Have you wondered why God doesn’t just speak the word and make it happen for you? Or in the vernacular – why doesn’t He just snap His fingers and your problems would be over? Sometimes we complain about His snail-paced interventions in our lives. When the children of Israel were heading towards the Promised Land, God told them they would occupy the land little by little.
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. Exodus 23:30
‘Little by little’ He would drive out their enemies. This phrase is repeated in Deuteronomy.
The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. Deuteronomy 7:22
God doesn’t always intervene immediately or dramatically in our lives – but we can be sure He has a purpose for the way He chooses to unfold the plan. In the verses above, He moved His Plan forward little by little. Why the slow approach, when He had the power to do something much more immediate and dramatic?
Of course, we believe He has a plan for our lives! But we grow impatient over the slow way it unfolds. Little by little. We know He has the power to do things quickly and mightily. He can interrupt the solar system; He can speak a word and stormy waters can become placid and calm. But in our case, that’s not happening. Little by little. We become agitated because He doesn’t speak the word and dramatically alter our circumstances in the direction we believe is most desirable. Why doesn’t He settle this once for all? Little by little.
Of course, we know He has a purpose! But deep-down we ask: “What is God doing? What ever could His purpose be in letting this happen and, then, allowing it to continue? Why doesn’t He intervene before more damage is done? Why didn’t He just make my path completely straight for me – no hills, no valleys, no twists and no turns? Why didn’t He eradicate all my struggles and temptations, so I could just focus on living for Him joyfully?”
God always sees the big picture, but He is under no obligation to share it with us. He expects us to just trust Him. In this particular situation, God did give His reason for the slow approach. “I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you.” Exodus 23:29
The Children of Israel had been in captivity for generations. They were lacking experience in developing and settling new land. If the Lord eliminated all their problems in the first year, they would not be ready for it. They would be lacking the skills. They would not be sufficiently developed to manage all the vacated land. It would be overrun by beasts and would just be waste-land! Far better for the Lord to drive out the enemies ‘little by little’ as they developed and matured and were ready to do something profitable with the next chunk of land.
Let the Lord whisper into your soul today:
My child, it is the same for you. Bit by bit, inch by inch, little by little, step by step is My approach for you. It’s the maturing process. Every little victory will give you more confidence in Me. If I removed all the threats and challenges, you might become complacent and even become self-confident and less dependent on Me. You might stop praying and reading My Word. Trust Me and fear not; I know what I am doing.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay
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