Jacob talks to Pharaoh and prepares for his death. Joseph acquires nearly all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh and many of the people as Pharaoh’s slaves because they sold themselves for food during the famine.

As Jacob nears death, he says of his own life, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” Jacob, who is Israel, is chosen by God and has come to follow after God. Unlike his son, Joseph, his troubles never ended on this earth. His entire life was unpleasant. It would be inconsistent and contrary to Scripture for us to teach that when we are faithful, God always takes us from our prisons, lion’s dens, fiery furnaces, and so on. While I believe the world is growing into a better, more pleasant place because of Christ’s kingdom on the earth now, there is no promise that life on this earth as we sojourn will be pleasant. Sometimes we are chosen by God, follow after Him, and are still dealt an unpleasant life. It rains on the just and unjust. So, we take courage. Just because life is unpleasant does not mean we are cursed or God has forgotten us. We are able to persevere because this life is our sojourn, not our inheritance.

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