HSS_2021_Q4_EP05

♪ theme music ♪

(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

an in-depth, interactive study

of the Word of God.

I'm excited today,

because we're in the middle of a series

called Present Truth in Deuteronomy.

That's the fifth book

of the Hebrew Scriptures,

and it's got some powerful lessons

for our lives today.

In fact, if you've missed

any in this series,

you can go to our website,

hopetv.org/hopess, and watch

the first programs in this series,

Present Truth in Deuteronomy.

But today, we're talking

about The Stranger in Your Gates.

You say, "Derek, what does that mean?"

Well, stay tuned; you'll discover that God

wants us to go beyond the regular way

of caring for people.

So, welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

and welcome to the team.

Good to be together again, right?

I'm looking forward to this study

because I think it's going to challenge me

to love the way God does.

And that's only possible

by His grace, isn't it?

We're glad, not only our team

is here in the studio...

I call them the Gideon's band

because it's a reduced group.

If you know the story of Gideon.

His army went from 32,000

to 10,000 to 300, and God said,

"By the way, I'm the One that's going

to work the miracle, not you."

That's true here, too.

We're also glad, though, to have

some of our remote team members with us.

Puia, we want to welcome you

from Hawaii, good to see you.

Aicha, we want to welcome you

from Tennessee, good to see you

part of our team.

And, Adison, from British Columbia,

Canada, good to see you again, Adison,

great to have you on the team.

And we're also happy that you're with us

for our Hope Sabbath School study today.

Always great to hear from you,

You can write to us

at [e-mail].

Stephenny writes from Papua New Guinea,

and she said, "By the way,

special greetings to my
namesake Stephanie,"

would you give a wave, Stephanie?

Here's a wave from Stephanie to Stephenny.

She writes and says, "I'm always blessed

watching Hope Sabbath School.

Every Sabbath, I make sure

to download the video and watch it

before attending the Bible class

at my local church.

Thank you very much.

Thanks to everyone on the team.

Blessings to all of you."

Well, Stephenny, it just so happens

that the other Stephanie

was here on our team today.

Thanks for writing to us

from Papua New Guinea.

Here's a note from Lizette in Namibia.

We just heard from Namibia

a little while ago, didn't we?

That's former German West Africa,

and great to hear from Lizette

in Swakopmund; Swakopmund is a city there.

It means "stinky mouth," "stinky mouth."

There was a mouth of a river,

and the river smells,

so that's an interesting name

for an address, isn't it?

But Lizette writes and says,

"Thank you for what you do.

We love to watch Hope Sabbath School

with you every week.

May God bless you in abundance.

Love, your Sister, Lizette."

Well, it's great to know

we have a sister in Christ there

in Namibia; thanks for writing to us.

Here is an old-fashioned note.

We get these every once in a while,

and this note is from a donor couple

in Iowa, and they write and say,

"I am a Beginners Sabbath School leader

in our church," so that would be

like the children, right?

"And so, I'm not able to attend

an adult Sabbath School class."

So, serving the little ones,

this donor says, "I can't

be in an adult class,

so I watch Hope Sabbath School as my class

since my husband and I do study

the Bible together every day." Amen?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) That's beautiful.

"Keep spreading the truth

to all that tune in.

May the Lord continue to bless you,"

and a donation of 2,000 dollars

to help the ministry

of Hope Sabbath School.

Well, this is from Iowa,

so if you live in Iowa,

you know I just read your note.

Thank you so much for partnering with us.

And you know, at this time of the year,

when we're thinking

about our charitable giving,

I want to challenge you

to become a part of this ministry.

You can be part of the great miracle,

whether you give 5 dollars or 50 dollars

or 500 dollars, it's not the amount,

but it's partnering in the miracle of God.

If you want to learn

how to be partnering with us,

write to me at [e-mail].

Or, you can just go to our website,

hopetv.org/hopess, click

on the Donate button

and say, "I want to be part

of this impact movement

that God is using to bless the world."

But, thank you from Iowa.

Your donation will make a difference.

Well, Wilfred writes to us from China.

Now, Wilfred's studying in China.

He doesn't tell us his home country,

but he does say, "Greetings in the name

of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

My name's Wilfred, studying in China,

but first let me confess

that I have lost my first love.

I lost Jesus and drifted

into worldly pleasures of immorality,

alcoholism and addiction.

I lost focus in my studies.

Confusion filled my mind,

hatred in my heart,

because the devil was reigning in my life.

I got addicted to food,

and all I was thinking about

was using my energy to commit sin.

To cut it short, I thank God

that He has given me the victory."

(Team) Amen!

(Derek) Hallelujah, right?

"I am now able to worship Him

every Sabbath day,

and I'm seeking your prayers

because a great controversy

is still raging in my heart and mind.

I need to die every day

and pray for God's guidance that I may

continually humble myself
before His throne

and finish my studies for His glory.

