GOSHEN BLESSINGS (4)

“Only in the land of GOSHEN, where the children of Israel were, there was NO HAIL” – Exodus 9:26

Divine distinction and supernatural protection from harm and destruction are key GOSHEN BLESSINGS: “Only in the land of GOSHEN, where the children of Israel were, there was NO HAIL” (Exo.9:26). Here, we see how the Lord spared Goshen from the seventh plague – the Plague of Hail – that was unleashed on the rest of Egypt. By this time, God had intensified His display of power in the successive plagues, and the Egyptian magicians who initially tried to replicate the miracles, were forced to admit defeat. They saw clearly that Moses and Aaron were backed by the irresistible Hand of the Almighty. These were direct moves of God, and Israel’s protection through the plagues confirmed this. Before He announced the seventh plague, God reminded Pharaoh of His mercy towards him in the previous plagues (vv.13-17).

God could have destroyed Pharaoh and his people in one mighty plague, but instead He sent these lesser plagues, each time giving him an opportunity to repent. The longer Pharaoh delayed, the greater would be his downfall, and the greater Glory would be ascribed to God when He finally overthrew him. With His Heart full of Mercy, God also gave good warning before the coming destruction by hail and lightning, so that people could escape the judgment if they wished. Many of Pharaoh’s courtiers, fearful of Israel’s God, heeded Moses’ warnings and so were not affected by the disaster: “He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field” (vv.20-21).

God’s providential care and protection of Israel were evident in each of the last series of plagues (Exo.8: 22-32; 9:4,6,11). His people were spared from judgement, demonstrating to Pharaoh that the Lord was in control. He could inflict judgement upon the Egyptians but spare His own people. He consistently “made a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (Exo.10:23; 11:7). This extended to the ultimate judgement: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exo.12:12-13).

God’s Principle of Divine Distinction is consistent with scriptures: “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity” (Psa.125:3). Our Lord Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PEACE. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jh.16:33). The portion of Believers in Christ is PEACE, whereas the portion of the world is TRIBULATION or Troubles. Revelations 12:12 reads: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! WOE to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he ha a short time.” Rejoicing belongs to heavenly citizens; woe to the worldlings!

The ‘spirit’ of Goshen says: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in You” (Psa.55:22-23). God releases Goshen Blessings willing souls and serving hearts that are thirsty for His Reality, separating and sparing them from destruction, like precious Jewels: “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My Jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him” (Mal.3:17).