In the biblical narrative, the concept of being "pilgrims and strangers" is vividly illustrated through the experiences of the nation of Israel. This theme is woven throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the transient and dependent nature of God's people as they journey through life, often in foreign lands, while seeking a homeland promised by God.

Typification in Israel's History

1. Abraham's Call and Journey: The patriarch Abraham is a quintessential example of a pilgrim and stranger. Called by God to leave his homeland, Abraham embarked on a journey to a land he did not know. Hebrews 11:8-10 reflects on this, stating, "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

2. The Sojourn in Egypt: The Israelites' sojourn in Egypt further exemplifies their status as strangers. Initially welcomed during Joseph's time, they eventually became oppressed foreigners in a land not their own. Exodus 1:8-14 describes their plight, emphasizing their alien status and the harsh conditions they endured. This period of sojourning culminated in the Exodus, where God delivered them from bondage, reinforcing their identity as a people set apart for His purposes.

3. Wilderness Wanderings: After their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. This period was marked by a nomadic existence, living in tents and relying on God's provision. Deuteronomy 8:2-4 recounts this time, highlighting God's testing and provision: "Remember that the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

4. Exile and Return: The Babylonian exile represents another significant period where Israel experienced life as strangers in a foreign land. Psalm 137:1-4 captures the heartache of the exiles: "By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors requested a song; our tormentors demanded songs of joy: 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' How can we sing a song of the LORD in a foreign land?" Despite the exile, God's promise of return and restoration remained, as seen in Jeremiah 29:10-14 , where God assures them of a future and a hope.

Spiritual Implications

The typification of Israel as pilgrims and strangers serves as a profound spiritual metaphor for believers. Just as Israel journeyed through foreign lands, Christians are called to live as sojourners in this world, looking forward to their eternal home. 1 Peter 2:11 exhorts believers: "Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul." This call to live as pilgrims emphasizes a life of faith, dependence on God, and a focus on the eternal promises of God.

Throughout Israel's history, the identity of being pilgrims and strangers underscores the transient nature of earthly life and the enduring hope of a divine inheritance. This typology not only reflects Israel's physical journey but also serves as a spiritual paradigm for all who seek to follow God in faith and obedience.Exodus 6:4
And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:11
And thus shall you eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Books of the Old Testament as a Whole. 1 the Province of ...
... them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the ... Gen.15:6. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt typified the redemption ...
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Symbolic Ornaments of the Church
... Trinity; the other, as we therein confess that we are pilgrims and strangers on
earth ... adopted from the well-known heathen use of it, but typified still more ...
/.../regester/the worship of the church/symbolic ornaments of the church.htm

V. ...
... Here is now fulfilled all that was typified by outward sacrifices in the Old ... Dearly
beloved, I admonish you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v .htm

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