For all you Bible study students, we are going to dive into the deep end, starting with the third time God told Abraham His grand plan for him and for the nation that would come out of him. As we look, Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. (Isa. 46:9-10) God is in control, and He’s ruling the affairs of man, nations, kingdoms, past present and future. Prophesy is Him declaring (foretelling) the end from the beginning.
God had a kingdom plan that was related to Abraham that He unfolded to him in seven installments. Abraham couldn’t have handled it all at once. But also, God used His signature number seven. In God’s first mention of His kingdom prophesy to Abraham, all God said (in Gen 12:1-3) was that Abraham was to leave his land, and God would make him a great nation. Today, let’s jump to God’s third explanation after Abraham finally asked some questions when God spoke of his future: And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs (Egypt), and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve (Egypt), will I judge: and afterward shall they (Israel) come out with great substance. And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again (the promised land): for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. (Gen. 15:13-16)
God is eager to reveal His plan. Here are some notes about what He just told Abraham before Abraham even had a child:
- The nation that would spring from his loins would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years.
- God would do that because He planned to judge the Egyptians (All those plagues were God’s judgement on wicked Egypt).
- God would allow the Israelites to escape to the promised land after gathering all the “great substance” from the Egyptians. (Ex 12:35-36)
- Israel’s return to the promised land would actually involve two judgments. Not just the Egyptians, but also the Amorites in the promised land of Canaan.
- Implied, it would take 400 years for the iniquity of the Amorites in Israel’s promised land to be full.
What is the iniquity of the Amorites that had to be full first?
The fact that God even said that reveals how He thinks differently than we do, because He’s the supreme, sovereign God. When the Amorites, who were Canaanite giants (see Amos 2:9-10), would become as wicked as they could be, deserving of judgment, God would send in the Israelites to clear out the land as God’s hand of judgment on the wicked. This situation would alternately present itself as His hand of mercy on the Israelites as He fulfilled His promise of giving Abraham’s seed the promised land.
This answers the question, “Why did God order the Israelites to kill people when they entered the promised land?” or “How can a loving God legitimize war?” It was because those people’s wickedness was full. Israel was God’s hand of judgment on them. Never forget that our loving God is also a just, righteous and holy God who judges sin.
By the way, what were the abominations of the Amorites that became so full and deserved such judgment? I challenge you to read Lev. 18. You will be astounded. Read the whole chapter. It’s pretty much about one genre of sin. I will just point out 2 verses of warning for the conquering Israelites: Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) Lev. 18:26-27.
I’ll conclude where we started. God declares the end from the beginning. Not only did God reveal to Abraham the certain future of Israel before there even was an Israel. He revealed the end of the Bible from the beginning, here in Genesis. God’s redeemed will leave the world (of which Egypt is a type) when the fullness of wickedness is complete. Believers in this church age will be raptured out. And then will come the tribulation followed by Christ’s second coming—but not before the iniquity that is worth the eternal wrath of God is full.
Here's a verse you might never see the same way again:
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. (Eph 1:9-10) Perhaps you’ve thought the “fulness of times” would come when “the last person who will get saved gets saved.” But don’t forget that God sees the fulness of times from multiple angles. I propose it’s also when the world gets so wicked, God finally calls it.
Final thought. What will be the clue that the iniquity of the world is about full? For one possibility, read Lev. 18. It’s your homework.
R&J Shee