May God in heaven richly bless you."

Well, Wilfred, we would respond,

"May God in heaven

richly bless you, too," right?

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) And thank you for your honesty,

but I'm thankful for your testimony,

that God is giving you the victory

through faith in Jesus.

One last note, from Dietrich in Australia.

Dietrich writes and says,

"I work in a small rural city

in South Australia's arid North."

Now, that South Australia

is one of the territories, right?

"Up in the North," so it's getting

toward the center of that huge continent

(arid North), "my little family

looks forward to Friday evening

when we sit down and watch

Hope Sabbath School together

as we welcome the Sabbath."

Picture that in a little town

in the arid North of South Australia,
sitting together.

"My children especially love

the Scripture songs,

and they sing along with gusto,"

that means enthusiasm, right?

"They also sing

their favorite Scripture songs

when they're at school," beautiful.

"We've been tremendously blessed

by the ministry of Hope Sabbath School

and pray that it will continue unhindered

as the Lord's hand rests upon it.

Pray always, Dietrich."

Well, thank you, Dietrich,

for writing to us from Australia.

I'm just so encouraged, aren't you?

And right now - by the way,

Dietrich's children love to sing

the Scripture song - we need your help

to sing our Scripture song

from Deuteronomy 31:6,

"Be strong and of good courage,

do not fear or be afraid of them;

for the Lord your God,

He is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you."

Let's sing together.

♪ music ♪

(Derek) Well, I'm excited

about our study today.

In our previous study, we talked

about the first great commandment.

Now, we're going to talk

about another commandment that,
if we follow it,

filled with the love of God,
will change everything,

our hearts and the lives

of those around us.

So, let's pray together.

Father in heaven, thank You

for the promise that Your Holy Spirit

will guide us into all truth,

not just so we can know more truth

but so we can live a life

that would honor You

and bless those around us.

So, Holy Spirit, please guide

each Hope Sabbath School member

as we study today.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) We're going to start

in Deuteronomy, chapter 6, and verse 5.

And I'm going to ask Sabina

if you'd begin our study today,

Deuteronomy 6, verse 5.

We'll remember this

as the first great commandment that Jesus

referred to during His ministry.

(Sabina) Okay, so I'll be reading

from the New King James Version.

Deuteronomy, chapter 6, verse 5 says:

(Derek) And we looked

at the context of that,

and it's, we are responding

to His immeasurable, unfailing love.

We're not trying to save ourselves

by loving God, right?

He saves us by His grace;

we love Him in response.

But Jesus said there's another
great commandment.

He said the second is like it,

so let's look and see

what that second great commandment is,

because we find evidence of it in the book

of Deuteronomy that we're studying.

So, let's go to Matthew, chapter 22.

Matthew 22, Puia, could you read

for us verses 37 through 39?

(Puia) Sure, Matthew 22,

verses 37 to 39, and I'm reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) Alright, now that's

in the book of Leviticus,

which, by the way, we learned

in our series, was also written by Moses

under inspiration from God, right?

But this first commandment, to love God,

is because God loves us so much, right?

Why should we love our neighbor?

Well, let's go back to where Jesus

was quoting from in Leviticus 19
and verse 18.

Stephanie, perhaps you could
read that for us.

Leviticus 19 and verse 18

will give us the answer to that question

why we should also love our neighbor.

(Stephanie) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) Oh, there are the last [4] words,

same in all of our translations?

Why should we love our neighbor?
What's the answer?

(Jason) Because we love God?

(Derek) Well, that would be

a consequence, yes,

but what does He say is the reason, "I'm

telling you to love your neighbor," Daisy?

(Daisy) He says He is the Lord.

He is the Creator of all of us.

(Derek) Thank you.

He says, "I'm the Lord.

By the way, I'm their Lord, too,

not just your Lord," right? Adison?

(Adison) What comes to mind

when I hear that, "I am the Lord,"

I think of, this is like a record...

He's bearing record to His character,

His character of love, which is really

the heart of the Pentateuch.

Yeah, it's a fantastic declaration,
"I am the Lord."

(Derek) When you were reading that,

I thought of a passage I read recently

in Jeremiah 32, verse 27.

It just came to my mind.

You don't have to read it, but it says,

"I am the Lord, the God of all flesh.

Is anything too hard for Me?"

Well, we know the answer is no.

But notice, "I am the Lord,

the God of," what?

(Derek, Team) "All flesh."

(Derek) Just like Daisy said.

So, there's a correlation

between the first and the second
great commandments.

What's the connection between the two?

They're not isolated

from each other, are they? Stephanie?

(Stephanie) Love is the foundation.

(Derek) Love is...Love?

(Stephanie) Is the foundation.

(Derek) Is the foundation, love, what?

For God or just love in general?

(Stephanie) Love for God, I would say,

because you love God,

and because you love God,

you love your neighbor as yourself.

