Thank you. episode of The Little Things. My name is John Little. I'm your host, and it is an absolute joy to have you here with me today. You've found the place where we look at little things in life that can make a big difference in living. We like to connect the dots between biblical principles and life issues we may face

from time to time. I'm so delighted you have chosen to be a part of this episode today.

If you've watched many of these episodes, you know that from time to time I will offer up a faith nugget,

a verse or two from Scripture that we can take apart, examine thoroughly to glean its message to

us, and provide for its application in our lives. I have another nugget for you today, and if there was ever one

with little things in mind, this is it. Before we read the verses, let me set things up for you so

you will know the context these verses were speaking about.

Israel has been delivered from Egypt, the Ten Commandments have been given to them,

and God has established His covenant with them.

Israel has been warned not to compromise with other nations and the gods they served.

And God promises them, he is leading them to their own land, the promised land.

But God uses three verses to describe the process of how they will come to possess the land.

Now, these three verses are found in Exodus chapter 23, verses 28 through 30.

I'm reading from the new King James Version Bible.

This is how those verses read.

God says, and I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite,

and the Hittite from before you.

I will not drive them out from before you in one year,

lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

Little by little, I will drive them out from before you until you have increased and you inherit the land.

I can imagine that after having spent many years as slaves in Egypt, Israel was ready for their own land and probably wanted it right now. But this was going to be a

huge undertaking. It's not going to happen fast. Some Bible scholars believe that the people of Israel

...