Joseph Prince
“You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you.” Genesis 45:10–11
My friend, the world we live in today is fraught with famine, economic uncertainty, corruption, and all kinds of evil and tragedies. People are more afraid than ever to travel by air or sea. Many people are living stressed, anxious lives just due to the chaos they see all around them. As Scripture says, the world will get darker, and it is (Isa. 60:2).
But in the midst of all this darkness and uncertainty, see how today’s scripture speaks of “the land of Goshen”—a place of nearness to God—where you and your family can take refuge in. That’s what the grace revolution does for you. It is a revolution of restored relationship. It brings you near to God.
To be established on Mount Zion is to have an intimacy with God you never dreamed possible. And out of that intimacy, barrenness gives way to fruitfulness. Lack is replaced by abundance. Sadness and sickness with joy and life. Fear with love. Confusion and insecurity with peace and assurance. Defeat with victory. Breakdowns with breakthroughs. And aimlessness with divine destiny!
What happens when you abide in Goshen, this place of nearness to God? You dwell in the place of abundance. Goshen literally means “drawing near” to God, and you can see in the Old Testament story of Joseph, how being brought near to God is to enjoy His protection and provision.
When the land was in famine, Joseph said to his brothers, “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine” ’ ” (Gen. 45:9–11).
So in the midst of all the turbulence you see in the world today, I want you to know that there is a Goshen you and your family can take refuge in. It’s a blessed place where God says, “You shall be near to Me, you and your children, and your children’s children. There I will provide for you!”
Beloved, you stay planted on Zion and in the place of nearness and intimacy with the Lord by being established in your righteous standing in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day to give us an everlasting righteousness that is anchored by faith in Him (Rom. 4:5). Now that is the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Because of Jesus, today you can have the intimacy you’ve always longed for with God. Because God gave up His Son for your sins, you have His righteousness as a gift apart from your works, and you can come boldly to the Father as His beloved son or daughter. You can enjoy fruitfulness instead of dead works when you live in the realm of His love for you, and not out of a sense of religious obligation.
If you’ve been beaten down by negative circumstances, a long-term condition, or an addiction you can’t seem to break, you can be a prisoner of hope and receive His gift of righteousness afresh to reign over it (Zech. 9:12, Rom. 5:17).
You can have a fresh start in your career even when you have seen your dreams shattered, because you know that in the place of nearness, God loves you, hears you, and will restore you. You can live free of fear, terror, and oppression as you become more and more established in His righteousness day by day (Isa. 54:14).
I pray that as you grow in your revelation of how Jesus has brought you to a place of closeness with God, you will walk in liberty. May you have victory over everything that is holding you back from fulfilling all that our Father has in store for your blessed future in Him.