Land O' Goshen

O.T. #97  "Land O' Goshen"
August 1, 2013
Genesis 45-Part 2
...God sent me before you to preserve life.  Genesis 45:5c

LET IT GLOW

I never though we would get to move back to my hometown area, much less live in the house in which I grew up. It was 17 years after we moved away that it happened. Someone said this about Luke 18:31 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; we go up to Jerusalem to fulfill God's purpose, not our own. What seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's because God's purpose is never man's purpose. Though we look back and think we failed in our ministry, it was actually training for us to prepare us for our present situation. We can see the hand of God working in our lives, preparing us for what we must endure now. Isn't He so amazing!

Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers in this chapter. He cried and wept so loudly that they heard him all the way to Pharaoh's house. (Whatever that means-I don't know how far apart their houses were.) It so shocked these old guys that they could not say anything. All 12 of Jacob's sons were together, and they knew it.
Maybe they were mulling it around in their heads-Who was this Joseph?

•  He was the agriculture administrator,
• the distributor of grain, 
• the one who twice returned their payment for the grain,
• the second in command of all of Egypt,
• the one who ran the whole country, while Pharaoh wore the crown,
• the man who sat these 11 men at his table according to their birth order,
• the tester of their honesty, the one who examined the men to see if they would let innocent Benjamin go to jail and be a slave as they earlier did to him,
• a man who missed his family, brothers and father,
• a teenager who grew up in a foreign land and learned their language and customs,
• a forgiving and loving man,
• one who didn't hold grudges,
• a believer of strong faith who shared the love of his God with those around him.

What a character! Through his jail terms and slavery, Joseph kept the faith. What does it take for us to turn from our faith in Jesus? Hurtful words, false accusations, mean deeds done to us? Do we allow others to keep us from serving our Lord Jesus? Or are we so committed, so surrendered to our Savior that we will endure everything to the end? Or will we quit and walk another path?

LET IT GROW

After Joseph revealed his identity, what else did he say to his blood brothers?

• Don't be grieved, which means to worry, anger, displease, hurt, sorry;
• nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; (They expected Joseph to judge them for their past sins, yet he saw their repentance.)
• for God did send me before you to preserve life;
• we've had 2 years of famine and 5 more to go without harvesting;
• God sent me ahead of you to save your lives by a great deliverance;
• it was not you that sent me here, but God;
• God has made me a father to Pharaoh;
• hurry back to father and tell him Joseph said to move to Egypt immediately;
• you will live in the land of Goshen, near me, and bring your families and flocks and herds;
• I will provide for you here, because we have 5 more years of famine;
• be sure, it's me speaking to you;
• tell father all about me and bring him here.

What a speech. Could they believe their ears? After all of that, there were tears of joy, hugs, and a lot of talking. This family had a lot of catching up to do. There was 22 years worth.
Unfortunately, there were no cell phones to tell the wives to be packed when they got home.
I wonder if they said this when the families found out the plan: Land o' Goshen! We are moving. We can even visit the palace and our relatives.

Life's challenges sometimes seem impossible. Don't give up! Keep your heart loyal to God, for he constantly watches over you, and He desires to demonstrate His strength in your life. (Blackaby)

Don't ever give up on your family. God can change hearts and so can time. Keep praying.

LET IT GO

Let the past be in the past.

Forgive and live.

Go with God.