Genesis 45-47

“I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there” (46:3). Jacob’s life had centered on God’s promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land of Canaan. How could Jacob be faithful to the covenant if he left Canaan? The family had survived terrible internal conflicts, including Joseph’s disappearance, and now famine threatened the clan. Did moving to Egypt mean giving up on God’s promises?

But God told Jacob that this detour was not a mistake. God’s purposes were unchanged; Egypt was part of making Israel “a great nation”.