Friend of Strangersنموونە

Before God's people claimed the land of Israel, much of the patriarchs' lives were characterized by alienation and flight. Abraham lives as a stranger in the land of Canaan but is forced to leave when there is a shortage of food. He thus becomes a kind of economic migrant:

“Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.” (Ge 12:10)

Abraham's grandson Jacob and his family settle in Canaan and begin to see it as their own country. But eventually, the world is hit by a global famine. Jacob's son Joseph, who becomes a powerful leader in Egypt, welcomes his family and other affected climate refugees to Egypt and provides them with food.

But before Jacob leaves for Egypt, God speaks to him in a vision at night:

“Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes." (Ge 46:3-4)

In times of need, God is with His people, even accompanying them on their migration and promising to bring them back when the time is right. God arranges for Egypt to invite Israel as a welcomed guest. Once there, God blesses His people so they can become leaders and build their new country while providing aid to their old one.