Journey or Homecoming: Are We Settlers or Sojourners?
In this article, you will learn how Genesis 35:6 contradicts Genesis 28:13-15, 2 Samuel 7:10 and Hebrews 11:9. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The story of Jacob in Genesis 35:6 describes a moment where he returns to a place that has been significant in his life—Bethel, previously known as Luz. This sacred site is where Jacob once met God. However, when we compare this to other biblical narratives, apparent contradictions arise.
In Genesis 28:13-15, Jacob receives a divine promise while on his journey: the land he treads will belong to him and his descendants. This promise suggests a permanent inheritance, making his eventual return to Bethel seems like the realization of that promise. Yet, at the time of Genesis 35:6, Jacob appears to be returning to Bethel as part of a transient lifestyle, lacking the permanence one might expect from a landowner.
Turning to 2 Samuel 7:10, we find another promise of permanence, but this time it’s directed toward David. God assures David that He will establish a homeland for Israel, a place where they can finally settle and flourish, free from wandering. Contrast this promise with Jacob's earlier nomadic experiences, and a tension emerges between temporary journeys and eternal homes.
Further adding to the tension is Hebrews 11:9, which characterizes Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as strangers in the land they were promised. The passage underscores the transient, almost alien existence of the patriarchs, different from the notion of settling seen in Genesis 35:6.
These varying narratives present a compelling question: Are these biblical figures on a never-ending journey, or are they establishing permanent homes? This contradiction is similar to a person repeatedly moving houses yet being assured they own each piece of property. It raises questions about the nature of promises and the pursuit of a definitive homeland. How do these stories of dual identities as sojourners and settlers help us understand our journey and perhaps even our understanding of home?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Genesis 35:6 | So Jacob came to Luz, which [is] in the land of Canaan, that [is], Bethel, he and all the people that [were] with him. |
| 2. | Genesis 28:13-15 | And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; |
| 3. | 2 Samuel 7:10 | Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime, |
| 4. | Hebrews 11:9 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: |