Promise 34 Gen. 15:13-14

Gen. 15:13-14 - "God said to Abram, 'Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.'" This is a difficult passage because we know that God is a "good" God and that He loves His people, yet there will be 4-5 generations of people who will question that fact as they will be stuck in slavery and living under harsh conditions. I'm sure they will feel as though God has deserted them. What is seemingly worse, is that He knew way before it is to happen that it will happen. It's times like this that God just doesn't make sense to us. It brings up the age ole' question, "Why does God allow His people to suffer?" The difference we see between man (who of course would not let anyone suffer) and God, is that man's plan for man is only 70-100 years long, God's plan for man is for all eternity. He sees the big picture. He knows that the journey His people will take that will lead them to the cross of Jesus needs to be a difficult one, or else they wont go. My initial thought was to write, "It's not about man, but it's all about God." But that's wrong, it's all about man because of the love of God. If man did not see their need for a Saviour, then they would not accept the gift of salvation when it's offered. If man does not receive the gift of salvation then they will be eternally separate from God and that would break His heart. So those 400 years of captivity were sacrificial years by God's people so that generations upon generations will live in freedom for all eternity. It's like our soldiers who risk their lives and fight in the trenches so that so many others can live in freedom. God has a plan, He knows what He is doing, and He knows what we need that will draw us and those after us into His Kingdom and into His arms.