And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions... But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. (Gen 15,14.16)

So God will let his blessed nation go through centuries of slavery. But beware: the 400 years were not a punishment like the later 40 years in the wilderness. It was God's appointed path for the Israelites - not an easy one, but they were right in Egypt. It is unpopular today to suggest that God's journey with us may also include a period of humiliation. But how grateful we are after we go through it, and what riches are revealed to us through it! Of course, we experience also evil in our lives that is not from the hand of God, but from the enemy, and this must be confronted. Nevertheless, not everything that we personally experience as unpleasant is from the evil one. There are situations that God allows us to go through that are meant to change, transform us. For the Israelites, the next 400 years were a preparation - sheltered by the power of Egypt, they multiplied, whereas in Canaan, where the situation was precarious and tribal wars raged, this would have been very difficult. As long as they were just a handful, they could be wiped out. Egypt thus meant oppression for them, but paradoxically, as the greatest power in the world at the time, it also meant protection, until a given time. Slavery was to prepare them to value freedom and to be able to live in it permanently. (Which they unfortunately didn't quite succeed in achieving).

God specifically mentions "the completion of the iniquity of the Amorites" as the second reason. God is also fair to His people in how He deals with them before the world. The arrival of the Israelites in the new land and the expulsion of the original inhabitants of Canaan marked God's judgment on the local peoples. God did not let them be driven out until a certain measure of their iniquity was reached. God always upholds justice - but this implies the fact which is not always pleasant for us that we cannot get anything from God by favouritism! Altogether, six times the New Testament reminds us that God does not "show favoritism" (e.g. Acts 10,34) , i.e. everyone has equal right of access to him. Why is this emphasized so many times when the New Testament was written for believers? Because it has always raised questions as to why some receive more from God and others less. The reason of it, however, is in the attitude and surrender of this or that person, not favoritism from God. If the church were to behave dishonestly in its walk in the world, say in the magistrate's office or maybe using bribes, it would be a great stain on its witness. God is always perfectly just, even against Himself: even salvation did not come by God turning a blind eye on us and letting us somewhat slip into heaven. His own Son had to be condemned to death, and with Him our own sin.

Spiritual riches cannot be obtained through shortcuts, so we could avoid what is difficult. For on the path of the pursuit of God it is double true: if it costs nothing, it is also worth nothing.