在法國被德國納粹佔領期間，勒尚邦小鎮的居民冒著生命危險，拯救了多達5,000個猶太人的性命，當中很多是兒童。他們將這些逃離家園的猶太人，藏匿在家中和農場裡。居民們會這麼做，是受到一位牧師安德烈．特洛克梅（André Trocmé）的鼓勵。他引用申命記10章19節，呼籲教會中的會友對這些來自異鄉的猶太人提供援助：「你們要憐愛寄居的，因為你們在埃及地也作過寄居的。」

這是上帝給以色列人的命令，而這段經文提到全世界都屬於「大有能力，大而可畏」的上帝（17節）。上帝選擇憐愛以色列人（15節），並且眷顧處於弱勢或陌生環境的人（18節），其中包括那些在以色列國寄居的人。隨著以色列人在應許之地安頓下來以後，他們應當學習像上帝那樣，去關愛那些需要幫助的人，尤其是因為他們自己也曾經寄居異地，深知寄居者會碰到什麼樣的難處（19節）。

如果我們在一個工作崗位上待了很長的時間，或在一個社區裡居住多年，上帝可能會給我們機會，向那些初來乍到、感覺自己是「寄居」的外來者表達善意，也許是提供實用的建議給新來的同事，或協助剛搬進社區的家庭。當我們付出關懷，就是向那些處在弱勢或陌生環境的人，展現上帝的愛。

The people of Le Chambon, France, risked everything to help save the lives of as many as five thousand individuals, many of them Jewish children, during the Nazi occupation. The refugees fleeing their homes were hidden in the community’s homes and farms. The townspeople were inspired by pastor André Trocmé, who called on his congregation to help by referencing the words of Deuteronomy 10:19, “You are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”

This command given to the Israelites comes in a passage that begins with the reminder that the whole earth belongs to God, who is “mighty and awesome” (v. 17). Yet God chose to love the Israelites (v. 15). He also cares for people in vulnerable or unfamiliar situations (v. 18), including foreigners who weren’t part of the nation of Israel. As the Israelites settled in their new home, they were to imitate God’s love and care for those needing help, especially because they knew the unique struggles of being a foreigner (v. 19).

If we’ve been at a job a long time or lived in the same home for several years, God may give us the opportunity to show kindness to someone who feels like a “foreigner,” perhaps by providing helpful advice to a new coworker or assistance to a recently relocated family. When we do, we demonstrate God’s love to those in unfamiliar, and often vulnerable, situations.