What is the meaning of Exodus 23:28? I will send • The promise begins with God acting: “I will send.” Israel’s conquest relied on His direct intervention, not merely human strength (Exodus 33:2; Deuteronomy 7:1-2). • This underscores covenant faithfulness—what God pledged to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He now accomplishes (Genesis 15:18-21). • When God sends, success is certain. As He later told Joshua, “The LORD your God Himself will drive them out” (Joshua 23:5). the hornet • The “hornet” illustrates a divinely-appointed terror or plague that weakens enemies before Israel even draws a sword (Deuteronomy 7:20; Joshua 24:12). • Whether literal stinging insects or a figurative wave of dread, the point is supernatural intervention; God alone could wield creation so precisely (Psalm 118:12). • This keeps the spotlight on God’s power, so Israel cannot boast (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). before you • God goes ahead of His people, preparing the battlefield and guaranteeing victory (Exodus 13:21; Deuteronomy 9:3). • Walking by faith means following His lead rather than running ahead in self-confidence (Numbers 14:42-45). • Assurance flows from His presence—He clears the path before a single step is taken (Psalm 77:20). to drive out • “Drive out” depicts complete expulsion, not mere coexistence (Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 11:23). • This firm language defends Israel from idolatry; partial obedience would invite spiritual compromise (Judges 2:1-3). • God’s holiness demands removal of anything that corrupts covenant life (Leviticus 18:24-28). the Hivites • Inhabiting central Canaan (Genesis 34:2; Joshua 9:7), the Hivites illustrate entrenched pagan culture. • Their later deception of Israel (Joshua 9) proves why God ordered their removal—He foresaw snares Israel could not (Deuteronomy 7:16). and the Canaanites • “Canaanites” can serve as a broad term, yet here likely highlights lowland city-states renowned for fortified walls (Numbers 13:29). • Though formidable, they fell when God fought—Jericho’s walls collapsed by divine means, not siegecraft (Joshua 6:20). and the Hittites • The Hittites held strategic hill country (Numbers 13:29). Abraham once bought land from them (Genesis 23:3-20), but their culture later turned idolatrous. • Solomon’s day records remaining Hittites, evidence Israel never finished the task (1 Kings 9:20-21), validating God’s original warning. out of your way • God’s goal is unobstructed forward movement into promise: “Every place the sole of your foot treads will be yours” (Deuteronomy 11:24). • Clearing the way secures space for worship, family life, and national witness (Exodus 19:5-6). • What God removes, He replaces with blessing—“houses full of every good thing” (Deuteronomy 6:10-11). summary Exodus 23:28 assures Israel that conquering Canaan is ultimately God’s work. He initiates (“I will send”), employs sovereign means (“the hornet”), precedes His people (“before you”), achieves total victory (“to drive out”), and specifically targets entrenched foes (Hivites, Canaanites, Hittites) so Israel can walk unhindered into His promises. Trusting this same God today invites confidence that He still goes before His people, removes obstacles, and fulfills every word He has spoken. |
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