Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 15:13

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

It was to be a long while before the nation was to enter upon its inheritance. Here is a promise that was to take four hundred years to ripen! Some of you cannot believe the promise if its fulfillment is delayed for four days; you can hardly keep on praying, if it takes four years; what would you think of a four hundred years promise?

Yet it was to be so long in coming to maturity because it was so vast. If Abraham's seed was to be like the stars of heaven for multitude, there must be time for the increase to come.