AT MOUNT SINAI (6), Dr. Samuel Lee
DON'T BE REBELLIOUS; LISTEN
Passage: Exodus 23:20~33  
Key verse: 21
God’s Angel to Prepare the Way
20 “See, I am sending an angel(A) ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.(B) 21 Pay attention to him and listen(C) to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive(D) your rebellion,(E) since my Name(F) is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do(G) all that I say, I will be an enemy(H) to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites,(I) and I will wipe them out. 24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship(J) them or follow their practices.(K) You must demolish(L) them and break their sacred stones(M) to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God,(N) and his blessing(O) will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness(P) from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren(Q) in your land. I will give you a full life span.(R)
27 “I will send my terror(S) ahead of you and throw into confusion(T) every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run.(U) 28 I will send the hornet(V) ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites(W) out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals(X) too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession(Y) of the land.
31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea[a] to the Mediterranean Sea,[b] and from the desert to the Euphrates River.(Z) I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out(AA) before you. 32 Do not make a covenant(AB) with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare(AC) to you.”
Footnotes
- Exodus 23:31 Or the Sea of Reeds
- Exodus 23:31 Hebrew to the Sea of the Philistines
Cross references
- Exodus 23:20 : S Ge 16:7
- Exodus 23:20 : Ex 15:17
- Exodus 23:21 : Dt 18:19; Jer 13:15
- Exodus 23:21 : Dt 29:20; 2Ki 24:4; La 1:17
- Exodus 23:21 : Nu 17:10; Dt 9:7; 31:27; Jos 24:19; Ps 25:7; 78:8, 40, 56; 106:33; 107:11; 1Jn 5:16
- Exodus 23:21 : S Ex 3:15
- Exodus 23:22 : S Ex 15:26
- Exodus 23:22 : S Ge 12:3; Isa 41:11; Jer 30:20
- Exodus 23:23 : Nu 13:29; 21:21; Jos 3:10; 24:8, 11; Ezr 9:1; Ps 135:11
- Exodus 23:24 : S Ex 20:5
- Exodus 23:24 : Lev 18:3; 20:23; Dt 9:4; 12:30-31; Jer 10:2
- Exodus 23:24 : Ex 34:13; Nu 33:52; Dt 7:5; 12:3; Jdg 2:2; 2Ki 18:4; 23:14
- Exodus 23:24 : Lev 26:1; Dt 16:22; 1Ki 14:23; 2Ki 3:2; 10:26; 17:10; 2Ch 14:3; Isa 27:9
- Exodus 23:25 : Mt 4:10
- Exodus 23:25 : Lev 26:3-13; Dt 7:12-15; 28:1-14
- Exodus 23:25 : S Ex 15:26
- Exodus 23:26 : Lev 26:3-4; Dt 7:14; 28:4; Mal 3:11
- Exodus 23:26 : S Ge 15:15; Dt 4:1, 40; 32:47; Ps 90:10
- Exodus 23:27 : S Ge 35:5; S Ex 15:14
- Exodus 23:27 : S Ex 14:24; Dt 7:23
- Exodus 23:27 : 2Sa 22:41; Ps 18:40; 21:12
- Exodus 23:28 : Dt 7:20; Jos 24:12
- Exodus 23:28 : Ex 33:2; 34:11, 24; Nu 13:29; Dt 4:38; 11:23; 18:12; Jos 3:10; 24:11; Ps 78:55
- Exodus 23:29 : Dt 7:22
- Exodus 23:30 : Jos 23:5
- Exodus 23:31 : S Ge 2:14; Dt 34:2; Ezr 4:20
- Exodus 23:31 : Dt 7:24; 9:3; Jos 21:44; 24:12, 18; Ps 80:8
- Exodus 23:32 : S Ge 26:28; Ex 34:12; Dt 7:2; Jos 9:7; Jdg 2:2; 1Sa 11:1; 1Ki 15:19; 20:34; Eze 17:13
- Exodus 23:33 : S Ex 10:7
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Pay attention to God's angel (20-26)
A rebellious spirit has no place in the life of God's child. God promised that he would send his angel before his people to protect and lead them to the promised land. But they must obey him. His first command was to make no compromise with the Canaanites. The Canaanites were under God's judgment, for their religion and lifestyle were corrupt and corrupting. God promised to bless his people if they would worship him.
2. I will drive them out little by little (27-33)
God would give victory to his people little by little. They must go in by faith and obey God one step at a time. As they advanced and occupied, he would give them the land. This is how God gives spiritual victories, too. He wants us to advance little by little, challenging Satan's strongholds within and without. He will give victories according to our faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to trust you and advance, challenging Satan's strongholds in my life and in the world.
One Word: Don't rebel; obey God's word