Consistency of God and the Law

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Exodus 12:49

One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you."

NKJV

In our world where change is certain and often not for our good, it is great to know that God and His Word are changeless and consistent.  This is why God commanded the People of Israel to have one law for both native-born people and strangers.  Failure of consistency in the law would have caused class warfare and division in the land.  It also would have violated the consistency of an unchanging God. 

The United States experienced such division when the nation failed to abolish slavery at the Constitutional Convention.  The reason the issue was left unresolved at the convention was that the southern states, for economic reasons, would have never ratified a Constitution that abolished it.  The compromise reached at the convention allowed each state to decide the issue of slavery within their state.  This appeased the southern states.  Northern states were appeased when it was decided that slaves would not be counted as full persons but as three-fifths of a person.  (1)

The reason the northern states did not want slaves counted as full persons was not because they were racist but to prevent southern states from importing slaves and gaining an electoral advantage over the north thus further entrenching the practice of slavery in the nation.  However, this compromise in essence set up two laws with some areas of the country banning the practice of slavery and others condoning it.  Obviously, slaves seeking freedom would attempt to escape to states banning the practice of slavery but would be prevented from doing so by their slave owners.  As the years went on, the division in the nation over the issue of slavery grew until the nation found itself in a bloody Civil War over the issue. 

Some may argue that the issue of slavery was a state’s rights issue and thus, the southern states should have been allowed to continue the practice.  However, the Declaration of Independence guarantees all people the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  The practice of slavery took the God given right of liberty away from certain citizens of the country.  It is correct that states, under our federalist system do have rights to make laws of their own, but these laws cannot violate anyone’s God given right to liberty.  The practice of slavery violated the premise of liberty that the United States was founded on and therefore, it was right for the nation to abolish the practice. 

Now with the abolishing of slavery, there is one law in the nation and people of all races, regardless of what state the live in, have liberty, and cannot be enslaved.  However, does this mean that anyone living in the country has the right to liberty?  The answer to that question is no. 

As of the writing of this posting, President Obama has delayed his threatened executive amnesty for those illegally in the country until after the 2014 mid-term elections.  Even though the delay is a victory, after the election there is little doubt President Obama will press on with his promise of executive amnesty.  I am sure that at some time during the amnesty debate it will be justified using the argument that all people living in the nation have the right to liberty.  However, when someone breaks the laws of the nation, they forfeit their right to liberty and must suffer the consequences of their actions. 

Slaves in the United States prior to the Civil War were in the country against their will.  However, those illegally crossing the border now have made a conscious decision to violate the laws of the United States.  As such, they must suffer the consequences of their actions, which include deportation. 

If President Obama creates executive amnesty, he will be creating in essence two sets of laws.  Those paying to legally enter the country will feel ripped off as those entering illegally get a free pass.  Those born in the country will see their wages and opportunities decrease as the already shrinking labor market is flooded with cheap labor.  Finally, since these illegals are mostly unskilled, they will put a strain on our nation’s safety net, which will eventually result in higher taxes, taxes most likely paid by citizens and those legally in the country. 

Just as God is consistent and the laws of the land of Israel were to be consistent, the United States must have consistency in its laws.  We cannot grant people choosing to break the immigration laws of the United States some form of amnesty for in doing so we will create envy between the illegal and legal class.  The founders of the United States envisioned a nation without any classes.  They envisioned a nation governed by the rule of law, laws equally enforced upon all people in the land.  We therefore must block any attempt by the President or Legislature to grant special privileges to law breakers living in the nation. 

President Obama has decided to hit the pause button and not implement executive amnesty until after the 2014 mid-terms.  We must keep the pressure on and insure he does not hit the play button after the election and implement any form of amnesty.  This is the only way to preserve the God given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness the founders of the United States envisioned for the citizens of the nation. 

1. Eddie01. Constitutional Convention: The Problem of Slavery. www.freerepublic.com. [Online] Free Republic, November 27, 2010. [Cited: September 9, 2014.] http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2633657/posts.