of the Promised Land but also the borders of each tribe’s inheritance within the land. Why does God care? Why not let His people simply live wherever they want to live? Especially within the boundaries of the land He gave them? First and foremost, borders are essential for civic and social organization. It’s critical to know who owns what and where and who holds power in what areas. Without such clarity, there would be chaos. No one would know who is in charge. No one would know whose rules apply. No one would know who owns the resources in a particular place. Trust me, I’ve been in places where borders are not enforced and it is not good. Many innocent people get hurt as evil people take advantage of such situations to oppress and exploit the weak and vulnerable. Second, borders established a clear historical and cultural record. Each tribe had its own unique identity and that identity was strengthened by their connection to a particular part of the Promised Land. Finally, it served to confirm the fulfillment of God’s promise. God’s promises are not abstract. They are not simply philosophical ideas or concepts. They take concrete form in the real world. The people living in the Promised Land actually got to see and experience The fulfillment of God’s covenantal promise which is a powerful testimony.
Does any of this apply to today and the debates we’re having in our own countries about borders? Yes and no. Yes, all nations need borders to define their territory. They remain absolutely essential to establish some form of political and social order. Within the boundaries of clear borders, laws can be passed and enforced. Communities can flourish and thrive. Safety and security can be maintained. Borders also help establish a clear cultural and historical identity. Not that any culture or history is monolithic, of course. There are cultures within cultures and histories within histories but borders help define whose culture and whose history we’re talking about. At the same time, God has not made covenantal promises to any nation but Israel. No other modern nation on earth gets to claim God’s sanction when establishing their borders. And the modern state of Israel herself is certainly not beyond critique. Furthermore, as we seek to apply biblical principles to modern nation-states, we must remember God demands every leader of every nation establish justice and righteousness within their boundaries. They must seek the welfare of their people rather than the preservation of their power. Additionally, every nation should seek to establish good and just and righteous immigration laws so that those seeking asylum or seeking opportunity or seeking aid can come into their territory in a safe, legal, orderly fashion and receive the care they need.
Readings for tomorrow: Joshua 23-24, Judges 1