How can we trust God's promises today as seen in Exodus 1:5? Setting the Scene in Exodus 1:5 “The total number of Jacob’s descendants was seventy; Joseph was already in Egypt.” • Moses records an exact head-count. Seventy real people crossed into Egypt. • That little detail shows God’s Word cares about historical fact, not myth. • Behind the head-count stands an enormous promise God had first given to Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation” (Genesis 12:2-3). Tracing the Promise from Genesis to Exodus • Genesis 15:5 – God tells Abraham, “Look to the heavens and count the stars… So shall your offspring be.” • Genesis 46:27 – Jacob’s family totals seventy. A modest start, yet exactly what God said would happen next (cf. Genesis 46:3). • Exodus 1:7 – Only a few verses after our focus text, the seventy have multiplied “exceedingly,” setting the stage for a nation. • Acts 7:17 – Stephen later summarizes: “As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.” The New Testament confirms the Old Testament’s accuracy. Why This Matters for Trusting God Today 1. God’s promises are anchored in real history. • Precise numbers, dates, places, and names ground Scripture in verifiable events. 2. God works through ordinary circumstances. • Joseph’s relocation to Egypt seemed tragic, yet it positioned the family for survival and growth (Genesis 50:20). 3. God’s timing is perfect. • Centuries passed between promise and fulfillment, but not one word failed (Joshua 21:45). 4. God often starts small. • Seventy refugees become a nation, reminding us that small beginnings never limit God (Zechariah 4:10). Practical Steps to Walk in Trust • Rehearse God’s track record. Keep a journal of answered prayer and Scripture promises kept. • Read promises in context. Note to whom, when, and why God spoke, then apply the timeless principle (Romans 15:4). • Hold promise and process together. Waiting seasons do not nullify what God has declared (Habakkuk 2:3). • Speak God’s Word aloud. “So My word… will not return to Me empty” (Isaiah 55:11). Hearing it builds faith (Romans 10:17). • Anchor every promise in Christ. “For all the promises of God are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Encouraging Reminders from the Rest of Scripture • Hebrews 6:13-18 – God swore by Himself; His oath and His nature form an “anchor for the soul.” • Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” • Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie.” • Psalm 145:13 – “The LORD is faithful in all His words.” Living It Out Today • When you read a seemingly small detail—like “seventy in all”—remember it testifies to a promise-keeping God. • Let every fulfilled promise in Scripture fuel confidence for the promises you are still awaiting. • Stand on His unchanging character; if God was exact in Exodus 1:5, He will be exact with every promise He has made to you in Christ. |
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