Exodus 23:29,30 “I will not drive them out before you in a single year, that the land may not become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. “I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.
God is referring to the future. When they show up to their new land, He will evict the present tenants. However, He will do it at a rate that they can handle and a rate which keeps the land maintained. An abandoned house quickly deteriorates. So, He will make room for them as they expand and can handle the next step.
This is a great analogy as to how God works in our lives as individuals. When we accept Christ, He takes up residency in us. There is plenty to clean up. However, it’s not done all at once. He chooses to tackle those things one at a time. He will bring it to our attention first. It may take a while for us to yield. Once we do we often try what we think He wants. This works sometimes. Other times we have to see our folly and look to Him for guidance. They can come as ideas, guidance from the Bible or from the advice of others.
The Bible call this process sanctification. Phillipians 2:12,13 describes this: “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” He has given us a new nature. It takes time to work it out. This passage makes it clear that it’s not us who does the changing. It’s God. This passage also tells us that He puts the “want to” in us also.
This concept differentiates Christianity from other religions. All have creeds that guide and direct. Great effort is expended to become holy. However Jesus is doing the work in us as we comply with Him. This takes off a huge burden. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 11:29,30, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Lord, thank You for Your work in us. You make our lives incredible. Help us to trust You.