Genesis 45:1-15
- “Land o’ Goshen!”
“Land o’ Goshen” was an expression I heard in my grandmother’s house, although it is rarely heard today. She used it both to express wonder and frustration. “Land o’ Goshen! Look at all the apples in that tree.” “Land o’ Goshen, child, what have you done now?
There was a well-worn path from my house to my granny’s. After getting off the school bus I’d run that path to cozy up on the couch and watch Superman or a Western. On cold days we’d gather around the wood cooking stove and tell stories.
I remember stories about church and farming, bees and bears. (I laugh to this day picturing my granny jumping a fence to get away from a bear!) Stories and tall tales told around Sunday dinner after church, and Grandma banging out The Old Rugged Cross on her upright piano.
Of course, like every family, we had our difficulties and feuds. There were the weird cousins and the bossy aunts and the know-it-all uncles, and the one who just annoyed everybody.
My cousin and I built huts in the woods, climbed the tallest trees, and made sling shots. I got a chemistry set for Christmas one year, set up a lab tried to blow things up. Sometimes we got into trouble, and hear granny cry, “Land o’ Goshin!” Later, after all was forgiven, there would be hot peach cobbler.
- The Land of Goshen
Today’s scripture sparked these memories as I read how Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, telling them not to be angry or distressed because God used their actions to save lives. Early church teachers saw Christ prefigured in Joseph here. This remarkable man forgives as Christ would forgive. He repays anger with generosity by declaring that they shall settle in the land of Goshen (v. 10) where Joseph can keep them near and safe and provide for them.
Archeologists found storehouses in Goshen, recalling how Joseph had built them to see the land through famine. Here we get a picture of Goshen that has come to represent something more than a region in the eastern part of the Nile delta, where God’s people live together in safety and peace; where God will see them through any distress or circumstance, feast or famine; to preserve, protect and restore. In Exodus, Goshen is spared from the plagues, and it is most likely that Joseph and Mary fled to Goshen with baby Jesus to keep him safe.
No wonder my Christian grandmother would call on the land of Goshen in moments of joy or consternation. To call on Goshen is to come close to God who is close to you, and who even goes ahead to preserve a place for you.
Inspired by today’s scripture, there is a spiritual song written to send a message during these stressful times that there are those who pray Goshen over you, Goshen for you. God’s grace and mercy always to surround you. Peace in this time of fighting, love in this time of hating, the joy of the Lord in this time of stressing. Goshen.
- Our Land of Goshen
Goshen is where we find forgiveness and love. The Oak Ridge Boys sang of it where Love is Everywhere. In Goshen we know the tug of tears and hugs through hard times and good times. And in our land of Goshen, despite our irks and quirks, we know company is always welcome.
The classic country star, Porter Wagoner, called upon the Land “a-goshen” in, “Company’s Comin’”: Well Granny change your apron and Willie shine your shoes; Sally put your new dress on, we got no time to lose. I’ll go find a welcome mat and spread it out with cheer. I don’t know yet just who they are, can’t pick them out from here. But we got company comin’, company comin’, we got company comin’ up the road …Land a-goshen, shout now, they’ll be here in a minute now. There’s company comin’ down the road.
God sent Jesus to preserve for us a place to come and know His great deliverance, and to be near the God who saves. The Church becomes Goshen whenever the hospitality of Christ is extended. As in the song, we understand every week that there’s company comin’. We may not know yet just who they are, but we’ll find the welcome mat and spread it out with cheer.
In Goshen Christ’s family talks to him in prayer and with each other, and forgives the wrongs. In Goshen there is healing and kindness, and the love of God is broader than our thoughts and feelings. In Goshen we take Jesus at his Word that there’s a wideness in God’s mercy; there is welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good.
Let us pray Goshen over them, Goshen for them, God’s grace and mercy always to surround them. Let us send our message to the distressed and angry and souls suffering famine to come without delay. Join Christ’s family and live. So, Suzie, don’t you run and hide, the song also says. Everyone has a part in welcoming old friends and new, so that church becomes Goshen for all, with smiles and greetings that shout: Land o’ Goshen!