Little by little
Exodus 23:27-30
Here we have the Israelites moving through the wilderness and received the hopeful promise of a land they would possess.
But it would not come at the snap of God's fingers. It wouldn't even come in a year. It would be a gradual process. Little by little.
There are very practical reasons for this:
- If the land were cleared of its inhabitants immediately, the lack of human maintenance would cause crops to fail and the land to quickly revert to wilderness…oh great, more wilderness!
- With vast, uninhabited, and uncultivated territories, predators and wild beasts would multiply and pose a severe physical threat to the Israelites and their livestock.
- The phrase "little by little" highlights God's method of preparing His people. He gives them time to increase in numbers, become organized, and learn how to manage and care for their new inheritance.
For you mothers and fathers out there, think about the preparation and planning that takes place in those 9 months of pregnancy. Not only buying and receiving baby items but the preparation of your hearts and a 9 month course in maturity as you wait for this gift from the Lord.
As each of us prepares to give birth to our book babies, there is a process God takes us through. Little by little He molds and shapes us. We grow as Kingdom Writers one hard earned sentence at a time.
Yes, there are moments when we wish we could snap our fingers and have the book published. But we would miss out on so much and wouldn't be prepared if put in that position so quickly.
Just as the Israelites wanted to possess the land immediately, people often desire instant answers, success, or perfection. These verses remind us that "little by little" growth protects us from being overwhelmed by blessings or situations they are not yet equipped to handle.
What are some examples of "wild animals" that could become too numerous in our lives if not for the little by little process God takes us through in life and with our books?
(Pride, self-sufficiency, overwhelm with new responsibilities, lack of structure in place, worshiping success, etc).
I see one other glaring reason I think the Lord gives His people this "little by little" strategy: He wants us to rely upon Him every step of the way. If we got everything we wanted in an instant, we would be so prone to living our lives as if to say, "Ok God, I'm good to go! I'll let you know if I need anything else."
Maybe the Lord has given you a vision of a promised land to come. If so, embrace the "little by little" process He has for you. It will be worth the wait.
Resources:
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