Five Things About Goshen

Abba like no other!

Our great provider! Known to always make provisions for His children from way back in memorial. I start off my blog post with that first line because I have had this song titled Abba by Marizu on repeat since last night and it is currently playing in the background as I write to you. Moreso, I am reminded of how faithful God is to His children, He will stop at nothing to take care of His children. Absolutely nothing!

So let us take things a little way back to some centuries ago when the whole world experienced a famine and God’s children, lived in Canaan land. Unknown to them, in the most unthinkable way God had sent one of them(Joseph) ahead to make provisions for them-Genesis 45:7. Joseph who was an Israelite found himself in the country called Egypt as a slave boy, sold away by his brothers. About thirteen years down the line, Joseph who was a slave boy in Egypt was able to predict a world problem and proffer a solution to this problem. This of course promoted him from a slave boy and also provided food for the whole world, and his kindred who were God’s bonafide children.

Because Joseph was now an influential gentleman in Egypt, he could now afford to migrate all of his family members from Canaan land to the land of Egypt. As God’s children migrated to Egypt, the portion of Egypt called Goshen was set aside for them. I believe that this was intentional and strategic on God’s part in order to separate His children from the rest of the world in Egypt. As I go further on this blog post, you would probably see what I mean.

So as God’s children settled into Goshen, God welcomed them with the mark of His presence. Genesis 47:27 tells us that as the Israelites settled into the Goshen, they prospered, they multiplied, they acquired properties and they were fruitful. These signs were symbolic of God’s commitment and presence with His children in Goshen in my opinion. And so the children of God lived in that land of Goshen for a long time in harmony and plenty until they began to face oppression after the death of Joseph and Egypt’s king who was familiar with them.

For a long time, God’s children faced oppression in Egypt until God sent a deliverer down to Egypt to set His children free. Knowing the God that we serve, the protective father that we have – He stopped at nothing to see His children delivered. He sent plaques to His children’s oppressors He sent about ten plagues in total to the oppressors just to ensure that His children were set free. And I find it very significant that God shielded His children from suffering from these plagues regardless of their co-existence with the Egyptians in Egypt.

In Exodus 8:22, God tells Moses explicitly, “I will spare the region of Goshen where my people live”. And true to God’s word, He preserved Goshen from invasion by flies. God had the whole of Egypt invaded with flies but did not allow them to go near His children. This reminds me and points me to what the Psalmist says in Psalm 91:1 – He who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty! God specifically had the region of Goshen preserved because that was the region where His children were supposed to live and perpetually dwell. Therefore, any of His children that stepped out of Goshen at that time, stepped out at their own risk.

Yet again after the plague of the flies and even many more, the oppressor still will not let God’s children go, talk about the height of wickedness!!! Since they wouldn’t budge, the omnipotent father sent down the plague of darkness to the whole of Egypt for about three days. For three days the whole of Egypt was pitch black, no one could move, see anyone or be productive – Exodus 8:22. But the good Lord shared His light with His dear children in Goshen, only Goshen where God’s children lived enjoyed the light. This points me to God’s word in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world”. This is God’s plan and intention for us His children, to always live in the light, to show forth His light, and to bask in His light in this wicked world filled with darkness.

And finally in this blog post about Goshen, while the Egyptians mourned the deaths of their firstborn males, God gave His children in Goshen calmness, peace, and life. God said in His word that He did this to make a distinction between the Egyptians (oppressors) and His children- Exodus 11:7

Do you see all of the goodness and protection God’s children enjoyed in Goshen? This is how God provides and protects His children in the Goshen that He has prepared for them. And the only way to find and live in this Goshen is to say Yes to Jesus and walk by His leading and direction.