During the time of Exodus, the nation of
Egypt was plagued by ten plagues one after another thus resulting in their
economy being in utter shambles. Yet through all the plagues the nation of
Israel remained divinely protected.
Where were they dwelling that gave them this
divine protection?
1. Presence of God
Joseph asked the children of Israel (they,
their children, their children’s children, flocks and herds) to stay in the
land of Goshen which is near to him. To be near to Joseph was like being near
to God because Joseph was like a savior sent to save the children of Israel
from poverty.
Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself. Spiritual Goshen is a place for us to be near to the Lord Jesus Christ
where He will take care of our families and our possessions and all that we own
as we surrender ourselves to Him.
Gen
45:10
“You
shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your
children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds and all that you
have”
Goshen means to 'draw near'. In order to dwell
in the spiritual Goshen we need to draw near to God so that we can dwell continuously
in the Presence of God.
How do we draw near to God? We are brought near to God with the blood of
Jesus Christ. Thus it is a work of grace.
Eph 2:13
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were
far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”
What should our spiritual posture be?
With the full assurance of faith and with our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.
Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water”
Drawing near to God will ensure that we will
always be kept in the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus.
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts you double-minded”
To draw near to God is to put our trust in
God and to make us a testimony to others.
Psalm 73:28
“But it is good for me to draw near to God; I
have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works”
2. Provision of God
In Goshen, Joseph gave them the promise that
they will not lack:
Gen 45:11
“There I will provide for you, lest you and
your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still
five years of famine”
When God provides, He provides for our entire
household and protects all our possessions.
3. Protection of God
God protected the children of Israel from the
economic effects of the 10 plagues.
1st plague – River turned to
blood. Imagine the economic disaster. All the crops will die. Today we see seas
turning into red threatening the livelihood of fishermen.
2nd plague – River brought forth
frogs.
3rd plague – Dust became lice
4th plague – Flies came into the
land but the Goshen was not attacked by flies (Ex 8:22)
5th plague – Livestock plague but
the livestock of the children of Israel were not attacked by the plague (Ex
9:4)
6th plague – Boils
7th plague – Hail but where the
children of Israel dwell there was no hail (Ex 9:26)
9th plague – Darkness but in
Goshen all of the children of Israel had light in their dwellings (Ex 10:26)
10th plague – Death of the
firstborn
None of the plagues came upon those who dwell
in Goshen. Let us trust God to protect us, our children and children’s children
and all our possessions this coming year.
4. Prosperity of God
God prospered the children of Israel on the
eve of their departure from Egypt.
Exodus 12:35
“Now the children of Israel had done
according to the word of Moses, and they asked from the Egyptians articles of
silver, articles of gold and clothing. And the Lord had given the people favor
in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested.
Thus they plundered the Egyptians”
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