Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 7

By Little and Little

Exodus 23:28-30 (KJV) And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. 29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

The LORD gave Israel the strategy for the conquest of the Promised Land. It was “by little and little”. It would take time for the children of Israel to increase in the land. Though they have become a great multitude, however, in comparison with the size of the land, Israel will need to further grow to effectively occupy the land.  The reason given is lest the land becomes desolate and the beast of the field multiply against His people.

What foresight! Indeed, the LORD knows the dangers that threaten the well-being of His people. 

Matthew 10:30-31 (KJV) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

From being slaves in Egypt, Israel will transition to be a nation under God. With the conquest of the land, they would be blessed as landowners. There will be stability for each of the families in Israel. They would have their own homes. The wildlife in the land will not encroach upon their safety because the speed by which the conquest would be made would spare them from such desolation. It is indeed critical that the people of God pay great attention to His instructions for their well-being.

It is the LORD who will drive out Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites for Israel to occupy the land. Yet we know that the children of Israel were actively engaged with the enemy in each battle. It is the LORD who will guide them to battle, give them the strength needed to overcome their enemies, and finally to inherit the land that He has given them. 

The strategy is from the LORD, it shall be a gradual process. Why? The LORD has a perfect plan for His people. As they rest in Him to guide and lead them, His covenant made with their forefathers would be fulfilled with the passing of time. They would bear witness to the goodness of their LORD upon their lives.

Psalm 34:8 (KJV) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 The LORD told Israel that they will not drive them out in one year. It will take longer. They would be settling in the land first, the manna would stop, they would be eating of the produce of the land. They would become farmers and they are also ready soldiers for the Lord. In other words, there is a need for constant vigilance for the continuing task of possessing the Promised Land. Their continued existence under God will be a witness to the nations that the LORD is indeed the living and true God in their journey from utter slavery to becoming landowners. The LORD showed them the boundary of the land allotted to them that they are to possess. He promised that they will have the victory. What encouragement of a glorious future with God!

Exodus 23:31 (KJV) And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

There is also a need for patience to plod on for the work is yet undone. They are not to run before the LORD rather they are to engage in the battle according to His stipulations when to move and when to rest and prepare for the next battle.

One warning as they follow Him to battle at the pace that He stipulated as the best for their well-being is not mixed with the people in the land.

Exodus 23:32-33 (KJV) Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.

Here is the great danger that will threaten the progress of their possession of the land, the unequal yoke!

A similar admonition was given by the Apostle Paul to the church in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

It will be a great snare. The word “snare” means “bait or lure”. The snare is that the unbelievers in the land would tempt them to sin against the LORD and thereby incurring His wrath upon them. The psalmist appropriately delineates the blessing to keep away from such evil influences in Psalm 1:1 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. The way by which this “by little and little” strategy will work is that Israel continue to dwell in obedience upon His Word – Psalm 1:2-3 (KJV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Amen.

Yours lovely,

 Pastor Lek Aik Wee