In Jacob’s case, God’s guidance came in the form of a vision; for us the day of visions is now past. God no longer speaks to us in this way, but through his word.
Why did God determine that the main growth of the nation would take place in Egypt? Because they would be maintained there as a distinct nation. That was not successfully happening in Canaan. Genesis 38 has recorded the evils of Judah’s wanderings. Yes, and Simeon also took a Canaanite wife (Genesis 46:10). But in Egypt they would be parcelled off in some corner, since foreigners were abominated by the Egyptians and especially shepherds. Their separateness guaranteed. The Egyptians were fiercely against intermarriage. They were very distinctive in their religious practices. All of this worked together to maintain their distinctiveness. Egypt may have been a godless place, but it was intensely civilised and refined land. Canaan was coarse and crude. Egypt was a place of planning, buildings. The again, the exodus was going to teach the church in all ages wonderful lessons about conversion, and God’s ability to deliver his people. The plagues were going to be a pattern of his judgments on an unbelieving world, and the time in the wilderness was a picture of the Christian life, as were the battles to occupy the promised land.