By: Robert Serreyn

Question? is there contradiction between Genesis 15:13 and Exodus 12:40, 41?

Genesis 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Exodus 12:40-41 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. (41) And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Answer: NO there is not.

First TAKE NOTICE in Genesis 15:13 the word AFFLICT

The Children of Israel were in bondage or slavery to the Nation of Egypt and more particular to Pharaoh the King of Egypt.

The answer to this seemingly contradiction is found In Exodus Chp.1 Versus 1 through 7 which says…

Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. (2) Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, (3) Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, (4) Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. (5) And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. (6) And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. (7) And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

The time span between V1 and V7 is 30 years ACCORDING to Exodus 12:40, and 41.

The Children of Israel ENJOYED 30 years of peace UNTIL Joseph died (V6)THEN in V8 of Exodus Chp.1 the Nation of Egypt got a NEW KING (Pharaoh) and the life and treatment of the Israelites according to V13 and 14 was VERY SEVER and HARD for the next Four Hundred years .

Exodus 1:13-14 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: (14) And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

NOTE: RIGOUR – Gr. PEREK = Severity

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH