And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. (Gen 15,14)

God clearly does not approve of everything that is done in the world, nor of everything that is done by the mighty of this world who are to "bear the sword of righteousness" (Rom. 13:4). But it is not always so, and often they have borne rather the scourge of bondage and violence. No wonder that God "holds a trial" against many of them, which may be crowned even with their power falling. This process will be set in motion especially when, like the Israelites later, they begin to send prayers to God for help.

God tells Abram that in 400 years God will lead a war with Egypt and that the Israelites will leave it with great wealth. Abram knew Egypt and its wealth (in today's language, its "standard of living") very well. At this point, he could hardly have imagined that his God would one day stand against this greatest power of antiquity. He must have wondered how such a conflict would play out? Well, the Israelites saw it as the miracles of their God, while the Egyptians saw unusual phenomena and natural disasters (which at the time equaled economic disasters).

Abram's descendants would one day take a great fortune out of Egypt. In its narratives, the Bible puts a surprising emphasis on this, going so far as to speak of the "plundering of Egypt." It is meant to be proof that although his people are almost always in the minority in world events, they will not be subdued forever, and if that happens, it is only by permission from above and for a given time. 

From the conclusion of this covenant, God started to reveal himself to Abram as the ruler of the whole world.