Exodus 22:21
““You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.”
What does Exodus 22:21 mean?
God calls the Israelites to treat immigrants and foreigners with gentleness and respect, reminding them of their own painful history as outsiders in Egypt. The command isn't based on abstract principle alone, but on lived memory: they know what it feels like to be vulnerable, unwelcome, or looked down upon in a foreign place. When we've experienced hardship ourselves, we're better positioned to extend compassion to others in similar situations, rather than pass that pain along to someone else.