Genesis 15:6-20 God tells Abraham about the captivity of Isreal in Egypt (I think)

6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 He said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?” 9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”

17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying,

“To your descendants I have given this land,

From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:

19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.”

 

I did not remember this was in here.  It sounds like God is foretelling to Abram the captivity of the Isrealites in Egypt.  I am not sure though. 

 

I also think it is funny that when Abram wants answers from God this time, he has to do something.  It costs him a bit of work, some of his possessions and time.  Then, God does tell him what he wants to know.

 

I see several things.  God tells Abraham, that though they will be in captivity, then his descendants will leave with many possessions after he judges the nation who holds him.  Certainly sounds like the story of Moses and Egypt.  That is not surprising to me, God is God, He knows what is to happen.  I see that already He knows that all of that is going to happen.  Not like, it might happen this way, or vague.  He's pretty specific.  He knows.  Then I notice that the returning of Abrams fourth generation is somehow tied to the iniquity of the Amorites.  It isn't clear whether it is because God wants to intervene, or to judge or both.  That will be an interesting item to seek four generations from now.

 

God is specific.  He gives Abram the parameters of his inheritance.  from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates.  And all those "ites" that will be involved.

 

So, from this we can draw that God does know the future, He intervenes in the process and has a desired timing for things. 

 

Thank You Lord for showing Your character through Your word.  Thank You for allowing the stories of the mighty men of faith to make it through to us so we could learn about You.  Thank You for being sovereign, for knowing everything and being powerful, and loving, and accessible.  In Jesus name, amen