(Derek) Right, because He loves

your neighbor, too, right?

Puia, did you have your hand raised.

(Puia) Yes, I wanted to read

a verse, if I could, that I believe

connects the points clearly.

It's in 1 John, chapter 4, verse 20.

(Derek) Alright, give us

a moment to find that,

1 John, chapter 4 and verse 20.

And this is answering the question

that loving God and loving

our neighbor [are] related.

Alright, go ahead and read that.

(Puia) Yes, I believe so, 1 John,

chapter 4, verse 20, and I'm reading

from the New King James Version:

So, I believe this texts points out

that when the first great commandment

of loving God becomes something

of a reality in our life,

loving our neighbor as ourself

is a result of it, as Jason said.

It's an automatic response

from loving God that overflows

in our relationship with others.

(Derek) Alright, I'm going to ask Aicha

to read from Deuteronomy 10:19,

but I'm going to let Adison make a comment

while we're looking for it,

because Deuteronomy will take

this second great command

to the next level.

But, Adison, your comment first.

(Adison) I love what Puia just shared,

and it reminded me, I love physics.

Physics is one of my favorite
science courses.

And when it comes to vectors

and that kind of topic,

you talked about vertical and horizontal.

And in a relationship with God,

that vertical component, it's so integral

to the horizontal component.

We must love God supremely.

And then, by the grace of God, that will

become a natural extension horizontally

that we may reflect His love

to those around us.

(Derek) Thank you for the physics lesson,

Adison; we appreciate it.

And of course, the Bible says God's love

is poured into our hearts.

So, it's not just love but God's love

that's the common factor, right?

Yes, Sabina, and then we're

going to read from Deuteronomy 10:19.

(Sabina) What I'm thinking

is that God is love.

And so it's not just simply

because we are obeying Him,

so we need to forcefully try

to like other people,

but I believe that naturally,

as you experience love in it's true form

that comes from God,

then naturally it's going to flow out.

(Derek) And we are reflecting

the beautiful character of God,

because God is love, right?

Aicha, could you read to us

Deuteronomy 10 and verse 19,

because the Holy Spirit inspires Moses

to take this sharing the love of God

to the next level.

(Aicha) Yes, and I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,

Deuteronomy 10, verse 19:

(Derek) Love the stranger.

Can you think of anywhere else

in Deuteronomy ...Jason,

I see you nodding your head.

We've heard about loving
the stranger before

in the book of Deuteronomy.

Where was that, do you remember?

(Jason) In the part

talking about the Ten Commandments,

the repetition of it.

With the Sabbath commandment.

(Derek) Absolutely, would you read that

for us in Deuteronomy 5, verses 12 to 14.

(Jason) Alright, I have

the New King James Version here,

Deuteronomy, chapter 5,

verses 12 through 14:

(Derek) It's like, "Don't keep

the Sabbath blessing to yourself," right?

Share that Sabbath blessing,

not only with your family,

but even the stranger

who is within your gates.

Now, the question that comes to us is,

what are some good reasons

why we should do that?

I think we've alluded to some,

but let's look in Deuteronomy, chapter 10,

and, Daisy, perhaps you could start

for us with verse 14,

and let's see what we could find.

We're going to look

at verse 14, 17 and 19.

There are several good reasons

why the children of Israel,

I think also why we,

should love the stranger.

(Daisy) I'll be reading

from the New Living Translation,
and it says:

(Derek) So, what does that tell us?

How does that relate

to loving the stranger?

(Stephanie) Belongs to God.

(Derek) The stranger belongs
to God, too, right?

If the highest heaven belongs to God,

everything belongs to Him.

That means the stranger belongs to Him.

And God is...? Love; so God...?

(Derek, Team) Loves the stranger.

(Derek) Alright, read on for us

in verse 17, Daisy, if you would,

again, in Deuteronomy 10.

(Daisy) Sure, verse 17:

(Derek) What new insight do you find,

Billy, in that verse

besides just saying, "He's God,

He's awesome, He's God of all flesh"?

What do you hear in verse 17?

(Billy) Basically He's impartial.

(Derek) What does that mean?

(Billy) I think it means that He

loves everybody the same way.

He's just, and He's fair.

(Derek) And because God is love...?

Help me finish that sentence.

If God is impartial, Sabina,

because God is love...

Finish the sentence: Because He is love...

(Sabina) He is just or He is

going to be love to everyone.

(Derek) That is exactly right!

He's not just going to love

the tall people, whew, Hallelujah.

He's going to love short people, too.

He's not just going to love the children,

but He's going to love the older people.

He's not just going to love people

from the Middle East, but not from Europe.

He shows no partiality, right?

(Sabina) Yes.

(Derek) And that means

that He loves everybody. Yes, Stephanie.

(Stephanie) And I think it's important,

that it says He takes no bribe.

