What had God told Jacob and his sons about going down to Egypt?
God had constantly told Jacob and his sons to stay in Canaan and not go down into Egypt, warning they would get in trouble there. Yet later, being sovereign, God told Jacob to go down into Egypt, saying He had a reason, and reassured him not to fear.
Les explains that God had consistently instructed Jacob and his sons to remain in Canaan, saying, 'Don't you go down into Egypt, you'll get in trouble every time.' They knew this. But now God does something different because He is sovereign and can do whatever He wants. It was time for Jacob to do what was previously anathema. God told him, 'Go down into Egypt,' and when Jacob reminded Him of the former command, God said, 'Never mind Jacob, go down to Egypt. I've got a reason.' At Beersheba, God called, 'Jacob, Jacob,' and said, 'I am God, the God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt.'