Bedouin tribes still inhabit the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. They dwell in tents meant to be moved to a new location as they roam from place to place. They cling to a traditional, nomadic way of life that is temporary in nature – but one that has aided their survival as a people group. I learned about the Bedouin when we lived in the Middle East. Whenever I had the chance to observe their culture, inevitably, my thoughts would turn to the apostle Paul. After all, he was a tentmaker by profession. He probably would have been well versed in nomadic life — people needing tents would have been the mainstay of his business. So I guess it’s no surprise that Paul would compare our life on this earth to a temporary tent. 

Paul writes about living in the temporary tent of our earthly bodies while waiting expectantly for our permanent place in eternity. Which one of us has not yearned for that permanent place in heaven (v.2) while enduring our fallen mortal state? 

Yet, Paul encourages his readers to be comforted by God’s gift of the Holy Spirit while we are physically separated from Him. “The Holy Spirit’s presence neither removes the trouble of this life nor stops the groaning. Rather, the Holy Spirit joins us in our present groaning (Rom. 8:26)”.

The Christian life is nomadic in many ways, just like the Bedouin. Paul tells the Philippians, “but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil 3:20) 

We will be absent from the body and home with the Lord one day. Be encouraged as you wait patiently, and continue to walk by faith, not by sight, and make your way in this world in your temporary tent. 

1 Kruse, C. G. (1994). 2 Corinthians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1197). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.