He cannot be bought.

His love cannot be bought.

(Derek) Oh, that's beautiful.

We'll come back to that a little later,

because, if He cannot be bribed,

then that says something

about how we should be,

even with the stranger.

But let's look at verse 19, Daisy, also.

We're still in Deuteronomy 10,
now verse 19.

(Derek) There are a few words

that really struck me

when Daisy read that.

Which version do you have there?

(Daisy) The New Living Translation.

(Derek) New Living Translation.

In her translation it says,

"So, you must love" the stranger.

That's moved from being,

"That would be a nice idea," to what?

(Team) A requirement.

(Derek) That's a command.

"A new command I give you," right,

"that you love," oh,

that's exactly what we're

talking about, isn't it?

Who can finish that?

It's in John 13 and verse 34, right?

"A new commandment I give you,

that you love one another..."?

(Team) "As I have loved you."

(Derek) "As I have loved you."

God loves, thank you

for that physics lesson, Adison.

God loves; we love with His love.
That's a miracle.

That's really an amazing thought,
isn't it?

Now, there is one story,

and, Adison, I'm going to ask you

if you'd read the story

in Luke, chapter 10,

but before you start reading,

someone think of a story that Jesus told

that illustrates that we

shouldn't just love the lovely people,

maybe that live with us.

"Oh, I love my husband,"

says Daisy, and that's good.

It's good to love your husband

and your precious children, right?

But what about the stranger?

That's a little more challenging, right?

Like, "I don't know the stranger."

What story did Jesus tell that illustrates

this physics lesson that Adison gave us,

of when we have a relationship

with God who is love

(we love Him with all of our hearts),

we will love without restriction.
Yes, Billy.

(Billy) I think it's the story

of The Good Samaritan,

and we're going to read it, but...

(Derek) Maybe we should have

called it something else, right?

Maybe we should have called it

The Loving Samaritan, what do you think?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) Well, he was good, right?

But maybe it's more than just good.

I mean, they may have been

good people that walked by.

You say, "Well, they weren't
really good, were they?"

They weren't reflecting the love of God.

Adison, would you read the story for us,

please, in Luke, chapter 10,

verses 30 through 37.

Now, just remember, many people may say,

"Oh, I've heard that, Derek."

But someone's hearing it

for the first time today.

And they're saying, "That's
an amazing story."

The people that should have, we expect,

would stop, didn't stop.

And the person that had

every reason not to stop,

had such a relationship

with the God of love,

that the love of God flowed through him.

Let's hear the story.

(Adison) And I'm reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) You know, that little phrase

"had compassion on him,"

reminded me of some other verses -

Stephanie, they're not in the outline,

so you're going to have

to do a computer search -

with Jesus, where it said,

"He had compassion on..."

Do you remember when that was, anybody?

What was the story?

Anybody remember that story? Billy?

(Billy) I think after He heard the news

that John the Baptist was decapitated,

that He went, and He called the disciples

to go just spend some time alone.

And then a lot of people were coming in,

and He, even though He was tired,

even though He was...

(Derek) Grieving.

(Billy) Grieving, exactly,

that He still had compassion on them

because He saw them

as people who were lost,

who were looking for a shepherd.

(Derek) Thank you so much.

You've been reading your Bible;
that's good.

It says He had compassion on them

because they were like sheep
without a shepherd.

They didn't have a loving caregiver,

right, and so He had compassion.

So, in this story

(thank you, Adison, for reading it),

I just heard that phrase,

and that would say

what, about this Samaritan?

Let's just not call him the good...

What would it tell us about him?

(Daisy) He had a relationship with God.

(Derek) That's right, Daisy!

He had a relationship with God

who is self-sacrificing love.

And that love was being manifested.

Now, I need a Bible expert, so, Puia,

I'm going to go to you because you've

studied the Bible for many years.

It says he left two denarii,

that's the plural of a denarius.

Was that like, you know, a small tip?

How much was that worth, the two denarii?

(Puia) I have heard that it's

about two days' wages.

(Derek) That's right!

The denarius was a laboring man's wages,

the silver coin; it was the parallel

to the Greek drachma,

if you've heard of that coin.

A silver coin, a day's wages.

I don't want to ask you

how much you make in a day,

because that's not relevant,

but would you say

that two full days' wages

is a significant gift?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) Yes, Sabina.

(Sabina) And not only that,

if you read a little further,

he actually promises to pay

even more if necessary,

so this was just to begin.

He said, "Well, if you need

more than that, I will repay you."

(Derek) So, there's no limit

to the amount of self-sacrificing love

he's willing to show.

Does that sound a little bit like God?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) Is this a revelation? Yes, Sabina.

(Sabina) And I can think

it's just how God, He loves us

as much as we need.

You know, the amount sometimes...

People will say that executing justice

is just giving, like, "Oh, I will give

the same amount to everyone."

