Exodus 23:29-30 – “^I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals multiply against you. ³⁰ Little by little, I will drive them out before you, until you become fruitful and inherit the land.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I heard the word “Process.”   It was repeated multiple times.   Life is a process and a progression.

In Exodus 23:20-33, God gave directions and promises to Israel. All contingent on trust and obedience. He said that He would send hornets before them to drive out the inhabitants.  Then, a revelatory declaration came in verses 29-30.   There would be no instant provision, but a process of progressive provision.

Why? Because they weren’t capable of handling the fullness of the promise. It would be little by little, inch by inch, and day by day until they became fruitful.  As we mature and have capacity, God releases His blessings; otherwise, we will, in our unprepared condition, suffer because of the inability to tend the crop and care for the inner man. The wild animals (powers of darkness) will multiply against us.   Unprepared, we cannot steward the promise.   As we go through the process of development and maturity, we can handle more and more.   Then, God enlarges our tent and lengthens our borders.

If we are not being expanded, we need first to ask, “Why Not?”   Examine our condition, surrender what needs to be surrendered, and take action to prepare. We also need to realize where we could be by design and learn to bloom where we are planted. Rather than waiting until our ship comes in or our day to shine arrives, do what we can with what we have and grow into a more prepared condition. Never despise small beginnings.

How we view ourselves is a significant factor in our development and progress. If we see ourselves as unworthy sinners, we give power to darkness to dominate our lives. If we see the Finished Work of Jesus and believe that we were crucified with Him and raised to newness of life by and in Him, we progress in the process and become!

Romans 6:5-14 is revelatory! In Christ we have been crucified. Our flesh no longer dominates us, unless we fail to understand the Cross and believe we are poor sinners even after He has cleansed and transformed us. That is an excuse and an insult to Christ! That devalues the Cross. The Cross opens the door to complete freedom.

The process of grace-to-grace must be embraced. Romans 6:21-23 is powerful and liberating.  We are Free from sin and Enslaved to God. That means His blood and grace sanctify us, and the result is eternal life! Romans 6:16-18 reminds us that if we allow sin to dominate, we enslave ourselves to that nature, but that is not who we are “if” we are in Christ.

Through obedience and faith, we are free from sin and enslaved to righteousness. What we focus on, we become. If you see yourself as a sinner, you will be dominated by that nature. If you see yourself Free in Jesus, you will find the strength to live in righteousness. Who are you?

LORD, help us to embrace the process and wait patiently for you to develop us to the place where we can fully live in the call you have given!