The ongoing Refugee Crisis spreading across the world was a major talking point during last year's presidential election, and it continues to stir controversy as President Trump begins his first term. For instance, this past week President Trump banned refugees and citizens from 7 Muslim countries. The action solidifies the States' growing fears and reservations surrounding refugees; therefore, how should Christians react?

Many Christians are grappling with the issue of religious freedom for Muslims and how a refugee ban might contradict God's commandments or protect Americans. We Christians have been scouring God's Word in search of answers regarding this issue, and sure, there are loads of Bible verses that instruct us in how we should treat foreigners, such as Matthew 25:35, which states:

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in."

However, I believe we Christians have overlooked the people God used in His story and how a great deal of them were actually refugees. Don't believe me? Well, first, let's look at the definition of "refugee."

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) states that a refugee is "someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence." Therefore, with these three components at the forefront of our minds, let's check out a few Biblical figures who were also forcibly displaced.

1. Jacob

Genesis 27:42-44: "When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, 'Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides.'

A lot of us know Jacob, later called "Israel," as the guy who ended up have 12 sons. However, back when he was a young man, Jacob had a major feud with his brother Esau. After Jacob receives the blessing that his father had originally meant for Esau, he is told by his mother to flee their land, knowing that Esau will kill him if he stays. Therefore, Jacob's situation falls into this "violence" category of our definition. Jacob flees to Harron, and later God uses him to continue the lineage of the Israelites.

2. Moses and the Israelites

Genesis 5:1-2: "Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’ Pharaoh said, 'Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.'"

Moses once fled to Midian, fearing that the Egyptians might kill him. Later, however, he returns to the nation to save the Israelites from Pharaoh's oppression. Afterwards, the group travels in the wilderness for 40 years until coming to the Promised Land. All of the Jews, including Jesus, would later stem from these Israelites. Therefore, these figures escaped persecution, which fits the UNHCR's definition of "refugee."

3. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Matthew 2:13-14: "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.' When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt..."

That's right. At one point Jesus was forcibly displaced. To escape the wrath of Herod, Joseph and Mary took their child and fled to Egypt. Christians know that Jesus would later refuse to flee from immense persecution, but when he was a child, he and his family relocated for safety, just like many people today.

So there you have it. The Bible features tons of other figures fleeing from their lands, many because of situations like natural disasters. However, these are a few main people who were forcibly displaced because of persecution, war, and violence, so how should knowing about these figures change the way we look at the Refugee Crisis?

Well, firstly, this should tell us that this refugee issue isn't new. Throughout history people have been fleeing their lands for safety. That doesn't make it any less painful for those traveling or any less confusing for onlookers. However, God's dealt with this before. He's seen this thousands of times.

Also, let's look back at the verse from Matthew 25:35: "For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in."

Jesus stated this in a parable during His ministry, and doesn't knowing that he was once a refugee change how you view it? This wasn't said by someone who hadn't experienced the topic first hand. This was said by the son of God who was so vulnerable and loved us so much that He literally put Himself in a situation where he would be hungry, thirsty, and a foreigner. Jesus knew everything that was going to happen to Him before He came to earth, and He didn't turn away from it. He didn't try and avoid escaping to Egypt. Instead, He took on the role of refugee and used it in His later ministry.

Therefore, as we Christians grapple with the issue of displacement, maybe we should remind ourselves that many figures from the Bible, including the son of God, escaped persecution, war, and violence as well. God used all of these people in His greater plan, so who is to say that He will not do the same with current refugees? As Christians, we must be compassionate, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, and inviting in the stranger. Being welcoming to those different from us gives us an even greater chance to evangelize and be a part of God's big plan. God uses people in surprising ways, just as He did with these refugees from the Bible, so let's let Him touch the lives of these refugees through our compassionate, invitational hearts.