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More Exodus commentaries
Exodus 23:20-33
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Exodus 23:20-33
© Family Times | About Us | Donate | Contact Us
Search for sermons by: Commentaries | Scripture search | Topics
Exodus 23:20–33
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
When Sir Winston Churchill resigned as prime minister of Great Britain on April 5, 1955, it was thought that age and the desire to permit Sir Anthony Eden greater latitude in the forthcoming elections were the reasons. And they were. But there was one more. The 81-year-old states … More
In this passage God makes promises about directing His people into the promised land where the laws just given will be practiced. It contains promises of cursing for those who disobey and blessings for those who obey (vv. 20-22). When the people arrive in Canaan God promises to do away with her enemies (v. 23). Then the Israelites were to destroy all of the Canaanites idols (v. 24). Obeying God would result in good health, long life and a prosperous way for them (vv. 25-26).
God also promised that He would give them the land gradually (vv. 27-30). In fact Joshua’s conquest took seven years and they still did not wipe out all of the enemies (1406-1399 B.C.). If God had given them the land all at once, it would have become desolate and inhabited by wild animals before Israel could have settled in and cultivated it.
God describes the location of the borders of the Promised Land. He said they were to extend all the way to the Red Sea and from the eastern deserts to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. He also said that He would drive the Canaanites out of the Land (v. 31). However, strict adherence to God’s covenant was required; and they were to make no covenant with the heathen (vv. 32-33). The precept with this promise is, that they should not make friendship with idolaters. Those that would keep from bad consequences, must keep from bad company. It is dangerous to live in a bad neighborhood. Our greatest danger is from those who would make us sin against God.
Application
Just as God promised to go before the Israelites and conquer their enemies He wants to do the same for me today. However, if I want to fight my own battles He will probably let me do so.
Exodus 23:20-33 (English Standard Version)
"Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. "But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. You shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 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. And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."
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