Drawing Near

When Joseph’s family moved to Egypt, he said to them… “And you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you, and your children, and your children’s children, and your flocks, and your herds, and all that you have: and there I will nourish you” (Genesis 45:10).

Goshen means “drawing near.” It was a city set aside for the relatives of Joseph since shepherds are an abomination to Egyptians. It was there that they “had possessions, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly” (Genesis 47:27). Their prosperity and numbers irritated the new Pharaoh who “knew not Joseph,” so his plot to make them slaves was born. But slavery was the sign they were at the end of their time in Egypt. God raised up a deliverer in Moses to set His people free… “This Moses God sent to be a ruler and deliverer” (Acts 7:35).  

On a far greater scale than Moses, Jesus was born to be our Deliverer. Zacharias prophesied of His mission… “That being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, we might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our lives” (Luke 1:74). His promise is that whoever comes to Him for forgiveness, will be rescued… “Who gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4). What a global rescue is coming!

It is no accident that our nations are being enslaved by ruling powers. It is no accident that the USA is hated as the last Christian stronghold of freedom and prosperity, just as Goshen was. It is the sign of the end. And we are reminded… “when these things begin to happen, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).

(Devotional by Lisa Cataford)