Settling in Goshen (Genesis #78)

Text: Genesis 46

Goshen is where God’s people are saved (Genesis 45:7, 10)

Goshen is where God’s people are made great (vss 1-7)

  • Confirmation from the LORD
  • A sacrifice followed by revelation and confirmation.
  • Israel will become a great nation in Goshen (46:3).
  • The LORD says I’ll go down there with you and I’ll bring you back up.

Goshen is where God’s people are fruitful (vss 8-27)

  • Census of Israel’s family
  • The sum of the family is found in verses 26-27 to be 70 souls.
  • If you wonder why God keeps the boring censuses maybe this will help. This is the family that God has a covenant with. It will be an old covenant based on racial pedigree. Because it’s based on physical genealogy the people born to Jacob are important.
  • Genesis 47:27 says this is where the nation multiplied exponentially. From 70 souls to 603,550 men 20 years or older according to Exodus 38:26. Overall there must be 1.5 million souls.

Goshen is the land least affected by the famine (vss 28-34)

  • The fruitfulness of Goshen was due to where it was located.
  • Joseph tells his family that if and when they’re asked about their occupation to tell Pharaoh they are shepherds and cattlemen so they’ll be able to live in Goshen.
  • The land of Goshen was the best land, it was on the east side of the Nile, it was where the palace was located, and it was where Joseph lived (Genesis 45:10, 47:1, 4).
  • Pharaoh says if you have men of expertise in cattle, make them overseers of my cattle.
  • The nation of Israel would occupy Goshen for several generations going forward (Exodus 8:22, 9:26)