Perserverance in Faith - Genesis 44-47

Genesis 47:27

Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.

Tag:  Perseverance in Faith

Israel had brought his family to Egypt.   God had told him to not fear to do so.   In his obedience to God, he and his family were blessed.   God brought them to Egypt and blessed them.  He will soon redeem them from slavery in Egypt and bless them, as well.  But why did God bring them here to bless them?  Note what God had told Abraham, years earlier:

Genesis 15:13-16

Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

God brought them here in order to bless them.  But, God ultimately wanted to give them the promise land.  However, the “iniquity of the Amorites” was not yet complete.   God was patiently waiting for these living in the promise land to repent.  Notice the character and forbearance of God:

Romans 2:4

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

While God was preparing the Amorites for destruction, He was preparing the Israelites for blessing.   God has a plan and that plan includes dealing with the righteous and the wicked.  God is working in the lives of His people and those who are not. One He is moving into place so He can bless them, the other He is moving into place so He can judge them.   Those who preserve to the end, in faith, will be blessed.  Israel obeyed God and went to Egypt.   It was there God would bless them, while He prepared the Amorites for destruction in the promise land.  God said He would take them to Egypt for 400 years.  This is God completing that promise.