January 23- Land of Goshen

January 23, 2011

Scripture Readings:
Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28;
Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19

Have you ever heard the expression "Land of Goshen"? I have, and I have never known what it meant. Apparently, it means place of peace or a place where they believe in God. Today we will see that after all of the turmoil and the guilt trips they have experienced, Jacob's family finally settles in a place of peace called the Land of Goshen.

Jacob prepares to leave Canaan with his whole family and head down to Egypt to live with Joseph.  Before he leaves he goes to worship and sacrifice to God.  God shows up in a vision at night and tells Jacob to not be afraid.  God intends to be with Jacob and his family in Egypt and is going to make him a great nation.    A total of seventy family members (Israelites) settle in Egypt, not including the wives.

Jacob has an emotional reunion with Joseph, meets Pharaoh, and blesses the Pharaoh. The Israelites are shepherds, but shepherds are despised in Egypt. Pharaoh puts Jacob's family in charge of his livestock and gives them the Land of Goshen in which to settle. They will live in their own territory, separated from other Egyptians.

Meanwhile back at the palace, Joseph is managing a national crisis. As the famine worsens, Joseph's prior planning prevents poor performance. The plan to store grain in the abundant years ends up causing Joseph to purchase the whole land of Egypt, including the livestock, land, and people, for Pharaoh.  This is a complete power grab. Joseph sets up farming communities and they are to give 20% of everything to the Pharaoh. Only the priests are exempt from this law. 

Jacob dies in Egypt at the age of 147 years. He makes Joseph promise to not bury him in Egypt, but instead put him with his forefathers in the land of Canaan, the Promised Land.

Lesson:  Prior planning prevents poor performance. Joseph is an example of prudence and wisdom.  God is true to His promises. The Israelites are in a strange land, but God is caring for them.

How can you reflect wisdom and prudence in your life?  What promise of God's can you claim?  Do you live in the land of peace because of your relationship with God?

Matthew 15:1-28

The Pharisees come to Jesus and ask him why he doesn't follow their traditions. He counters with the question why do they break the Law and commandments because of their traditions. He calls them hypocrites and then quotes Isaiah 29:13: 

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away.  Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings." (NLT)

The disciples come and tell Jesus that he is offending the Pharisees.  Jesus says don't worry about it.  God uproots all bad trees.  The Pharisees are simply blind guides leading the blind.  Then the disciples ask for an explanation on how it is that one is not being defiled by what you eat.  Here is a very important new teaching by Christ:

• Food simply passes through your body and cannot defile you.
• Evil words come out of you and come from an evil heart.  This is what defiles a person and makes them unclean in God's mind.
• Here is a list of behaviors that reflect an evil heart:  1. evil thoughts 2. murder 3. adultery 4. all other sexual immorality (sex outside of marriage) 5. theft 6. lying 7. slander
• This is what defiles a person, not unwashed hands or the food we eat.
• Jesus is subtly pointing out that everyone is defiled and needs a Savior. Following rules is not a means of salvation.

A Gentile woman then approaches Christ to see if he will cast a demon out of her daughter. Jesus tells her that he has come to the people of Israel only.  Remember, the prophecies are that Jesus will come to his own people first.  Jesus is fulfilling the Scriptures.

The woman persists saying that even the dogs get crumbs from the master's table. She is claiming his deity and exhibiting faith. Jesus loves faith in God and he loves persistence. This woman has both!  He commends the woman's faith and tells her that her daughter has been healed.

Jesus has compassion and although he is sticking with God's plan to go to the people of Israel first, he is demonstrating that God is the Father of all people on earth. His salvation knows no boundaries. Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree. (See Romans 11)

Lesson:  Defilement comes from an evil heart.  Jesus points out that we need saving. Jesus demonstrates that God saves all people groups.

Does your behavior reflect a good or bad heart?  Do Jesus' teachings comfort you or bother you? Have you accepted Christ's salvation in your life?  Do you persistently ask God for his healing and blessing in your life?

Psalm 19:1-14

The heavens tell the glory of God.  Everything in nature speaks of God's creative mind and brilliance.  God's laws are:

• perfect
• trustworthy
• right
• clear
• pure
• true
• more desirable than gold
• sweeter than honey
• a warning
• a reward

Vs. 14 "May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O God." 

NOTE:  This is exactly what Jesus was just talking about in the book of Matthew. Remember that Jesus scolded the Pharisees for breaking the Law, but keeping their own man-made traditions.

Proverbs 4:14-19

Avoid evil people.  Wickedness is darkness and righteousness is light.

What did you notice today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton