Take a moment to read the entire chapter of Exodus 23 before reading the devotional below.
God is trying to set his people up for success and cast vision for the long road ahead. Interestingly, we find out a little bit more of the reason why the Israelites cannot rush into the Promised Land quickly: if they did so the land would be ruined for farming and the wild animals would take over. God makes it clear that he is the one leading this journey. He promises to go ahead of them and drive their enemies out of the land a little at a time.
In the meantime, God has two things he wants his people to focus on: remembering the poor and remembering Him. As we have already seen, God set up his laws to ensure justice and fight oppression. His intention is to fight every kind of evil, to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, and to make sure the poor are not taken advantage of. He also lays out three national holidays: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of the Final Harvest. The point of each of these holidays? Celebrate God and honor him for all he has done.
Here’s your freedom for today: God is fighting your battles for you. Honestly, we often make the Christian life way too complicated by feeling like we have to do the right thing plus fight a whole bunch of spiritual battles and ward off Satan in our daily lives. We try to do what God asks us to do plus we take over his job. Let God handle Satan — he’s already fighting those battles for you. Today, right now, in this one moment, what is the best way you can honor God, remember the poor, and stay away from evil? Just do that, and you’ll be alright.