Yes — God did tell Jacob to go to Egypt, and the reason was that He would make Jacob into a great nation there.
Although God had earlier told Isaac not to go down to Egypt, the famine was set up to bring Jacob's family into Egypt. At Beersheba God told Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation” (Genesis 46:3). Les explains that this is where Israel began to grow into the great nation God promised Abraham.
Genesis 46:3 — In this verse God directly answers Jacob's fear, telling him not to be afraid to go to Egypt because He will make him a great nation there.
Earlier, the LORD told Isaac, “Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of” (Genesis 26:2). When Jacob came to Beersheba on his way toward Egypt, he “offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.” That night God spoke to him in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob... 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.” God then added, “I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again.” So the biblical record shows a clear new directive, grounded in the same Abrahamic promise that God would make Abraham's descendants into a great nation.
Les Feldick points out that this was a change. God had earlier told Isaac, “Go not down into Egypt,” and when Abraham or Isaac tried Egypt, they got into trouble. Yet God now tells Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt.” Les explains that the whole famine was set up in order to bring the tribe of Jacob down to Egypt, and that Egypt is in Scripture a picture of the world and sinfulness. After Jacob's hesitation, God spoke at Beersheba to reassure him. Les emphasizes the promise at the end of Genesis 46:3: “for I will there make of thee a great nation.” He stresses that Israel as a nation began to bloom in Egypt—starting with about 72 or 73 souls and, after roughly 215 years, coming out as a company of 5 to 7 million people under Moses. For Les, this is not a contradiction but the outworking of God's Abrahamic covenant in a specific time and place.
God had warned Isaac not to go to Egypt, and Les notes that Egypt in Scripture is a picture of the world and sinfulness. But the situation changed: Joseph was already in Egypt with grain stored for the famine, so the famine was set up to bring Jacob's whole tribe down. God then told Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt.” Les calls this “quite a change”—God's previous instruction not to go was no longer in force.
At Beersheba, Jacob offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac, and God appeared to him in the night. God spoke his name twice, “Jacob, Jacob,” and told him not to fear going to Egypt. The promise was: “for I will there make of thee a great nation.” Les says this is where the nation of Israel began to come into bloom.
Les says Israel entered Egypt with only about 72 or 73 souls, including Joseph's family already there. During their time in Egypt, the family multiplied greatly. After about 215 years, Moses led out anywhere from 5 to 7 million people. For that period of time, Israel was the largest nation in that part of the then-known world.
Abraham's Promise of a Great Nation
Les explains that God's promise to Abraham included making his descendants a great nation, which provides the larger context for Israel's later growth in Egypt.
The Famine Was Set Up to Bring Jacob to Egypt
Les shows God's changed instruction: God had told Isaac not to go to Egypt, but now tells Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt.”
Joseph in Egypt and Israel Becoming a Nation
Les says 70-some souls went down into Egypt and Israel became a nation of people during the centuries in Egypt.
Egypt as a Picture of the World
Les explains that Egypt is a picture of the world and sinfulness, which is why God had previously kept them out; now He permits the move to Egypt.
Israel's Growth to Five to Seven Million
Les notes that after some 215 years in Egypt, Moses led out 5–7 million Israelites, making them the biggest nation in the then-known world.
Israel Began to Bloom in Egypt
Les emphasizes that the command to Jacob reveals where the nation of Israel began to come into bloom—in Egypt.
Jacob's Invitation and God's Reassurance
Les describes Joseph's stored grain and invitation, and God meeting Jacob with “Fear not to go down into Egypt.”
God's Promise at Beersheba
Les uses the double name “Jacob, Jacob” to show God's personal reassurance, and urges readers to underline “I will there in Egypt make of thee a great nation.”
Genesis 26:2: And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
This is the earlier instruction to Isaac not to go to Egypt, which makes the later command to Jacob a significant change.
Genesis 46:1: And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
Jacob's journey to Beersheba and his sacrifice set up the moment when God speaks to him about Egypt.
Genesis 46:2: And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
God directly addresses Jacob by name in a night vision, showing personal, specific guidance.
Genesis 46:3: 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:
This is the central verse that explains why God told Jacob to go to Egypt—He would make Israel a great nation there.
Genesis 46:4: 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.
God promises to accompany Jacob into Egypt and to bring his descendants back to the promised land.
Genesis 12:2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
This verse records the original Abrahamic promise of a great nation, which Les connects to Israel's growth in Egypt.
God told Jacob, “Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.” Les explains that the famine was set up to bring Jacob's family to Egypt, and Egypt was where Israel would grow into the promised great nation.
Les says it was a change. God had told Isaac not to go down into Egypt, but at Beersheba God gave Jacob a new directive not to fear going. The reason was the nation of Israel was destined to grow in Egypt.
Les says approximately 72 or 73 souls moved down to Egypt, including Joseph's family. After about 215 years in Egypt, Moses led out anywhere from five to seven million people.
Les says Egypt in Scripture is a picture of the world and sinfulness, which is why God had earlier instructed them not to go. Even so, God permitted Jacob to go there to build the nation.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chose Abraham: Israel's Purpose Finally Explained