History of the Nation of Israel
Approximately 4,000 years ago, the one true God made promise to a righteous man that he would found a nation that would be a blessing to all mankind (Genesis 12:1-3). This man was named Abram from the land of Ur. The irony of this promise was that his wife, Sarai, was barren and they were long past child-bearing age. This was such a preposterous promise, that Sarai laughed when she heard the news (Genesis 18:12-15). Later, God would change their names to Abraham and Sarah.
Abraham's Promise
Through much trial and challenge, God fulfilled this promise and the nation of Israel was born through the impossible promise of a son named Isaac.
God made three promises to Abraham if he would choose to blindly leave his homeland in pursuit of these promises.
- A special land flowing with prosperity.
- A great nation of people to represent the One true God.
- That his descendants would be a blessing to all the other nations of the Earth.
Abraham obeyed the command of the One true God and left his homeland in search of the land God promised he'd find.
The Promised Land
Abraham left his homeland along with his family, livestock, and possessions and eventually entered into the land of Canaan where he set up his tents. From Canaan God began to fulfill his promises by giving him offspring that became the patriarchs of the Jewish faith and Israelite people. Abraham, along with his son Isaac and grandson Jacob (later known as Israel) became the patriarchs of this new people.
The Famine
As time passed, eventually there was a great famine among the Israelite nation. Around 1650 B.C. the Israelites were forced to move to Egypt where they were rescued by Jacob's youngest son, Isaac, who had been sold into Egyptian slavery by his 11 brothers who later became the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. After being sold into slavery, Joseph had risen through the ranks of the Egyptian political hierarchy by remaining faithful to the One true God.
As the Israelites were forced to leave their homeland and find solace under Joseph on a plot of land set aside for their protection, they grew in number and were rich in livestock.
Slavery in Egypt
Eventually a Pharaoh who did not remember the importance of Joseph's contribution came into power and placed the Israelites in bondage and slave labor for 400 years until God raised up a deliverer named Moses. Finding themselves oppressed and helpless, the Israelites submitted to the forced labor of brick making and lived as a helpless controlled people under the power of mighty Egypt.