Holy Hornets!!

I don’t think that Robin ever exclaimed, “Holy Hornets, Batman!” although it sounds like something he would say. However, the Bible does talk about such critters. Here is what God says to the Israelites as He instructs them concerning their entrance into the land of Canaan which they were to conquer:

“I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite from before you. I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exodus 23:27-29.

Up to this point the Hebrew people had only been delivered OUT of Egypt, now they were to be brought IN to the land which God had promised them. (Deuteronomy 6:23) From this point on they battled on the basis of their inheritance; they owned the Land. There was, however,  a 3-step process to taking it: (1) Inherit (2) Possess (3) Inhabit. God gave them the above promises (see whole passage). Part of that help included His sending His “Holy Hornets” before them to drive out the inhabitants, rout them out of hiding, and chase them down.

This is more than a good story, or history. The taking of the Land is scriptural “type” for the believer today. The Land is a picture of our life in Christ, or of Christ Himself in the believer. He/it belongs to us by the covenant and promises of God. We stand in authority because He is our inheritance and we are His. Our job is not to “try” to own the land; our job is kick out the “inhabitants” of our Land and “possess” it. Yes, there is a battle, and the Hebrews had learned to be warriors. But, the battle was not to become owners of the land, rather to be possessors and inhabitors. God will do His part, whether our “hornets” are demons or habits, He will drive them out as we fight the battle of faith!