Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (Genesis 15:13-14 NKJV)

GENESIS 15 IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Thought For The Week: In this passage, God is making a solemn covenant with Abram (later Abraham), promising him a vast number of descendants and the land of Canaan. Yet, within this joyous promise, God reveals a challenging detail: his descendants will endure 400 years of affliction and slavery in a foreign land. God sees the entire “tapestry of history,” not just the immediate moment. He not only predicts the suffering but also assures Abram that He will judge the oppressing nation and bring His people out with “great possessions”.

This text reminds us that our lives, like the history of Israel, are part of a larger divine plan. When we face trials, delays, or periods of suffering, it can be easy to feel that God is absent or that His promises have failed. The 400 years in Egypt must have felt endless to the Israelites, yet God was working behind the scenes the entire time. Just like He is working behind the scenes of your circumstances today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that Your promises are certain and Your timing is perfect. Help us to trust in Your sovereignty, even when our current circumstances are difficult or uncertain. Give us the patience to wait for Your deliverance and the faith to know that You are working all things out for our ultimate good and Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.