Thou Shalt Be Near Unto Me
Today’s Verse:
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: ~Genesis 45:10
One of the most touching stories in the Bible is when Joseph is reunited with his brothers and father. It is a beautiful and powerful picture of the unfolding of God’s plan for us after we get saved. Getting saved is when we are reconciled to God. Being saved is about our relationship with God. God lovingly desires that we have close fellowship with Him. Jesus uses the analogy of the vine, branches, and the husbandman in John 15 to help us understand the richness, resources, and rejoicing there is when we draw near to Him.
We see the announcement.
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.” Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph was a “savior” to the world. He made a way so that food was available during a terrible seven-year famine. Jesus is the Bread of Life Who satisfies the hunger of every sinner. Faith in Him saves us from our sin. Joseph was also a “sovereign” to those who came to him. After we are saved, we must know Jesus as Lord of our life. Do you know Jesus? Do you see Him in Scripture every time you read it? Do you know Him during the times of anxiety? Do you know Him when He beckons you to come to Him?
We see the appeal.
“And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast….” Joseph wanted all of his family to come live with him in Goshen. Goshen means “drawing near.” Joseph wanted his family near to him so that their every need would be taken care of. Jesus wants us to abide in Him. This abiding implies a close, nourishing, and vital relationship. He wants us to dwell near to Him. He wants our entire family and all that we have been blessed with to be near to Him. It is better to be near to the Lord than to be farther away. It is better to be near where every need can be met than to be far away and struggle for existence.
We see the availability.
“And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.” Pharaoh is a type of God our Father in this passage. He was delighted that Joseph’s brethren had come. He, too, wanted the entire clan to live in Goshen where they would be taken care of. Pharaoh promised to give to Joseph’s family “the good of the land of Egypt.” God promises to give us “the precious things of heaven” (Deuteronomy 33:13). He blesses us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Dwell near to Jesus and all the good of the land of Heaven is yours. Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
We see the action.
“And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.” There was no hesitation on Jacob’s part. His son was not dead but was alive. Jesus is a living Saviour. He said, “Because I live, ye shall live also.” Jacob said, “I will go and see him before I die.” Like Jacob, we should move with haste and draw near to our Lord. Don’t waste time vacillating on whether it is a good idea to draw near to the Lord. It’s the best thing we can do for our life. Let us draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. There is nothing to lose, and we have the blessings of God to gain.
Have a closely-drawn God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalms 103-105