Genesis 45:10

This was the part of Egypt where the Israelites lived. It is often called "the land of Goshen," and is also termed "the land of Rameses." Pharaoh told Joseph to place his father and his brothers in the best of the land. Most think Goshen lay east of the ancient Delta of the Nile.

Joseph placed his father and his brothers in the best of the land. That was Rameses, in the land of Goshen, in the north, on the east side of the Nile River. This pictures the Lord Jesus restoring Israel to great blessing, in submission to His authority. We are also told that he nourished them with food. How wonderful it will be for Israel in the millennium to have a settled home and rich provision! Of course the history here is only a picture, for Israel soon after fell into bitter slavery to the Egyptians.

We may notice the faith and wisdom of Joseph who had already in Gen. 45:10 sent the message about Goshen, before he had said a word to Pharaoh. It was the outlying part of Egypt. There they could best keep their old work. There, too, the idol worship and moral corruption of that land reached them least.

It is easy to see how this suited the purpose of God, which was to make a nation of them, free from any mixing of foreign blood. They would live under Egyptian rule. Even so, from the start a dividing line separated them from the natives of Egypt. Pharaoh was most kind in his attitude. He welcomed them. He gave them the best of the land in Goshen, and offered them important posts as rulers of his cattle. Remember that Egypt, along with the rest of the world, was in the middle of a great famine. Such favourable treatment was extraordinary. Only the moving of God's hand behind the scenes explains it.

If Jacob will only come, the days of his wandering will be past, for Joseph says, "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen." Distance and estrangement will be no more, for "you shall be near me." Care and want will be gone, for "there I will provide for you." Still the Lord of glory can say, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The soul that comes to Him finds the days of wandering feet are over. The loneliness of the desolate heart ends. And Christ meets the famine of the distant land. In the company of Christ there is rest for the conscience, satisfaction for the heart, and food for the soul.

And see what they could put before the people Joseph sent them to! The land of Goshen — the garden spot of Egypt — and near to Joseph! And sinner, we are here to tell you this. In the gospel there is not only full forgiveness for you. There is also a special place of nearness to Christ, and plenty of blessing for your starving soul. For the Christian, the answer to Goshen and nearness to Joseph is to be blessed "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."

Joseph sends his brothers not only to the father, but to the father's children and the children's children. Indeed, says Joseph, tell him the good news is for "all that you have." And the message is still, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."