Little By Little

(Exodus 23:29-30 ESV) 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.

God expects us to to move forward and advance in spiritual growth and understanding. After all, He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places and wants us to possess them in the here and now. But, we need not expect to possess ALL our blessings at once.

In this passage of Scripture, God indicates that He will drive out the enemy, but He will not do it in a year. Instead, the extraction of the enemy would be accomplished little by little. The Israelites were not fully prepared to receive such a magnanimous victory at once. Instead, God told them to expect incremental victories that would increase as they became more prepared to protect the land from the wild beasts and enemies that would multiply against them.

God was saying, “Be faithful in your right now moment. Be responsible with what is already in your hand. Take one step at a time with your eyes focused forward, and in due time, I will open the door to additional opportunities and accompanying resources.”

When I progress little by little, it trains me to trust God. It makes me dependent on Him; it keeps me in a perpetual state of expectation.

Because I’m human, I have a tendency to want what I want when I want it! I would prefer to fight one battle, win, and sit back and revel in the victory. Why can’t I have it all now God? Aren’t you able to provide the total victory in one fell swoop? Of course He is! But, it is not always in our best interest for it to happen that way. It takes time for things to develop so that we are adequately prepared and God is glorified.

Often times, the anticipation of victory heightens the celebration of victory. Isaiah wrote, “Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious to you.” (Isaiah 30:18 KJV)

While you are waiting, remember that there is a moving, growing dynamic to your faith. God will lead you through the land, little by little, until you are increased enough to inherit the fullness of the land.

PRAYER: Father, I will patiently wait for the full expression of Your will in me. I trust that You are working everything to provide a positive blessing that will bring great glory to Your name. Until then, I will accept your increase little by little, knowing that “little is much when God is in it!” Amen.