Little By Little

“I will not drive them out from before you in one year… Little by little I will drive them out from before you until you have increased” (Exodus 23:29-30).

Exodus chapter twenty-three describes several of the initial experiences the Hebrew people had with God following their departure from Egypt. As you know, Moses was God’s spokesman, delivering to the people God’s laws. After Moses relayed God’s commands, the people said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.”

Little did they (or Moses) know the challenges that lie ahead for them. Certainly one of their most daunting challenges was the defeat of the people living in the lands that God pledged to give to them in fulfillment of his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Frankly, if they knew ahead of time all that the next forty-plus years would bring, they may have rebelled against Moses and the Lord. Would you agree that God is good in not revealing all of his plans to us, including how he intends to bring us through the trials and difficulties we will face?

This now is where the passage cited above becomes quite instructive for us, I believe. Here’s what I mean. We all know what it’s like to face trials, difficulties and hard times. Sometimes we see them coming, while at other times they catch us by complete surprise. When trials come, we want out; and we want it now! Yet in God’s way of working, there are few instances when deliverance from difficulty comes immediately. You see, God has a plan and it may not include release from difficulties according to our timetable or preferences. That’s hard to accept, is it not?

In that light, note carefully what God said in Exodus 23:30.  He told the Hebrews that he would not give them immediate victory over the peoples of the land. He told them that their victory would take place “little by little.” Further, his purpose in working little by little was so that they might “increase.” In other words, what appeared to be God’s slowness in coming to their relief was intentional on his part. It was for a purpose, that they might increase.

The Hebrew word “increase” in verse thirty means to “bear fruit.” Do you catch the significance of that? God’s purpose in working little by little had a greater goal than simply giving them release from the trials they would encounter. His desire was that they bear fruit.

Can you see that’s always God’s purpose in the trials he allows to enter our lives? Quick escape from trials stunts the growth of fruit; whereas “little by little” fertilizes the fruit God wants to produce in the hearts of his people. Make no mistake, Christian friend. God may appear to be working little by little; but in his timing, the fruit will be sweet indeed.