But actually, you actually need to give
as much as is needed.

That person will need more;

I'm going to give more.

"If you need to pay more

for him to stay in the inn,

I'm going to come and pay more,"

so I think that's beautiful.

(Derek) I tell you,

our God is an awesome God, isn't He?

He loves us with an immeasurable,
unfailing love.

He says, "Don't just love the person

living in the same house

or even right next door,

but love the stranger.

We'll look at a few texts
in the Scriptures,

both in the New Testament

and in the Hebrew Scriptures,

that give us some good reasons

why we should also love the stranger.

Hebrews 13, someone can find

that little book in the New Testament.

Anyone have Hebrews 13 and verse 2?

Aicha, do you have that

and could read it for us?

What's one reason we find there?

(Aicha) I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,

Hebrews 13, verse 2:

(Derek) Alright, so one good reason

we should love strangers is...?

(Team) They may be angels.

(Derek) It could be an angel.

Now, the secular person says, "Whatever."

But, you know there are many stories

where angels have come.

I've talked to people.

And you say, "Does it still happen now,

or was it just with Abraham in his tent,

when the three strangers came?"

who were actually sent

from the courts of heaven, right?

Well, one reason is it could be

a heavenly messenger

that you are caring for.

But there are some other reasons, too.

Matthew, chapter 25, Jason,

do you have that, verse 35.

Jesus is actually giving a parable

about sheep and goats.

What does He say in verse 35
of Matthew 25?

(Jason) I have the New King James Version,
Matthew 25:35:

(Derek) Well, does that mean

that it could actually be Jesus
who's a stranger,

or is it saying a little more than that,
is it possible?

You say, "That happened

in the Old Testament,

the pre-incarnate Son of God

showed up at someone's tent, right?

So, it's not impossible,

but if you read the whole story,

it's also saying what?

(Sabina) That we are

supposed to extend this care

for anyone who has a need.

(Derek) As if we were caring for Jesus?

(Sabina) Exactly.

(Derek) Yes, Stephanie?

(Stephanie) As much as we've done it
for that person, we've done it to Jesus.

(Derek) It's like we were

serving Jesus Himself. Puia?

(Puia) Yes, I was just going to say

what Stephanie just said.

And taking it further, it's interesting

that, if we continue to read

that story from Matthew 25,

those people who were helping others

did not even realize

that they were doing that to Jesus.

I just thought that was interesting.

(Derek) So that, certainly,

is clear evidence they were not trying

to earn God's love;

they were reflecting God's love,

even to the stranger;
isn't that beautiful?

Let's look at one Old Testament passage,

Psalm 146, verses 8 through 10.

Psalm 146, Sabina, do you have

verses 8 through 10?

(Sabina) Yes, 146:8-10, I'll be reading

from the New King James Version,
and it says:

(Derek) Amen. What are some ways

that the Lord watches over,

to use Sabina's translation,

watches over the stranger?

Help me with that.

What are some ways the Lord

watches over the stranger, anybody? Yes?

(Sabina) I think that through the love

that He pours upon us,

as we were sharing here, you know,

in reflecting the character of God,

He just uses His own people

to care for others.

(Derek) Okay, so one way

that he cares for the stranger

is through His followers

who have that love connection with Him

and allow His love to flow through them.

How else might He...

What was the word

it used for "the strangers"?

(Sabina) Watches over.

(Derek) Watches over.

What's another way, Jason,

besides through His children today

who are living in relationship with Him?

(Jason) Well, sometimes He

has actually used nature or animals,

like in the case of the prophet

that was in the wilderness, Elijah,

when He had ravens bring bread.

So, God sometimes uses

the rest of His creation besides just man.

(Derek) That's a beautiful thought.

I hadn't even thought about that,

but He could watch over the stranger

through sending something from nature.

What did God do with Hagar, with Ishmael,

when she was cast out

of Abraham's camp, do you remember?

Abraham's camp, didn't God provide...?

(Team Member) Water.

(Derek) Water and...? Some cake or bread?

So He could work a miracle to watch over.

What does that tell us about how God feels

about all of His children?

(Derek) Yes, Puia.

(Puia) Yes, God does care

for all His children.

And as I look at that verse,

not just the strangers,

the Bible also mentions

the fatherless and the widow.

It seems to point out that God
is very concerned

about the most vulnerable people
in our society.

(Derek) Right, that's a good point.

Now, there's one other text

that gives a principle

that could also guide us.

I think the other one's better,

but I like this one, too,

because Jesus gave it.

It's a rule for life, and I guess

it would really, if we lived it,

would change a lot of things.

And that's Matthew, chapter 7,
and verse 12.

Jason, how does that read

in your translation?

(Jason) The New King James Version says,

Matthew 7, verse 12:

(Derek) I remember a story once

where a little boy,

his brother came and punched him.

