This week, the United States military moved out of the way of Turkish militias invading Syria. This move left many of us feeling confused, as it didn't seem to fit with any traditional foreign policy of the US or a new stance toward demobilization (as it was accompanied by an increase in troops in Saudi Arabia). The story of the Old Testament is in many ways a story of the migration of people, and the suffering of people forced to move. Ruth gives us the story of what it means to bear witness to that suffering, and helps explain why this move strikes such an emotional chord with us as we leave allies to the attacks of authoritarian governments in Turkey and Russia.

Charts and maps:

Moab: http://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/tools/map-gallery/m/map-Moab

Global Refugee numbers 1952-2017: https://www.axios.com/refugee-population-world-9d7e786e-3773-4d17-ac0b-5baa3bee031e.html

Up-to-Date UN Refugee figures at a glance: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

Shifting origins of refugees to the US since 1975: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/07/key-facts-about-refugees-to-the-u-s/ft_19-10-07_refugees_shifting-origins-refugees-us-since-1975/

Also from pew: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/07/key-facts-about-refugees-to-the-u-s/