Exodus 23:20-33 - Homilies By J. Orr

Promises and warnings.

These conclude the Book of the Covenant.

I. PROMISES .

1 . An angel guide ( Exodus 23:20-23 ). But this angel was no ordinary or created angel. He is repeatedly identified with Jehovah himself. God's "name"—his essential nature—was in him. He is one with Jehovah, yet distinct from him—no mere personification, but a real hypostasis. See the careful treatment of "the doctrine of the Angel of the Lord," in Oehler's "Old Testament Theology," vol. 1. pp. 188-196 (Eng. trans.). We view the "angel" as the pro-incarnate Logos—Christ in the Old Testament. Israel's guide was the Son of God—the same Divine Person who is now conducting "many sons unto glory," and who is become" the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him" ( Hebrews 2:10 ; Hebrews 5:9 ).

2 . Defence against enemies ( Exodus 23:22 ). If Israel obeyed God's voice, and did all that God spake, their enemies would be reckoned his enemies, and their adversaries his adversaries. And "if God be for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31 ).

3 . Aid in the conquest of Canaan ( Exodus 23:23 , Exodus 23:27-31 ). Apply throughout to the spiritual warfare of the individual and of the Church.

4 . Material blessings (verses 25, 26). In the land to which he was conducting them, God would give the people of Israel abundance of food and water; would take away all sickness from their midst (cf. " I am the Lord that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26 ); would greatly bless their flocks and herds; and would lengthen out their days to the full term (cf. Deuteronomy 28:1-14 ). The blessings of the new covenant are predominantly spiritual ( Ephesians 1:3 ). Yet even under it, "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" ( 1 Timothy 4:8 ). Godliness has a natural tendency to promote temporal well-being. So ample a measure of prosperity as that promised in the text could, however, only accrue from direct Divine blessing. The absolute form of the expression answers to the absoluteness of the requirement—"Obey my voice, and do all that I speak" (verse 31). Falling short of the ideal obedience, Israel fell short also of the ideal fulness of the blessing.

5 . Expansion of bounds (verse 31). Only once or twice was this maximum of possession touched by Israel. Failure in the fulfilment of the condition kept back fulfilment of the promise. The Church's destiny is to possess the whole earth ( Psalms 2:8 ).

II. WARNINGS . If these glorious promises are to be fulfilled to Israel, they must obey the voice of God and of his angel. Let them beware, therefore,—

1 . Of provoking the angel (verse 21). God's name was in him, and he would not pardon their transgressions. That is, he would not take a light view of their sins, but would strictly mark them, and severely punish them. He was not a Being to be trifled with. If his wrath against them were kindled but a little, they would perish from the way ( Psalms 2:12 ). He was one with Jehovah in his burning zeal for holiness, and in his determination not to clear the guilty. See below. The Gospel is not wanting in its similar side of sternness. There is a "wrath of the Lamb" ( Revelation 6:17 ). There is a "judgment" which "begins at the house of God" ( 1 Peter 4:17 ). There is the stem word—"It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people" ( Acts 3:23 ). Cf. also Hebrews 2:2 , Hebrews 2:3 ; Hebrews 10:26-39 ; Hebrews 12:25 .

2 . They must not serve other gods ( Hebrews 12:24 ). Conversely, they were utterly to overthrow the idol gods, and to break down their images. "Where Jesus comes, he comes to reign." No rival will be tolerated alongside of him. We cannot serve

The worship of Jehovah and that of any of the world's idols will not amalgamate. See reflected in these commands the principles which are to regulate the relation of God's servants at this hour to the world and to its evil—

3 . They must make no league with the Canaanites (verse 32). The lesson taught is, that believers are to seek their friendships, their alliances, their consorts, etc; elsewhere than among the ungodly. We are not only to keep out of harm's way, and avoid occasions of sin, but we are to labour to remove from our midst entirely what experience proves to be an incurable snare.— J . O .