How long did Israel suffer affliction? Galatians 3:16 say there were 430 years between the time God made the promises to Abraham until the time God gave Israel the law and established His covenant with Israel; while Genesis 15:13 says there were 400 years of affliction. That would seen to indicate that there was only thirty years from the time Abraham left Haran until his descendants began to be afflicted. The descendant, Isaac, would have been five years old. Jacob and his children would not have even been born yet. What gives? Let us understand this apparent discrepancy.

Dan Taylor

Pastor, United Church of God

Dan Taylor serves as the pastor of the Lubbock, Texas  United Church of God congregation. He is married and he and his wife Corinne have of two children. He formerly served as a writer and head of the research department for the Plain Truth and other other Church publications for 13 years. Prior to serving as pastor he worked in the high tech field for 22 years.