In our parasha, we encounter the tense relationships that developed in the house of Yaakov. The members of Yaakov's family eventually find themselves moving from Canaan to Egypt, and from there the story progresses to servitude and slavery that continues for centuries. Avraham had already been warned about this enslavement in the Brit Bein Ha-Betarim.
At first glance, these appear to be two parallel processes, without any connection between them; they simply meet at the end. In this study, we will attempt to demonstrate that in the course of the narrative, which seemingly advances through human actions, Scripture indicates that God is tracking the events for the purpose of ensuring that the story will conclude with the fulfillment of His promise.