He looked indignant and punched
his brother back

while quoting the text, "Do unto others."

That's not what the text says, right?

The text doesn't say, "Do to others

what they do to you."

What does it say?

(Daisy) As you would want them to do...

(Derek) What you would want them
to do to you.

Be...what's the word? Be...? Proactive.

Be intentional about treating other people

the way you would like to be treated.
Even strangers?

(Team) Yeah.

(Derek) Even strangers. Sabina?

(Sabina) What I'm thinking
also, Pastor Derek,

is that even the other action

that God took to allow His people

to be cared for is giving the law.

You know, when He gives these guidelines,

when He informs us what's His character,

consonant within reality,

I think it helps us to know

exactly how even to help others, right?

Because, as we were sharing here,

yeah, He may do a miracle,

maybe He may impress us with compassion,

but I do think that Scriptures,

even to the people in the Old Testament,

as we saw, they had lots of guidelines

of how to do so in a way that was godly.

So, I think this also is informed here.

It says, "Give good things to them,

because this is the Law

and the Prophets that were for Me."

(Derek) Now, we know the experience

of the children of Israel.

They're told, "You were once strangers."

Let's go back and look at that experience.

And you might say, "Derek, why don't we

just forget that painful time?"

Why are we called to remember?

Because there will be
a lesson for us, too.

So, let's go to Genesis 15 and verse 13,

and I'm going to ask Adison

if you'd read that for us,

in Genesis 15 and verse 13.

It's actually a prophecy

that the Lord gives to Abraham.

He doesn't have any descendants yet,

but it's a prophecy about his descendants.

See how that reads.

(Adison) And I'm reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) So, someone give me a lesson.

It's in the end of the book of Genesis.

How did the descendants of Abraham,

as he is called after he has a child,

how did the descendants of Abraham

end up as strangers in a foreign land?

Does anybody know the story?

You can read about it

in the book of Genesis, chapter 46 and 47,

but let me have someone summarize.

How did they get there, Jason?

(Jason) So, it's all through someone
named Joseph.

He ends up getting sold into slavery.

He's one of the descendants of Abraham.

And then he ends up becoming
second in command

and eventually brings

his family down there.

And at first, they're welcomed,

but then a new king arises,

and they become "strangers" again,

and that new king,

that new Pharaoh, makes them slaves.

(Derek) We're going to read that passage.

You gave us a great summary

in 35 seconds; that was good.

We're going to come

to Exodus, chapter 1, in just a minute.

But even though they

were welcomed by the Pharaoh

because of Joseph, right,

"they" being Joseph's father

and Joseph's siblings and their children

and grandchildren, probably

(many years had passed)...

And there were, what, 60

to 70 of them, right?

Someone will send us an email

with the exact number.

I remember seeing the number 66,

but if someone could look there,

and you'll find the exact...

So, it wasn't a large group,

but God blessed them

and they multiplied greatly there.

Why did the Egyptians always

view them as foreigners, even though they

had been showed favor by the Pharaoh?

Because they were always
considered foreigners.

They weren't always persecuted,

but they were always foreigners
or strangers, why?

Anybody know? Yes, Billy.

(Billy) I'm guessing it might be

because of their occupation.

They used to herd cattle,

and the Egyptians saw that

as an abomination, so they

were always kept separate

because maybe the Egyptians

didn't handle animals.

But then, because they handled cattle,

I think that was something

that they did not want to relate with.

(Derek) I think Joseph mentions it,

specifically, about caring for sheep,

but, you know, they were herders,
you're right.

And that that was not a glamorous
profession in Egypt,

so they would be kind of, for that reason,
socially distanced.

We use that expression today,

social distance, right.

But I think there's another reason

that maybe is even more significant.
Sabina?

(Sabina) I'm thinking
about their religion.

I'm believing that, you know,

I don't recall any specific passage

that mentions that, but it makes

a lot of sense to me,

that they were just coming as Semites

into a land of polytheism and all

those different strange beliefs.

So, I'm sure that the Egyptians

also found the Hebrews kind of different.

(Derek) Does anyone know

how many gods the Egyptians had?

(Team) A lot.

(Derek) The safe answer is "a lot," right?

They worshiped bugs;

they worshiped the river;

they worshiped animals.

I mean, the golden calf,

they didn't make that up.

They brought that idea

out of Egypt with them.

So, they worshiped all kinds

of animate and inanimate things;

whereas, this group worshiped

the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

So, there was a distinction between them,

and they were strangers.

But, and, Jason, I'm going

to have you read for us into Exodus now,

having been, yeah, they were

still strangers, but they
were shown favor.

They were given the land of Goshen,

and it was a good land.

And they thrived, and they

multiplied as worshipers

of the one true Creator God, right?

They were separated,

but then something happens, Jason.

If you could read for us

Exodus 1, verses 8 through 22.

