What had God told the patriarchs about leaving the promised land before they moved to Egypt?
God had instructed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not to leave the land of promise. To Isaac specifically He said, “Sojourn in this land, and I will bless you.” The patriarchs knew this directive, yet the family later went down to Egypt during Joseph’s time.
Les explains that God had been telling Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not to leave the land of promise, and he points back to God’s word to Isaac in chapter 26: “Sojourn in this land, and I will bless you.” The patriarchs knew that. In chapter 46, the sons had gone back home to Canaan and told Jacob that Joseph was alive, was the head man in Egypt, and had Pharaoh’s permission to bring the whole family down into the best part of Egypt, Goshen on the Nile. Les ties this to God’s providence: God had prepared everything and sent Joseph ahead to preserve them and save their lives by great deliverance.
Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;