What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 7:20? Moreover “Moreover” shows God is adding one more promise to the list He has just given Israel (Deuteronomy 7:17-19). He has reminded them of the plagues, the Red Sea, and every act that humbled Pharaoh. Now He stacks this fresh assurance on top of all that. Just as He piled plague upon plague in Egypt (Exodus 8:2), He will pile deliverance upon deliverance for His covenant people (Psalm 105:26-36). the LORD your God The same covenant name that thundered at Sinai now guarantees the outcome in Canaan (Deuteronomy 5:2). • “LORD” anchors the promise in God’s unchanging character (Malachi 3:6). • “your God” highlights intimacy and ownership; He fights for those who belong to Him (Deuteronomy 1:30; Romans 8:31). Trust rests not in Israel’s might but in the Almighty who bears their name on His heart (Isaiah 49:16). will send the hornet God pledges a specific, supernatural tactic: “I will send My hornet before you” (Exodus 23:28; Joshua 24:12). Whether these stinging agents are literal insects or a metaphor for panic-inducing terror, the effect is real and physical. • The same Creator who controlled frogs, gnats, and flies in Egypt can deploy hornets in Canaan. • The precision of “send” shows God’s sovereign direction—no random occurrence, but a targeted strike (Psalm 91:3-6). against them The “them” is every Canaanite nation opposing Israel (Deuteronomy 7:1). God is not indiscriminately harsh; His judgment zeroes in on entrenched wickedness (Genesis 15:16; Deuteronomy 9:5). What overwhelms Israel’s foes protects Israel’s future. until even the survivors hiding from you have perished The mission continues “until” there is no remaining resistance (Numbers 33:55-56). • Hidden pockets of rebellion will surface under God’s relentless pressure (Amos 9:3). • No underground refuge can outlast divine pursuit (Psalm 139:7-12). Complete removal secures a land free from idolatry’s snare (Deuteronomy 7:25-26). summary Deuteronomy 7:20 reinforces God’s pledge to finish what He starts. The covenant LORD personally orchestrates victory, deploying hornets to flush out every last adversary. Israel’s confidence lies not in strategy or numbers, but in the unfailing God who promises to act until the land is fully theirs and His holiness fully honored. |
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