(Jason) Right, I have

the New King James Version here,

Exodus, chapter 1, verses 8 through 22:

(Derek) Well, that's quite a story.

I'm listening and saying,

"God bless the midwives," you know,

that spared those children.

Because from one of those little boys,

the deliverer would come, right?

But that sounds like

a very traumatic time.

Can you imagine, many of those women,

they lost their sons.

I mean, Moses was spared

by a miraculous intervention,

but many of them, we would call that

an infanticide, right, that's a genocide

of babies, kind of what Herod did

in Bethlehem, right?

Wouldn't you just want to forget

that whole episode, what do you think?

Aicha, can you imagine

going through that kind
of terrible trauma?

Why would God say, "Remember

that you were once strangers in Egypt"?

(Aicha) Yeah, that must have been

a really hard time, and I can't imagine.

And I think there are still people

hanging onto hard times and feeling

like they are entitled because of that...

(Derek) Yeah, it's a challenging thought.

Now, I don't think God wanted them

to remember the emotional trauma,
anguish, pain.

I'm looking at Daisy, because, Daisy,

you have a precious family.

You know, your heart must break

to think about what these Hebrew mothers

and fathers went through.

What, if anything - well, they know

there's something because the Lord
says remember -

what might the Lord want them

to remember through this terrible trauma?

(Daisy) There's a saying that you

will not appreciate certain things

if you haven't been

on the other side of it.

If you have not experienced poverty,

you would not appreciate riches.

If you have not experienced the cold,

you would not appreciate the heat.

So, you've got to remember the struggles

that you went through

and put yourself in it

so you understand what the other people

might be going through.

And then you would understand

that that's not a good place to be.

So, you want to give them

what you wish you would have gotten
that you didn't get.

(Derek) Back to the Golden Rule, right?

You would have...What's that word?

What do you call that? Empathy, right?

Empathy, it's not just sympathy,

empathy does something, right?

You feel and you act in response.

So, don't forget, and one key lesson

would be don't, don't, what?

Don't treat other people

the way you were treated, right? Billy?

(Billy) Empathy was the word

I was going to say

because a friend of mine

was telling me a story of how he

used to be addicted to crack cocaine,

and then God delivered him out of that.

So, he heard that another friend of his

went through that same process,

and he said that he was the only one

capable of actually supporting his friend,

because his friend was

about to commit suicide.

But he stepped in,

and when he told his friend

that, "I went through the same process.

I got delivered; you can do this,"

so, that was a way for him to believe him

and still trust that he can be delivered.

So, I think that's the same thing

with the children of Israel,

that, because they went through
that same process,

they should have empathy with people

going through that same process,

so that they can have hope

in being delivered.

(Derek) I always wondered

why the Apostle Paul said,

"Christ died for sinners,

of whom I am the worst one," the chief.

I thought, "No way; there's

got to be more wicked people around."

Even if you knew all the things
that I did,

you'd say, "Well, I think you are

just as wicked as Saul of Tarsus was."

But by being willing to empathize

with someone else who is struggling

and saying, "You know, I struggled,

and I failed, and here's how God

continued to show love to me," right,

"continued to show mercy to me,"

I want to reflect that in the way

I interact with you. Sabina?

(Sabina) But I'm thinking also,

Pastor Derek, is that sometimes,

we're not going to experience

some situations in our lives,

and still we should offer love.

I think that God, He is

obviously the Creator of the universe,

and He is launching hand here,

resourcing to empathy,

which, I think, He knows how we work,

and it's easier for me to connect.

But in case we don't have an experience

that can connect us to someone else,

still, we have the Word of God

that gives us guidance of how to do so.

(Derek) And, you know, Sabina,

your point is very important.

We ought not to go to someone,

let's say who lost a child,

if we haven't and say, "I know

exactly how you feel."

We don't know how they feel, okay?

But I can say I'm hurting with you,

I'm hurting with you.

I can empathize to that extent.

Well, we want to go to one last section,

which is judging righteously.

We're supposed to love our strangers,

not just our family member or neighbor,

but love them with the love of God.

Thanks again for the physics lesson,
Adison.

Yup, the vertical and the horizontal,

with the love of God,

and maybe startle ourselves

with how much the love of God

is flowing through us

to an absolute stranger, right?

And hopefully the stranger will say,

"Who is this God that you know

and One that's filling you

with His unconditional love?" right?

But also in the way that we judge,

Moses goes out of his way

to say, "Don't just judge righteously
with certain people."

Have you ever heard someone say,

"Be fair with your own people,

but with other people,

whatever you can get away with."

That, we're going to see,

is not acceptable if the love of God

is in our hearts. Jason?

(Jason) I've actually experienced that,

both in my country and in other countries.

I've had people of my country,

that they're like, "Oh, well, these people

are from another place,

so let's make sure to charge them more
or not be as fair to them."

