“And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.”
Context:The book of Exodus recounts the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt and their subsequent experiences in the wilderness. In this verse, God promises to send hornets ahead of the Israelites to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
Divine Intervention:The verse demonstrates God’s active involvement in the affairs of His people. Here, God pledges to use natural means, like hornets, to accomplish His purposes. This emphasises His power and sovereignty over creation.
Symbolic Meaning:The use of hornets as a means of driving out the Canaanite, Hivite, and Hittite nations carries symbolic significance. It symbolises the presence of God going before His people and acting on their behalf. God’s power is not limited to conventional warfare, but He can use various means to accomplish His plans.
God’s Promises:The verse underscores God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. God had earlier promised to give the land of Canaan to the descendants of Abraham, and here He assures the Israelites that He will go before them and remove the current inhabitants.
Spiritual Application:As believers, we can draw lessons from this verse. We can trust in God’s faithfulness to fulfil His promises in our lives. God’s interventions may not always come in the ways we expect or understand, but we can have confidence that He is working on our behalf.
Theological Connections:This verse foreshadows the larger theme of God’s faithfulness and guidance throughout the Bible. It reveals His commitment to establishing His people in the Promised Land. This theme is ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ, who leads and delivers His followers to the ultimate Promised Land of eternal life.
In summary, Exodus 23:28 illustrates God’s promise to drive out the Canaanite, Hivite, and Hittite nations before the Israelites, using hornets as a means of accomplishing this. It highlights God’s active involvement in the lives of His people and serves as a reminder of His faithfulness and power to fulfil His promises.
