Exodus 23

V 1–9: FAIRNESS The principles covering all justice and dealings with one another must be those of fairness. V 10–13: FAITHFULNESS Faithfulness to all God’s commandments is required. The land is to enjoy a Sabbath every seven years so that it can lie fallow. Emphasis is placed on the need to keep the weekly Sabbath, thus refreshing workers and strangers among God’s people. Also stressed is the requirement not to make mention of other gods, so that God alone is to be worshipped. God requires faithfulness, especially in these matters. He knows that if the Sabbaths fail and the Israelites start loosely talking about other gods, their worship, trust and obedience will fail. V 14–19: FESTIVALS There are three festivals that must be kept in the year. These are the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering. Reminders of how to keep Passover and the bringing of first fruits are also given. V 20–26: FOLLOW God will send a protecting and guiding Angel—perhaps an Old Testament appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ—to go before them. They must regard Him as the holy agent of God and, in following His leading, they must be very careful not to follow the gods of the ungodly nations in any way, but to obey Him because God’s name is in Him. Faithful service, freedom from sickness, and safe and fruitful childbirth will be among the blessings that God guarantees if they will trust and obey Him. V 27–30: FEAR God will send His fear before the Israelites, so that they can drive out and conquer the people in the promised land. This driving out will be little by little, so that they can consolidate their entry, rather than having to deal with invading beasts in a desolate and empty land. They will increase, inherit and inhabit the land gradually, as they obey God. V 31: FUTURE God indicates the boundaries of their future land. He will deliver to them its inhabitants and drive them out, provided that His people trust and obey Him. V 32–33: FORBIDDEN They are forbidden to make covenants with the people they must drive out. If they do that, they will start worshipping and serving the gods of the pagan nations which will ensnare them. Consecration can have no compromise.