““See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Do not rebel against him, for he is my representative, and he will not forgive your rebellion. But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you. For my angel will go before you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebusites, so you may live there. And I will destroy them completely. You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars. “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives. “I will send my terror ahead of you and create panic among all the people whose lands you invade. I will make all your enemies turn and run. I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the eastern wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will hand over to you the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you. “Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.””
Exodus 23:20-33 NLT
God promised to go before Israel. He promised to clear every path for them by giving them an angel that they could follow who would remove all obstacles so that they could finally settle into their covenant blessings. Yet we know historically that this did not happen. In fact, the opposite happened. As we have seen, God is capable of great feats. Not only did he remove a million slaves from Egypts economic system but also destroyed their army in the process. During this time, he demonstrated that his command extended to all the elements of nature as well. God’s promise of a salvific angel, was not an empty one. But it did come at a cost. It was clear that the Hebrew people would have to be patient and trusting. Among other things, this seemed to be their primary downfall. Earlier they had demonstrated their lack of these qualities while lamenting having left Egypt. They worried about food and water. Later, they expressed concern at having to deal with God directly. They would rather be mediated by Moses. Again, God would give them access to his blessings but they only needed to trust and wait. The end of Exodus is a tragic story about people who cannot wait on God. It is also an evergreen caution for us all. It is our choice. God doesn’t keep that choice from us. Will we wait on him and trust him? Or will we squander it and eventually outmode ourselves amongst his people as we become a cautionary tale to the faithful?
God’s Promise to Israel: God promised to guide Israel to their covenant blessings by sending an angel to remove obstacles.
Israel’s Lack of Patience and Trust: Despite God’s power, Israel struggled with patience and trust, doubting God’s provision and preferring Moses as an intermediary.
Lesson for Today: The story of Israel serves as a cautionary tale for all believers, emphasizing the importance of waiting on and trusting God.
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