Daily Devotions
Exodus
"You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up. Your gentleness has made me great." Psalm 18:35
Text: Exodus 23 : 23-24
PREPARING FOR A PHYSICAL BATTLE
Being promised the land of Canaan is not the same as actually possessing it! There were inhabitants in Canaan who would do their utmost to resist Israel from settling in “their country”. The Lord had to prepare the hearts and minds of Israel for battle! They must first know their enemy!
“For My Angel will go before you and bring you in
to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites
and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites;
and I will cut them off.”
EXODUS 23:23
1. The Commander-in-Chief
Israel must know who was their Leader! Moses was but a servant of the Lord. Joshua may have fought and beaten the Amalekites, but the enemies in Canaan would prove to be even more formidable! They would need no one less than God’s Angel to lead them to victory! (The Angel of God was specially mentioned in the battle where Pharaoh’s army was drowned in the Sea – Cf. Exodus 14:19ff)!
2. “I will cut them down”
The LORD Himself would be involved in the battle ahead! Israel must have every confidence for it had seen the power of God displayed in Egypt. Not even the might of Pharaoh could go against the power of God! The Lord Himself will see to the defeat of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan!
3. Involvement of the army of Israel
Though the Biblical text does not speak about the army of Israel, we may safely assume that there was a fighting force that God could utilize. Joshua headed a small army that was quickly raised to give battle to the Amalekites (Cf. Exodus 17:8-15)!
PREPARING FOR A SPIRITUAL BATTLE
The Lord wanted Israel to know that there was another battle that must be fought and won! Physical victory would not be enough! Spiritual victory is of critical importance too!
“You shall not bow down to their gods,
nor serve them, nor do according to their works;
but you shall utterly overthrow them and
completely break down their sacred pillars.”
EXODUS 23:24
If Israel merely conquered the inhabitants, but became drawn to idolatrous practices, the “victory” would be short-lived and hollow! Israel must not possess only physical might. It must also have spiritual wisdom and power! Idolatry must be obliterated or Israel would be defeated in the long run!