What does the Bible say about seeking/granting asylum?

Response

A person seeking asylum is someone who requests protection from a foreign country due to the peril faced in their home nation. Asylum seekers, also known as asylees, must demonstrate a valid fear of persecution in their home country based on factors such as race, nationality, religion, political beliefs, or affiliation with a particular social group. If they are genuinely at risk, most democratic nations will provide them with protection against arrest and/or extradition to their country of origin.

It is important to distinguish that seeking asylum differs from illegally immigrating to a country. An illegal immigrant leaves their own country for another, disregarding the laws governing entry into the new nation. An asylum seeker may or may not have entered a country legally.

In the Old Testament, there were asylum seekers of a different nature. God instructed the Levites to designate six cities of refuge where a person could seek shelter if they had accidentally caused someone’s death (Exodus 21:13;Deuteronomy 19:2-13;Joshua 20:1-6). Within these cities of refuge, the accused individual could find asylum and be protected from anyone seeking retribution until a trial could be held. If the death was deemed unintentional, asylum would be granted within the city of refuge until the passing of the high priest. Remaining within the city of refuge ensured safety for the asylee (Numbers 35:24-28). Upon the high priest’s death, the asylee was free to leave the city of refuge and move about without restriction.

Asylum seekers are entitled to fairness and justice in accordance with the law. Individually, we are provided with clear biblical guidance on how to treat asylum seekers. The New Testament contains numerous directives to show love to others through both words and actions. For instance, GalaTitans 6 talks about doing “good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” «As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.», (Galatians 6:10). First John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” The way we treat those seeking asylum reflects our relationship with Jesus.

We can also look to the Old Testament for insight into God’s heart for asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. In Leviticus 19:33–34, God told the Israelites: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” In Leviticus 19:9–10, God told the Israelites not to reap to the edges of their grain fields but to leave the gleanings for the poor and the foreigners.

Knowing all that God has done for us, we are to treat foreigners as our neighbors and to love them as we love ourselves. We who have received God’s love should share it with others. We should also be an example in the way we follow the law and respect lawmakers. In fact, one way we can aid those who seek asylum is to help them navigate the laws and advocate on their behalf to obtain the needed permissions for legal residence.

Of course, spiritual asylum is found in Jesus. Just as the cities of refuge were a place of safety and rescue from danger, so Jesus is the refuge in whom sinners find safety and rescue from sin and death «that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:», (Hebrews 6:18). We run to Christ to escape the

The danger we face is from the condemnation of sin, the wrath of God, and an eternity in hell. Jesus offers safety to all who seek refuge in Him from sin and death.