“Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land” (Ex. 23:30).
In this verse the Lord is assuring Israel that the dispossession of Canaan’s inhabitants will not occur all at once, but that it will take place. In verses 28 and 29 He explains that if these people were all driven out at once, they would leave behind a new problem: wild, marauding animals would multiply and become a menace.
Instead the Lord promises to remove the inhabitants little by little as the Israelites increase enough to handle the occupation of their inheritance.
What a message to us! God has to build us up to handle promotion. We need to be groomed for success. Nobody starts at the top. You don’t come out of a high school business class and begin your career as a vice-president of the bank. No one goes directly from seminary to the bishop’s chair in one jump.
Little by little can be likened to the rings of a tree. It takes one whole year to complete that ring. By some people’s standards, that is “too slow.” But each year that goes by, each ring is completed.
The roots of that tree go down farther into the ground, the branches reach higher into the sky, and the tree gains additional size and strength to withstand the storms of life which assail it.
Do you think we believers will ever learn that God’s timing is wisest for us?
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.