Then I remember when I went
to another country,

people there were like, "Alright,

you're not going to buy stuff;

we're going to do it for you
because if it were you,

you're not from our people,

and so, they're not going

to treat you as fairly."

So, I've seen this happen

in many different countries in the world.

(Derek) Well, Stephanie, look with us,

if you would, at Deuteronomy 16
and verse 19.

Why was it important to the Lord

that His people would judge righteously?

(Stephanie) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) So, when you were

reading that, Billy, did you

recognize that with the verse
about, "I am the Lord

who shows no partiality"?

(Billy) Right.

(Derek) Let's look at a few verses
together.

Puia, could you read

for us Deuteronomy 1:16.

We're going to look at three verses

here in Deuteronomy.

Why is there such an emphasis

on treating the stranger,

not only loving them, but justly,

treating them justly? Deuteronomy 1:16.

(Puia) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) He could have just said

between a man or a woman

and brother and stop there.

Why did he add that extra little phrase

on the end, Stephanie?

(Stephanie) I think for Jason's example,

because he knew that we

would be partial, as human beings.

(Derek) One more verse.

Aicha, could you read

in chapter 24 of Deuteronomy, verse 17?

We're getting emphasis on, we should

treat justly, and thank you, Jason,

for that illustration.

We could all fall into that trap.

"Well, this person is old, and they

don't know how much their car's worth.

I'll just offer them a hundred dollars,"

And someone would say,

"That was very shrewd,"

but maybe the God of heaven would say,

"You didn't treat the stranger justly."

Aicha, I hope I didn't hurt

anyone's feelings, by the way.

Chapter 24, verse 17.

(Aicha) And I'll be reading

from the New King James Version:

(Derek) It's interesting, here again

we heard, put together

the stranger and...?

(Derek, Team) The fatherless.

(Derek) So, that idea of, what,
at risk or...?

(Team) Vulnerable.

(Derek) Vulnerable or marginalized.

God cares about them.

One last verse, Daisy, if you

could read in chapter 27

of Deuteronomy, verse 19,

and then we're going to look

at some practical applications.

(Daisy) The New Living Translation says:

(Derek) That's got even stronger,

"Cursed is everyone who..."?

(Daisy) Denies justice.

(Derek) Denies justice...?

(Daisy) To the foreigners or...

(Derek) To the foreigner.

We could say to the stranger, "Cursed."

Why? That's very strong language, Adison.

Why do you think, "Cursed is everyone

who doesn't show justice
to the foreigner"?

(Adison) It is, it's super
strong language.

You know, it's very candid;
it's so important.

I think what God is getting at here,
again,

is He's stressing the importance

of, like, there are severe implications

for when we don't reflect His love

to those around us in any circumstance

and especially also in how we
carry out justice.

It's so important because with God

mercy and justice exist side by side.

There is no partiality.

He is no respecter of persons,

and so we have to be so careful.

And Jesus can help us every day.

(Derek) Beautiful. What's the opposite

of a curse? Yes, Daisy.

(Daisy) I was going to say

the opposite of a curse is a blessing.

If you naturally do what is right,

automatically blessings come to you...

(Derek) Ah, so you're

cutting off the blessing of God,

and the result

is negative consequence, right?

You're cutting off the blessing of God.

Jason, one last passage

we want to look at Deuteronomy 24,

verses 10 through 15.

It's very practical; read it for us.

(Jason) New King James, Deuteronomy,

chapter 24, verses 10 through 15:

(Derek) Some people work,

and that work provides food

for their family that day, right?

So, what would our communities look like,

last few seconds, what would our lives

look like if we applied this principle,

that don't just love God...

In fact, if you love God,

living connection with a loving God,
you'll love others,

what would it look like, Billy?

(Billy) I think it would be a community

where everybody loves each other
and not fear other people

just because of how they look

or where they come from.

So, that fear, I think, pushes us to do
certain things that we shouldn't do.

(Derek) Doesn't the Bible say

that perfect love casts out all fear?

(Team) Yes.

(Derek) So, fear is cast out.

Suspicion, prejudice is cast out.

And what happens when the love

of God flows through us?

(Daisy) There's harmony...

(Derek) And...? We're blessed, too, right?

You know, this is not because God

just needs your help.

He wants to bless you as you care

for the stranger within your,

today we might say,

within your circle of influence.

Let the love of God flow through you.

Startle them with a revelation

of a God who loves

with an immeasurable and unfailing love.

Let's pray together.

Oh, Father in heaven, thank You

for this present truth

from the book of Deuteronomy.

And may we see opportunities,

guided by Your Spirit,

to let Your self-sacrificing love

flow through us, that others around us

will be blessed, and we, too,
will be blessed

through a living connection with You.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

(Team) Amen.

(Derek) Thanks for joining us

for Hope Sabbath School, what a journey.

May the love of God flow through you

to bless the lives of those around you.

♪ theme music ♪