Yes—the Israelites knew they would leave Egypt because God had repeatedly promised it beforehand.
God told Jacob in Egypt that He would bring him up again and make him a great nation there. Joseph then put the children of Israel under oath to carry his bones to the Promised Land. Les Feldick points out that these promises, along with God's foretold 430-year timetable, gave many of Israel faith that the exodus would happen.
Genesis 46:3-4 — God directly promises Jacob in Egypt that He will make him a great nation and will surely bring him up again—this is the very basis of Israel's hope of leaving.
Genesis 50:25 — Joseph puts the people under oath to carry his bones out of Egypt, showing the departure was expected.
Before the family even went down to Egypt, God spoke to Jacob and 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: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again" (Genesis 46:3-4). This was not a vague wish but a specific divine promise that Israel would not remain in Egypt forever.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the Israelites' certainty was rooted in prophecy, not guesswork. He points out that Joseph knew the time was coming when God would take him back to Palestine, and that Moses' parents knew by faith that God was still working with His covenant people. As Moses and Aaron prepared to lead Israel out of Egypt, they knew where they were going—Palestine—and that is why they took Joseph's bones with them (Clip 4). Les also stresses that God had promised Jacob in Egypt, "I will there make of thee a great nation" (Clips 2, 3). Israel became a nation of people while in Egypt, growing from about seventy people to millions by the time of the exodus (Clips 1, 2). All of this was inside the exact 430-year time span God had foretold, with Jacob entering Egypt at the midpoint of that prophetic countdown (Clips 5, 6). The ultimate purpose of bringing Israel out, Les says, was to bring them to Himself and prepare them for the coming Messiah (Clip 7).
Joseph knew the day was coming when God would take Israel back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is why he made the children of Israel swear to carry his bones with them when they left Egypt. Les uses this as proof that Israel had an expectation of departure long before it happened.
God told Jacob not to fear going down into Egypt, saying, "I will there make of thee a great nation." Les explains that the nation of Israel came from Jacob and his twelve sons while they were in Egypt—this was the place where they would multiply into a distinct people. This promise was part of the certainty that they would eventually come out.
Les teaches that God promised Abraham that from his call to go to the land of Canaan until Israel would be a nation coming out of Egypt would be 430 years. Jacob's descent into Egypt happened at the midpoint of that period, 215 years after the call of Abraham. This meant the exodus was not an accident but the fulfillment of a specific divine timetable.
According to Les, God told Moses to lead His people out of Egypt and bring them to Himself so He could begin working with this chosen nation and prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. This purpose, Les says, was declared all the way back in Genesis when God promised Jacob that he would make of him a great nation in Egypt.
The Burning Bush & The Angel of the Lord: Who Did Moses Really See?
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Joseph's Bones as a Promise of Return
Joseph made Israel promise to carry his bones back to Canaan, showing that the exit from Egypt had already been revealed before it happened.
God's Promise to Jacob in Egypt
God told Jacob He would make of him a great nation in Egypt, and Les shows the nation grew to millions there before the exodus.
Israel's Nationhood Begins in Egypt
Israel became a nation of people in Egypt as the result of God's promise to Jacob, not by accident.
Faith of Joseph and Moses' Parents
Some in Israel, like Joseph and Moses' parents, knew by faith that God would move His covenant people back to Palestine, which is why they took Joseph's bones.
The 430-Year Countdown
Israel's time in Egypt sat inside the 430-year period God had foretold, showing the exodus was planned in advance.
The Exact 430-Year Timetable
God delineated 430 years from Abraham's call to Israel's coming out of Egypt, and Jacob entered Egypt at the exact midpoint of that span.
God's Purpose in Bringing Israel Out
God told Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt to Himself and began preparing them for the coming of the Messiah.
Genesis 46:3-4: 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: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
This is God's direct promise to Jacob at the start of the Egyptian sojourn, guaranteeing he would come out again.
Genesis 50:25: And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
Joseph's request demonstrates that Israel had been told they would leave Egypt and return to the land promised to their fathers.
Genesis 15:13-14: And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
God revealed the Egyptian affliction and the subsequent exodus to Abraham centuries before it happened.
God did—first to Abraham, then specifically to Jacob as he went down into Egypt, and again through Joseph's final oath. God promised Jacob He would make of him a great nation in Egypt and would bring him up again, and Joseph made the children swear to carry his bones to the Promised Land.
Yes. Les Feldick points out that some among Israel knew by faith that God would fulfill His promises to His covenant people. Moses and Aaron knew they were preparing to move the children of Israel out of Egypt to Palestine, which is why they took Joseph's bones with them.
Les teaches that the 430-year period ran from Abraham's call until the exodus. Jacob went down into Egypt 215 years into that span, so Israel's time in Egypt was the remaining 215 years before the exodus.
Watch the Teaching: The Burning Bush & The Angel of the Lord: Who Did Moses Really See?