Genesis 46 & 47 Jacob’s Pilgrim Life

Perhaps you’ve heard of the pop slogans, “Salt Life,” “Lake Life,” “Dessert Life,” “Swamp Life,” tonight I want to talk to you about, “Pilgrim Life.” With such slogans firmly attached to the bumpers of our automobiles, we declare the dominant theme for our existence, our joy, and our pass-times. 

Remember that we, during our study of Joseph, that the main storyline has not shifted from Jacob? In chapters 46 and 47 it becomes important again that we keep this in mind because we see the narrative begin to focus more clearly on Jacob again. 

Chapters 46 and 47 demonstrate well that like his grandfather Abraham, Jacob was a pilgrim, a wanderer. But as J.R.R. Tolkien said so well, “All that wander are not lost;”  Jacob did not wonder for wonder’s sake. 

What is a pilgrim? What does it mean to be a Pilgrim?