I’ve experienced a measure of homelessness. I’d sold my house but couldn’t move into the new house. Fortunately for me I could afford to rent a house. Even more fortunately I had a parent who could put me up for a short period of time! It’s strange leaving behind a place that you have lived in for near 20 years. I guess I’m moving to a “better place” but not quite yet! I can only imagine how awful it is for people to be evicted from the place they have spent many years and onto the street. They may not have the money or the family to support them. The Bible is not without some examples of homeless.

1. Adam and Eve

They had a great place in the Garden of Eden and regular fellowship with God. There was only one limitation on their “lease” and they broke it and found themselves evicted. They left behind eternal life, fellowship with God and a perfect environment. Now the would experience death, separation from God and would need to toil to produce food from the ground. The whole of creation was corrupted as a result. We still leave with the results of their eviction from a perfect home. They tried but failed to pass the test of temptation. The human race has been trying to get back home ever since. That human utopia that governments are seeking to build is just not possible. We keep on breaking the “lease” again and again. It was hard for Adam and Eve but at least God didn’t wipe them out and He showed mercy.

2. Abraham

It is not necessarily the judgement of God that leads to a person becoming homeless. Abraham was called by God to leave behind his family and riches and go to a land that God would show him. It wasn’t a geographical point. Abraham believed God and he was richly blessed in his tents. He had a portable home rather than a fixed one. God would make a great nation from this one man’s obedience to leave behind his family and inheritance to follow God. It was faith on an extraordinary level. The descendants of Abraham are all over the world and the nation of Israel has been reborn – if not spiritually.

3. Moses

He was forced to flee from a position of wealth and power and wander in the desert until he found himself a wife and job! It was years later that God called Him to go back to bring the people of Israel (The descendants of Abraham) out of slavery in Egypt to go to the promised land.

4. Israel in wilderness

It was due to their unbelief that they wandered for years in the wilderness and a whole generation dies out. Then God raises Joshua to take over from Moses and lead the people into the battle to take the land God has promised them.

5. Jesus

He said “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20). Jesus left behind His home (Heaven) to come to planet Earth and possess nothing of any great material value. He borrowed things and food during His ministry. His gave back much more than what He took!

We are to follow the example of the Samaritan and the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:34-35 on how to treat the poor and homeless. “Then the King will say to those at His right, ‘Come, my Father’s blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world. For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome.

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