Exo 23:20-33 | KingComments | STEP | After all the precepts that the people must put into practice when they have arrived in the promised land, God gives a great encouragement here. He gives His Angel to guard them and guide them. He also points to the goal, to “the place which I have prepared”. If He prepares that place, what a good place that will be! And if He guards His people there on the way, and guides them, how certain is the arrival. The people are responsible for listening to the Angel (cf. ). Only when they listen to Him the blessing is guaranteed. Then God Himself will take upon Himself the protection of His people, and will stand up for them when enemies distress them. He will completely destroy their enemies. The words “since My name is in Him”, make it clear that “My Angel” is the Lord Jesus. The appearance of the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament, i.e. before He becomes Man, is that of an angel, usually referred to as the “Angel of the LORD”. The fact that this is about the Lord Jesus is also evident from the mention of “pardon” ( ). To pardon or not to pardon is the right of God alone, and the Lord Jesus is God (cf. ).

‏ Exodus 23:20-33

Listening to the Angel of the LORD

After all the precepts that the people must put into practice when they have arrived in the promised land, God gives a great encouragement here. He gives His Angel to guard them and guide them. He also points to the goal, to “the place which I have prepared”. If He prepares that place, what a good place that will be! And if He guards His people there on the way, and guides them, how certain is the arrival.

The people are responsible for listening to the Angel (cf. Mt 17:5). Only when they listen to Him the blessing is guaranteed. Then God Himself will take upon Himself the protection of His people, and will stand up for them when enemies distress them. He will completely destroy their enemies.

The words “since My name is in Him”, make it clear that “My Angel” is the Lord Jesus. The appearance of the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament, i.e. before He becomes Man, is that of an angel, usually referred to as the “Angel of the LORD”. The fact that this is about the Lord Jesus is also evident from the mention of “pardon” (Exo 23:21). To pardon or not to pardon is the right of God alone, and the Lord Jesus is God (cf. Mk 2:7-8 ; 10).

God Promises Blessing and Help

Warning has been issued not to mention the names of other gods (Exo 23:13). Here is a warning not to bow to the gods of peoples who live in the promised land (Exo 23:24). They must destroy those gods completely. These gods are a danger for their service to the LORD their God. They should serve Only Him. He does not tolerate another god beside Him.

Service to Him assures them of food, health, prosperity and safety. He shall bless their bread and their water, and shall ward off disease from them; miscarriage, barrenness, and premature death shall not be there. They will live long in the enjoyment of the blessing, without fear of their enemies.

For us it is written in 1 Thessalonians 1 that we have turned from idols, that we have destroyed them, “to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven” (1Thes 1:9-10). Serving God is also our calling. We may know that our work for the Lord is not in vain, or without result (1Cor 15:58).

The LORD takes it upon Himself to rid the land of their enemies. He does not do that quickly, but gradually. That is His wisdom. If He does it quickly, the people will never be able to work the whole area at once. Then it will become a wasteland. If they take possession of the land step by step, they can work it calmly. Their work will then keep pace with their numerical growth. That way they will be able to do the work.

This is also the case spiritually. Getting to know God’s thoughts happens gradually. God does not suddenly open our mind in such a way that we know the whole truth at once. Taking possession of the spiritual blessings is a process, it keeps pace with our spiritual growth. If we have come to know a piece of the truth, we must first put it into practice. Then the Lord gives us to see a new aspect of it, then we discover something again in the Word. Often this happens after we have removed something from our lives, a certain sin or a wrong habit, which has hindered our growth.

That is why, at the end of this chapter, it is pointed out once again that no connection whatsoever is made with the inhabitants of the land or their gods. They are not allowed to let them live there, they are not allowed to give them space. To deal casually with this commandment will turn into a trap for them. We too must not give space in our lives to the world and its idols. It is significant in this context that John concludes his first letter with the call: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols” (1Jn 5:21).