Banishment

Abraham banished his illegitimate son Ishmael and Ishmael’s mother Hagar to prevent problems for his legitimate son Isaac down the road. As the story in Genesis goes, when Sarah was certain she couldn’t produce an heir, she told Abraham to impregnate her salve Hagar, who then gave birth to Ismael.  After that, Sarah did miraculously conceive Isaac and gave Abraham a son.  Abraham’s wife Sarah asked for the banishment so Isaac wouldn’t have to share his inheritance, but more likely to avoid conflict between Isaac and Ishmael that would almost certainly result in bloodshed. Ishmael and Hagar survived and Ishmael fathered his own dynasty near Egypt. This lesson from Genesis tells us that God can make sure that the decisions we make that we think are harsh decisions at the time can work out to the benefit of all.

Banishment has been used to get rid of members of communities who have caused trouble.  Drug addicts are banished from families. Criminals are banished from communities and jailed. Some criminals have been taken to islands and left to fend for themselves.

The establishment of borders is an attempt to gain control of who gets to enter your country and deportation is a form of banishment.

History does not support the notion that people have the right to migrate to other countries, but need to be admitted with the consent of those who are already citizens of the country they wish to enter.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader