Marching Forth with Divine Assurance
"And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:" - Exodus 33:2
Exodus 33:2 states, "And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite." This promise from God to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings is rich in meaning and relevance, even for us today.
The context of this verse is pivotal; the Israelites had just experienced the grievous sin of idol worship with the golden calf, which led to God's displeasure. Yet, despite their failings, God remained committed to His covenant. His promise was that He would send an angel before them to prepare the way for their journey to the Promised Land. This act of grace signifies God's enduring patience and His intention to fulfill His promises, regardless of human shortcomings.
Firstly, we observe the nature of God as a loving and committed leader. The sending of the angel indicates God's initiative in going before His people, not leading them from behind, but leading them into battle and blessing. God would not leave them to their own devices amidst the challenges and enemies they would face. In much the same way, in our lives today, God continues this provision by sending His angels, both seen and unseen, to guide, protect, and lead us through our spiritual journeys.
Moreover, the names of the adversaries that God mentions—Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—represent all the obstacles and challenges that stand in the way of divine promises being realized. Each of these tribes symbolizes a different form of opposition and struggle that can occur in our lives. They remind us that the journey toward our God-given destiny often encounters resistance and spiritual warfare. It is comforting to know that we are not called to fight these battles alone; God promises to drive out those who oppose us.
This brings us to the heart of the message: reliance on divine intervention. In our pursuit of goals or God-given dreams, we often encounter hurdles that seem insurmountable. Our own strength can easily feel inadequate in the face of overwhelming challenges, whether they are health issues, financial difficulties, family strife, or personal issues like addiction or sin struggles. However, the assurance from Exodus 33:2 is that God goes before us, actively working on our behalf to remove obstacles. When we surrender our battles to God, we can trust that He has already prepared a way.
Additionally, we should reflect on the role of the angel in our lives today. In the New Testament, we see how believers are promised the Holy Spirit as our Helper and Guide. Just as God sent an angel to lead the Israelites, He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead, comfort, and empower us in our lives as we navigate through various trials. This indwelling presence is a reminder that we are never alone in our journey; we carry the very peace of God within us, preparing us for every battle that lies ahead.
Thus, with every step we take towards the manifestations of God's promises in our lives, we can march forth in confidence and faith. Just as the Israelites were assured of God’s presence leading them, we too are encouraged to trust that He is with us in every fight, removing enemies not only from our physical paths but also from our hearts and minds—fear, doubt, guilt, and shame.
Let us embrace the truth of Exodus 33:2 as we move forward into our own Promised Lands, encouraged that God indeed sends His angels before us, fighting our battles and ensuring our paths are clear. May this assurance propel us to deeper faith, unwavering trust, and daring courage to face whatever lies ahead.
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Exodus 33:2 - "And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:"
"And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:" - Exodus 33:2
Exodus 12:33
Exodus 26:31-33
Exodus 33:6 - "And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb."
Exodus 33:18 - "And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory."
Exodus 33:21 - "And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:"
Exodus 33:14 - "And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."
Exodus 34:33 - "And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face."
Exodus 35:33 - "And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work."
Exodus 36:33 - "And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other."
Exodus 33:15 - "And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence."
Exodus 33:4 - "¶ And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments."
Exodus 33:20 - "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."
Exodus 21:33 - "¶ And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;"
Exodus 33:9 - "And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses."
Exodus 32:33 - "And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."
Exodus 33:23 - "And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."
Exodus 30:33 - "Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people."
Exodus 12:33 - "And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men."
Exodus 29:33 - "And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy."
"And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb." - Exodus 33:6
Exodus 23:33 - "They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee."
Exodus 40:33 - "And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work."
Exodus 39:33 - "¶ And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,"
Exodus 16:33 - "And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations."
Exodus 33:10 - "And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door."
Exodus 9:33 - "And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth."
Exodus 33:3 - "Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way."
Exodus 33:22 - "And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:"