How does Acts 7:17 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15? Setting the Stage: Two Passages, One Promise “As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied.” (Acts 7:17) The Covenant Laid Down in Genesis 15 • God promises Abram uncountable descendants: “Now look to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able… So shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) • God foretells a 400-year sojourn and oppression: “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.” (Genesis 15:13) • God guarantees deliverance and judgment on the oppressing nation: “But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.” (Genesis 15:14) • God secures the land: “To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.” (Genesis 15:18) How Acts 7:17 Echoes Genesis 15 • “The time drew near” points to the close of the 400-year period God specified. • “Fulfill His promise to Abraham” ties directly to the covenant words of Genesis 15. • “Our people in Egypt increased and multiplied” shows the star-like growth promised in Genesis 15:5, echoed in Exodus 1:7. • Stephen’s speech underscores that God’s timeline and details unfolded exactly as spoken centuries earlier. Key Continuity Markers • Divine timetable—God’s dates never slip. • Multiplication in adversity—oppression could not hinder growth. • Certain deliverance—judgment on Egypt was embedded in the original covenant. • Inheritance ahead—the Exodus was only stage one; the land promise still stood. Supporting Passages that Bridge the Two Texts • Exodus 1:7—“The Israelites were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied…” • Exodus 12:40-41—The exodus occurs “to the very day” after 430 years. • Galatians 3:17—Paul confirms the 430-year span between covenant and law. • Hebrews 11:12—God made descendants “as numerous as the stars…,” echoing Genesis 15. Takeaways for Believers • God’s Word is precise; centuries do not dull its edge. • Hard seasons can be the incubator for promised expansion. • Every covenant detail—people, place, and timing—moves under God’s fixed authority. |
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