Exodus 23:29-30 "I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land."
Can't you just picture them standing before the mountain of God? Those Israelites all covered in desert dust, staring up at their covenant-making God in a consuming fire, still shaking their heads over what He had done. He had actually delivered them from Egypt! I bet they just stood there unable to speak, letting it all sink in that the promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were not forgotten! And that He was going to fulfill those promises now! To them! How exhilarating that must have been. I imagine they were ready to seize the day! Take the land! Forget Egypt and bring on the milk and honey! Oh, those tasty promises of God at their fingertips. Surely they'll be settled any day now. Their God will drive out and blot out all those godless Amorites, Hittites, and the string of other "ites" before their very eyes. Start packing your bags, twelve tribes, because God's Promise Train is about to leave Sinai and cross the Jordan!
But oh...wait...what was that God spoke to you, Moses? Not in one year? Ummm...what exactly does He mean when He says "little by little?"
But why?
We're ready aren't we?
I mean we're your covenant people aren't we? Your bride? We're just wandering in this waterless, shadeless, hot, stifling desert...in tents.
This isn't supposed to be our stopping place. We had it better in Egypt, you know.
Ahhh...so my own heart. So restless with the ways of God when they have to do with dreams and promises unfulfilled. But He knows. He knows, beloved. He knows what we can handle. He knows the good the desert does for us. And while we certainly have already been granted every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, His plans for us are still unfolding in His time and in His way. Our moments and our days belong to Him.
So often I don't understand why the opposition when it seems my desire is for something so good. Why not a full unleashing? I can get so frustrated and discontent. Why not doors of ministry flung wide open, a healed and fully bonded relationship with my adopted son, opportunities to move into lives and see dreams He's laid on my heart realized? Why not all the promises opened wide by His Hand now?
Because He knows my heart. He knows this world. He knows the Full Story He has already written. Because sometimes if we were to come upon promises fulfilled in haste our land could become desolate and wild beasts multiply against us. He is protecting us from ourselves and from this world.
What a marvelous and loving Father! What He wants is my heart and your heart and a quiet trust that He alone is enough. Moses never crossed into the promised land. But the glory of the Lord passed by him on that mountain and He spoke to the Sovereign Lord friend to friend in that desert...so much that His face glowed.
So in the waiting...in the unknowing...in the desert...is He enough? Do you trust what He's doing in your life?
Yes, we wait for our promised land. We wait for dreams we share with Him and promises He's given us to be fulfilled here on this earth. And even more so should we set our hearts on dreams of Heaven!
Proverbs says "Many are the plans of a man's heart, but the LORD directs His steps."
Sister, we can rest in the waiting. He knows what He's doing. We see so small. He sees so big. Don't miss the lessons in the desert that will give you seeds to sow and roots to grow deep when the time comes to experience dreams and promises realized.
Our God is for us and He is working all things together for His glory and our great joy in Him.
Bon Voyage, Beloved!
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." Prov 3:5-6
