Was God's promise of a nation to Abraham associated with staying in the promised land?
Yes, the promise of a nation to Abraham was associated with staying in the land of promise; if they remained there, the promise would come to fruition. Yet God later sovereignly told Jacob to go to Egypt, where He would make a great nation.
Les explains that all through the sojourning, from the time God called Abram and promised a nation from his loins and from his own wife—even though she was past childbearing—the promise was always associated with staying in the land of promise, so that these things would come to fruition. However, in God's sovereign plan, He later told Jacob in Genesis 46:3 not to fear going down into Egypt, for there He would make of him a great nation. That nation would develop in Egypt over the next 215 years, which are part of the 430 years from Abraham's call until the tabernacle was raised and they were ready for the promised land, though they would then reject it and go 40 years in the wilderness.
More Questions
What condition was attached to God's promise to Abraham about making a great nation?
God's promise to Abraham that he would have a nation through his own wife was associated with staying in the promised land; if they stayed in the land, the promise would come to fruition.