“Goshen”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 05 February 1, 2009

Goshen? A simple word, yet it paints an incredible picture.
I know Goshen to be a safe place. I hope the phrase, “But not in Goshen” will be of great encouragement to you.

I believe God has something in this message for you, and I don’t want you to miss even the smallest bit. Let those with ears...

Last week we spoke of savouring God’s presence, hanging on to His every word. Rushing through God’s visitation is rude but being indifferent to His message brings shame.

First and foremost, the word Goshen refers to a place. A place of God’s choosing. Not any old place, but the best of places.

For the children of Israel, Goshen was a safe place in the midst of their captivity. I am convinced that Goshen speaks of a safe place for us and I am not talking about here at the Gathering Place. We sure hope to be a safe place and we will try very hard to be a safe place. Folks, before this can be a safe place, we ourselves need to be in a safe place?

There are several referrances to the place called Goshen, the first in: Genesis 45:10 “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks, your herds and all that you have.”

While in Egypt, Joseph was given a place of rulership and in this verse he is inviting his wayward brothers to come and live with him. Joseph is a type of Christ. So when Joseph speaks of wanting his family near him, Jesus is saying the same thing.

What a comfort to hear Jesus say, you shall be near me, you, your children and your children's children

As we see in Genesis 46:34, Egypt was cattle country, shepherds and sheep were not welcomed. They were considered an abomination.

Egypt is a type of the world and the true shepherd of Israel is rejected by her as well.
Remember, God’s children are sheep.

Pharoh considered Goshen to be the best land of Egypt. Looking at Goshen as being the WORD - it too is the best. There are hundreds of thousands of good books, great books in fact, but nothing compares to this Holy Book!

Let me add to my case by reading Genesis 47:27 “And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.”

We too live in this world, but as long as we abide (dwell) in the WORD and hold our possessions based on the WORD, we will grow and multiply exceedingly!

In Exodus 8:22-23 God establishes Goshen as a safe place, bringing to light the statement, “but, not in Goshen!”

God said, “I’ll sever in that day the land of Goshen in which my people dwell, no swarms of flies shall be there; so they will know, I am the LORD..I’ll put a division between my people and the people of Egypt.”

Exodus 9:4&6 “The LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt. All the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of Israel died not one.

Genesis 9:26 “Only in the land of Goshen was there no hail.”

Plagues, pestilence, judgement came... but not in Goshen!
Are you in the Word? Is the Word in you? If so, then you are safe.

In this late hour, God Himself sends a strong delusion in response to the hardness of people’s hearts. God has provided a Goshen for us today - His Holy Word! The Truth of His Word will not only set us free, it will keep us!

II Thessalonians 2:8-14, 19 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth (His Word) and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

This is confirmed in Mark 13:22 “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.”

Who are the elect? II Thessalonians 2 “God has chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. He called you by the gospel to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ...the foundation of God stands sure having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His.”

Jesus spoke clear warnings in Matthew 24:4-5,11&24
¨ Jesus answered saying, take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
¨ Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many.
¨ There shall arise false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they’ll deceive the very elect.

This will increase! II Timothy 3:13 “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

TRUTH is the best safe guard against deception.
God’s WORD is TRUTH!

Ephesians 4:10-21 “He gave some apostles and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

Could this be spoken of in Amos 8:11
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

God sends this famine because of the contempt people show for His Word! A dreaded release comes because people in their rebellion refuse to obey the WORD. Psalms 81:11-12 “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel didn’t want any of me. So I gave them up to their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

If you’re starting to see that the Word is a safe place, listen to this John 1:1&14. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory full of grace and truth.”

This will get you excited!
Revelation 19:13 “He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and His name is called The Word of God.”

Jesus Himself is our safe place in John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me: I give them eternal life; they shall never perish, nor shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Now friends, we are just scratching the surface. But this is enough food for thought for this week. Just remember, in order for you to survive, you must be in spiritual Goshen.

You must be in the WORD and have the WORD in you!
Eat it!
Devour it!
Absorb it!
Take it in!
Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.”

We are kept from deception
by our obedience to the WORD!

James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”