In a Land of Sojourn

In today’s text, Jacob makes his journey from Canaan into Egypt. It is a land of sojourn where his family will eventually grow into the nation of Israel to be led one day back to their true home in Canaan. We too are in a land of sojourn while on this earth, for our true home is in heaven. But, we often find such sojourning a hard and fearful experience, and we can grow strongly attached to this world. Yet, working backwards through this episode of Jacob’s life, we learn what it means to be a sojourner led and assured by God. We need not be afraid while we are sojourners in this life because like Jacob, we belong to God as his people, and he is our God who preserves us and keeps his promises.