The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 20 November 2020 – TOPIC: DWELLING IN GOSHEN

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TOPIC: DWELLING IN GOSHEN

READ: GENESIS 47:13-31 (NKJV)13. Now [there was] no bread in all the land; for the famine [was] very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.14. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.15. So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”16. Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you [bread] for your livestock, if the money is gone.”17. So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread [in exchange] for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread [in exchange] for all their livestock that year.18. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.19. “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give [us] seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.”20. Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s.21. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from [one] end of the borders of Egypt to the [other] end.22. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations [allotted to them] by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.23. Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, [here is] seed for you, and you shall sow the land.24. “And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”25. So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”26. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, [that] Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, [which] did not become Pharaoh’s.27. So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.28. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.29. When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt,30. “but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.”31. Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.*THE MESSAGE:*King Pharaoh granted the request for Israel to dwell in Goshen, a place in Egypt. While there was famine in other parts of Egypt and as long as Jacob and his descendants (the Israelites) dwelt in Goshen, they had great possessions, grew and multiplied (verse 27). Israel’s case in Goshen was different from that of the Egyptians who had to give up their cattle, lands and even bodies for bread. God’s will for His people is that “when men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up’ (Job 22:29, KJV). However there is a Goshen for God’s people to dwell, which is The Secret Place of The Most High (Psalm 91:1). The Secret Place of the Most High is the place of regular fellowship and communion with God in prayer and in study of His word. God’s word provides solution to every need and God is His word. (John 1:1).Are you hard pressed by the present harsh economic situation? Are you indebted? Do you have numerous unmet needs? Does the future seem bleak? There is an invitation for you, to “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). There is rest in God.*PRAYER:* Lord may I find succour in You as I come to You