Aliens: Isaac and his Sons and Grandson

Genesis 26:2-4New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring.

Genesis 28:3-5New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and numerous, that you may become a company of peoples. May he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien—land that God gave to Abraham.” Thus Isaac sent Jacob away; and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother.

Genesis 47:3-5New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.” They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you.

Abraham was an alien in a strange land, and so was his son Isaac, and so too was Isaac's son, Jacob. 

And so too were Jacob's son.

Not simply Joseph, sold into slavery: but all of Jacob's sons, who became aliens in search of food during the famine.

Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob's son's inherited the alien/migrant mantle from Abraham. It was the life they knew.  

Children today inherit the alien mantle from their parents as well. Parents looking to give their children better - safer - lives. 

Can you imagine? Trekking thousands of miles in some cases simply to make sure your children stay alive?

What kind of welcome can they expect?

For more information about what you can do to help migrants and refugees in crisis, visit Lutheran Immigration & Refugee Service here: http://lirs.org

God of the cosmos, remind us that this world is yours and that we are so fortunate to be able to share it with each other. Amen.