So, one of my jobs is for the Theology of Work Project, and I just wanted to take a second to send you to a cool article that just appeared on their site about the book of Ruth and unemployment and immigration. Having lived through a period of unemployment myself and with my husband, I hope to share some thoughts about this at some point, but for right now, just passing on the link….
There is certainly a contemporary ring to these challenges in the light of current debates about how much hospitality we should offer refugees and migrants. But there is also a reminder that the Old Testament laws demanding hospitality towards widows, the poor and foreigners (to which Naomi will appeal later when they return to Israel) are accompanied by the reminder “for you were once foreigners seeking refuge in Egypt”(Deut 10:18-19, 16:11-12, 24:17-18).
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