A LITTLE AT A TIME
Today's reading: Exodus 21-24

"I will send my terror upon all the people whose lands you invade, and they will panic before you. I will send hornets ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not do this all in one year because the land would become a wilderness, and the wild animals would become too many to control. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to fill the land." Exodus 23:27-30 NLT

Just this week I read this quote...

Idols cannot be removed, they must be replaced.

Meaning a hole in our desires, our inborn need to worship something, will be filled by something.

God gave us an example of that in his instructions to the Israelites as they entered their new land.

He could have wiped everything clean before they arrived...

He could have removed any trace of the former occupants...

He could have taken care of any and all obstacles that might have stood in their way...

But He desired that they invest a little sweat equity.

He wanted His people to know how hard won this new land was, how much of a gift it was from His hands and how very, very important it would be for them to stay close to Him through it all.

For every victory they experienced, He wanted their hearts to be filled with gratitude for Him.

For every hard fought battle, He wanted their allegiance.

For every accomplishment, He wanted their love.

A little at a time.