Yes — God allowed Israel's Egyptian suffering for a set period as part of His sovereign plan, then delivered them and judged Egypt.
God did not ignore Israel's suffering. He told Moses He had seen their affliction, heard their cry, and knew their sorrows (Exodus 3:7). He had already revealed to Abraham that Egypt would afflict Israel for 400 years and that He would judge Egypt for it (Genesis 15:13-14). Les Feldick teaches that this whole sequence was under God's sovereignty, and God did all this with Pharaoh to accomplish His purposes.
Genesis 15:13-14 — God told Abraham in advance that his descendants would be afflicted in a foreign land for 400 years and that He would judge the oppressing nation.
Exodus 3:7 — This is God's own statement that He had seen Israel's affliction and heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters.
In Genesis 15:13-14, God told 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." This shows that the Egyptian bondage was a predicted period with a fixed duration, and that God Himself promised to judge the nation that enslaved Israel. Later, in Exodus 3:7-8, the LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey." Scripture presents God as fully aware of Israel's suffering and already purposing their deliverance.
Les points out that when God says "My people" in Exodus 3:7, He is speaking of Israel, His covenant people. God had seen their affliction, heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters, and knew their sorrows. Les also shows from Genesis 15 that God planned 400 years of Egyptian affliction. He admits he struggles to comprehend how God can raise up a nation to punish Israel and then judge that same nation for misusing the Jew, but he rests on the truth that God is sovereign and makes no mistakes. He cites Nebuchadnezzar as another example of this same pattern. Les further explains that the suffering was not the end of the story. After Pharaoh made life even harder, God delivered Israel through the Passover lamb — an escape that depended on faith in the blood. God also directed Israel to take gold and silver from the Egyptians, which was later used to build the tabernacle. And God did all this with Pharaoh in order to accomplish His sovereignty, so that the surrounding nations, including the Canaanites, knew what the God of Israel had done to Egypt.
Yes. In Exodus 3:7 the Lord says, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows." Les emphasizes that when God says "My people," He means His covenant people, Israel.
God told Abraham in Genesis 15:13 that his descendants would be strangers in a land not theirs and that "they shall afflict them four hundred years." Les says he cannot fully comprehend how God could raise up a nation to punish Israel and then judge that nation for misusing the Jew, but he rests on God's sovereignty. He cites Nebuchadnezzar as another example of the same pattern.
God came down to deliver them, and the final deliverance came through the Passover. Les teaches that Israel was spared from the death of the firstborn by applying the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts and staying inside the home. He also notes that God was not merely padding Israel's pockets — the gold and silver Israel received from Egypt was later used to build the tabernacle. And through the plagues and deliverance, God accomplished His sovereignty, with the news of Egypt's ruin reaching even the Canaanites.
God Sees Israel's Affliction
Les shows from Exodus 3:7 that God, speaking as Jehovah, told Moses He had seen the affliction of His covenant people and heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters.
The 400-Year Affliction and God's Judgment on Egypt
Les explains that God told Abraham Egypt would afflict Israel for 400 years, and that God can sovereignly raise up a nation to punish Israel and then judge that same nation for misusing the Jew.
Human Doubt When Suffering Increases
Les observes that when Pharaoh made life harder for Israel, Moses and the people began to wonder whether God would actually deliver them — a common human reaction when suffering intensifies.
Why Did God Hate Esau? Romans 9:13 and Sovereignty Explained
He had every right in His righteousness to literally wipe them off the face of the map. Was He ready? Yes. He was hot, the Word says, in His anger. And He says in so many words to Moses, I'm going to destroy them all, and in so many words He tells Moses, I'll start over with you again.
The Passover Deliverance
Les teaches that after the plagues, Israel was spared from the death of the firstborn by faith, by applying the blood of the Passover lamb to the doorposts.
Why Israel Rejected the Promised Land — Kadesh-Barnea Explained
For some, when they had heard, did provoke, how be it not all, that came out of Egypt by Moses. And remember there were, what, how many that escaped? Joshua and Caleb, and of course Moses and Aaron. But for the most part, that nation that was old enough to respond, totally in unbelief. I mean, it's hard to comprehend. Only a few survived that judgment in their unbelief.
Egypt's Wealth Used for the Tabernacle
Les points out that the gold and silver the Israelites took from the Egyptians was later used to build the tabernacle, showing a greater purpose in Israel's departure from Egypt.
God's Sovereignty Through Pharaoh
Les says God did all this with Pharaoh in order to accomplish His sovereignty, and that news of Egypt's ruin reached Canaan so the nations knew what the God of Israel had done.
Genesis 15:13: 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;
God predicted the Egyptian bondage before it began, showing that the 400 years of affliction were part of His sovereign plan.
Genesis 15:14: And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.
God's judgment on Egypt and Israel's departure with great substance are part of the same promise.
Exodus 3:7: And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
God's own testimony that He was fully aware of Israel's suffering in Egypt.
Exodus 3:8: And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
God's stated purpose is to deliver Israel from Egypt and bring them into the land He had promised.
Yes. In Exodus 3:7 the Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows." Les Feldick emphasizes that God was speaking of His covenant people, Israel.
According to Genesis 15:13, God told Abraham that his descendants would be afflicted for four hundred years. Les Feldick confirms that this is how long Israel was in Egypt.
Les Feldick teaches that God is sovereign and can raise up a nation to punish Israel, then turn and reveal His wrath to that nation for misusing the Jew. He cites Nebuchadnezzar as another example and says he rests on the fact that God can make no mistakes.
Watch the Teaching: The Burning Bush & The Angel of the Lord: Who Did Moses Really See?