When God does my "light work"

Of all the interaction between God and the Patriarchs, and ultimately the children of Israel, about the promised land one fact remains; The Israelites were going "home" although none of them had ever been there before.

While I was in college my younger brother was killed in an automobile accident and soon after my folks decided to sell the old home and move away from the memories. Certainly understandable. However at Christmas break I drove "home" to a house where I had never been. I really can't describe the feeling of picking my way through the neighborhood until I saw the house number and knew I had arrived. In my case I was going to a welcoming reunion where I had no fears or concerns, just the adjustment that goes with a new location.

In Exodus 23 God tells Moses about going home to a place he had never been. He recognizes that there are other peoples there who may not be happy at the prospect of millions of neighbors who think they own the land. To prepare the way God says (vs 27) "I'll send my Terror" ahead of you... all you'll see of your enemies are the backs of their necks. Then in verse 28, as if the Terror of God wasn't enough, He says "I'll send Despair" ahead of you... I'm turning everyone living in that land over to you, go ahead and drive them out.

If I'm following the Lord's instruction and going somewhere I've never been, and have the least concern, how encouraging is it that He sent His Terror and His Despair ahead of me to soften up any resistance. What a "my dad's bigger than your dad" scenario that allows. I'm so glad for the privilege to be His child.