Goshen

Of all the things to grab me today: one word, a place name, Goshen.

After Joseph has died in Genesis 50 and everyone forgets about him, the Israelites were enslaved for 430 years. You end up hearing a refrain during the 10 plagues Moses brings on the land right before the exodus.

"I'll set Goshen where my people live aside as a sanctuary—no flies in Goshen."

"The hail hit hard all over Egypt. Everything exposed was smashed. Except for Goshen where the Israelites lived; there was no hail in Goshen."

"Thick darkness descended on the land of Egypt for three days. Nobody could see anybody. For three days no one could so much as move. Except for the Israelites: they had light where they were living."

Can you imagine that type of provision/protection?

God provides daily bread for us and protects us, just maybe not in such a dramatic/obvious fashion. We are God's people as much as the Israelites. Can we live our lives of faith and sacrifice with as much confidence and trust as they did?