What had happened to Israel by the time of Genesis 46?
By the time of Genesis 46, Israel had become a nation and was enslaved in Egypt. Joseph had risen to the top of the government. Jacob was in the Negev desert, near starvation during a famine of almost seven years, and he came to Beersheba to offer sacrifices, where God spoke to him.
Les explains that by Genesis 46, time had passed but it was still within the 430-year prophecy. Israel had become a nation, they were in slavery in Egypt, Joseph had come to the top of the government, and the story of Joseph and his grain was known. Jacob was over in the Negev, which is desert, about to starve to death. There was no food; they had been in famine almost seven years. Jacob came to Beersheba, south of Jerusalem about 70-80 miles, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. God spoke unto Israel, or Jacob, saying, "Jacob," and he answered, "Here am I." Les notes this command was almost a total opposite of what he had been told up until now, for he had been told not to leave the land.
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.