The Bible Storyline – Lesson 20 – November 8, 2026 – What is the Iniquity of the Amorites?

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What is the Iniquity of the Amorites?

Genesis 15:16   ·   Shining Light Baptist Church   ·   November 8, 2026

 

Genesis 15:16

16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

God has to come back soon?

• Have you ever said that statement?
• Have you ever heard someone make that statement?
• What does that statement mean? What are people thinking or suggesting when they say God has to come back soon?

Answer

Typically, people are assuming that because the world is wicked, God can’t possibly wait much longer before coming and judging the evil.

BUT, a statement like that only reveals that the person making it and the people agreeing with it do not have a biblical understanding of God.

Cancel Your Breakdown!

Many years ago, I heard a preacher say some of you are about to have a breakdown and you need to cancel it. Whenever I think of that I smile.

If you are stressed, anxious, or angry about the most recent election you may only need to learn about the God of the Bible.

God’s Covenant with Abraham – Genesis 15

In Genesis 15, God made a covenant with Abraham concerning the promises God already made to Abraham.

In this chapter we learn that God assures Abraham that

• he will have innumerable descendants
• his descendants will one day possess the land of Canaan that Abraham was following God through.

But! There is more to this promise that reveals God’s character and longsuffering.

God would first send Abraham’s descendants into Egypt where they will be slaves for 430 years.

During that time the Amorites will continue living in the land of Canaan.

The Iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full?

Here is the full passage where God makes this covenant with Abram.

Genesis 15:7–16

7 And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.

10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.

12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.

16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

What is going on?

God is NOT acting in this passage like the God many modern day “Christians” describe. Is it possible you don’t really know the God of the Bible the way you think you do?

The God of the Bible, the Creator of Heaven and earth, the God whose kingdom will eventually fill the earth, is going to send Abraham’s descendants into Egypt where they will suffer as slaves, while He allows the Amorites to live free in Canaan.

Who are the Amorites? They are descendants of Canaan, and occupied part of the land of Canaan.

What did God mean that their iniquity is not yet full?

God will judge the Amorites. He will use the descendants of Abraham to destroy them, then give the descendants of Abraham the Amorites’ land.

Why will God judge them? Because of their sins.

• Adultery
• Idolatry
• Consulting spirits of the dead
• Witchcraft and sorcery
• Incest & other vile sexual actions
• Homosexuality
• Child sacrifice

What did God mean that their iniquity is not yet full?

This statement means that God is giving the Amorites time to continue until it reached a specific level!

Other passages use this same idea of sin filling up to a full measure.

Daniel 8:23

23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Matthew 23:32

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

1 Thessalonians 2:14–16

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

These passages are just a sample that help us understand that God does not judge sin immediately; He is very longsuffering while mankind continues filling up the cup of God’s wrath with our sins.

God was telling Abraham, your descendants will have to wait 430 years before they get this land because the time of judgment has not yet come for the Amorites.

What does this teach us about God?

This passage teaches three truths about God.

God is longsuffering toward sinners.

This allows time for repentance – Romans 2:4–5

Romans 2:4–5

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Jeremiah 18:7–10

7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

God’s long-suffering has a limit

God waited 430 years before His judgment came on the Amorites, BUT it came.

Revelation 18:5

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

God expects His people to respect His plan and timing

• God made no apologies to Abraham for waiting 430 years
• God made no apologies to the Hebrews who suffered in Egypt
• God expected His people to serve and obey Him in Egypt before they were to serve and obey Him in Canaan.

 

What Does This Mean for Christians in America?

This passage calls for three responses.

Submit yourself to God’s plan and timing.

Serve and Image God

Let the light of God shine through you in the darkness of this world – Matthew 5:16

Matthew 5:14–16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Separate yourself from the sins God is going to judge.

Leviticus 18:24

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

Leviticus 18:28

28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

Ephesians 5:5–11

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Reminder

Just like the children of Abraham had to wait 430 years before they were freed from Egypt and went into the promised land, the children of God will, in God’s timing, inherit the Kingdom of God.

• God will renew this earth
• God will bring down the Holy City, New Jerusalem
• God will be our God, we will be His people
• God will bind Satan, cast him in the lake of fire
• God will remove all sin, sadness, suffering, and death

In light of that, we can stop being anxious about this world. This country, this part of world history, is only temporary. We can live now as citizens of God’s Kingdom!