taken is not a straight one, not the shortest way, in fact the Lord says that even though the

way which He led Israel was "a right way" (Psa. 107: 7) it was nevertheless "roundabout"

(Exod. 13: 18). We can be sure before we examine the matter further, that however

"roundabout" the pathway of the Divine purpose, we know that it will be "right". Just as

the church was unconditionally chosen in Christ, so Israel were unconditionally chosen in

Abraham. One has but to read Rom. 9:-11: to realize that the purpose of election deals

with those "not yet born, neither having done any good or evil", so that the two callings

stand parallel at the beginning. Gen. 12: contains the unconditional promise of a land

and a seed:

Let us pause for a moment to get this question of seed and land associated. The

"seed" at the time of promise was future, the land was already in existence and already

inhabited.

It is following this statement that we read of the promise of seed and land to Abraham.

When the promise of a seed and land was more specifically promised, Abraham asked of

the Lord:

The answer given is so full of light upon the problem before us, that we must spare no

pains to understand it. Coming straight to the heart of the matter, before examining the

accompanying details, the great problem before us, finds an echo. Abraham asks for

some assurance concerning the seed and the land. The answer is "Thy seed shall be a

STRANGER in a land NOT THIERS" (Gen. 15: 13). Strange assurance! strange answer!

Abraham enquires about a land promised to him and his seed, and God speaks of this

seed being strangers in a land not theirs. Further, the chosen seed are to be in servitude,

and the people of the land "not theirs" shall afflict them, the whole length of the period

dating from the vision granted to Abraham in Gen. 12: was to be four hundred years.

Then, when that term was reached, this same chosen seed should "come hither again"

(Gen. 15: 16). Here then is a parallel with the church chosen in Christ yet found in

Adam. Instead of God saying to Abraham "I have given you this land, stake out your

claim, build up a family, and as the chosen seed come into life, they too can settle straight

away in this land of promise, never to suffer, never to know alienation or distress", the

chosen seed, for no sin or misdeeds of their own, are born IN EGYPT and then after a

sojourn characterized by "bitterness" and "burdens" are brought back to the self same

land in which Abraham received the promise!  A ray of light, however, is found in

Gen. 15:, even though its very illumination reveals further and deeper problems. There

was a reason for the long delay, there was a sin that awaited a reckoning, even though

that sin was another's and not the sin of Israel.