What promise did God make to Jacob when he told him not to fear going to Egypt?
God told Jacob not to fear going down into Egypt, promising that He would there in Egypt make of Jacob a great nation. This promise assured Jacob that his family would multiply into a great nation during their stay in Egypt.
Les explains that in Genesis 46:3 God spoke to Jacob, saying, "I am God, the God of thy father, fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there in Egypt make of thee a great nation." This promise meant that during the 215 years in Egypt, Jacob's family would multiply into a great nation. Les ties this to God's sovereign plan: Joseph was already second in Egypt and provided Goshen, and the twelve sons became the setting for the population explosion that carries into Exodus. Though earlier promises were associated with staying in the land, God now explicitly directed Jacob to go to Egypt so the nation could be made there.
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
More Questions
What did God tell Jacob when he was about to go down to Egypt?
God spoke to Jacob and told him not to fear going down into Egypt, because there God would make of him a great nation.
Why did God forbid Isaac from going to Egypt but tell Jacob to go there?
God had told Isaac not to go down into Egypt but to sojourn in the land of promise, yet He now tells Jacob to go down into Egypt, which is a change.