God's plan was to go before Israel Himself, send hornets and His fear, and drive out the inhabitants little by little as Israel moved in to possess the land.
God promised to lead Israel into the land and to destroy the nations before them. He would not empty the land at once, but would drive them out gradually so Israel could occupy what was prepared and the wild animals would not overrun the land. Israel's part was simply to trust Him, go in, and take the land.
Exodus 23:20-30 — God explains that He will send His Angel, His fear, and hornets ahead of Israel to drive out the inhabitants little by little.
Deuteronomy 7:1 — Lists the seven nations God would cast out before Israel as part of His plan to give them the land.
In Exodus 23:20-30, God promised to send an Angel before Israel to keep them in the way and to bring them into the place He had prepared. He said He would send His fear before them and would destroy all the people to whom they came, making their enemies turn their backs and flee. He also promised to send hornets before them to drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite. God then explained that He would not drive them out in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field multiply against them. Instead, He said, "By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land." Deuteronomy 7:1 adds that when the Lord brought Israel into the land to possess it, He would cast out seven nations before them—Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—nations greater and mightier than Israel. The casting out of these nations was the Lord's doing, not something Israel accomplished by its own strength.
Les Feldick emphasizes that Israel's unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea was never part of God's plan. God had already delivered them from Egypt and through the Red Sea, so the Canaanites were no threat. Les says God promised, "I'll drive them out, I'll use hornets, I'll chase them," and He would leave the gardens, vineyards, homes, and wells ready for Israel. The nation was simply to go straight north when the tabernacle was completed and take the land by faith. Les also stresses that the twelve spies were not God's idea. Israel asked for spies because they could not take God at His word, and God condescended to their request. If Israel had believed, they could have possessed the whole land without losing a single young son or lifting a sword.
God told Israel He would not drive out the inhabitants in one year, because the land would become desolate and the beasts of the field would multiply against them (Exodus 23:29-30). Les Feldick says God would drive them out just fast enough so Israel could occupy the homes, wells, and vineyards the inhabitants had left behind. The gradual removal was tied to Israel's growth and ability to inherit the land.
According to Les Feldick, God never instructed Israel to send in the twelve spies. God had told them to go in and take the land, and He would drive out the enemy, using hornets if needed. Israel, unable to trust God's word, asked for spies, and God condescended to their request. The resulting report of ten spies revealed their unbelief—they saw themselves as grasshoppers instead of believing God's promise.
Les teaches that Israel's role was to believe God and move forward. God had prepared the land and would clear it; Israel was to go in and occupy. If they had done this, they could have entered the land without losing a single young son or lifting a sword. Instead, their unbelief cost them the easy conquest they could have had at Kadesh-Barnea.
God's Intention to Move Straight into the Land
Les explains that God's plan was for Israel to raise the tabernacle and move straight north into the Promised Land, with no delay for twelve spies.
Driving Out Little by Little
Les teaches that God promised to drive the inhabitants out just fast enough for Israel to occupy homes, wells, and vineyards, while protecting the land from wild animals.
Hornets and Prepared Land
Les says God promised to drive out the Canaanites using hornets and other means, leaving all their property ready for Israel to walk in and take.
Spies Were Not God's Idea
Les emphasizes that God never instructed the twelve spies; He told Israel to go in and take the land while He drove out the enemy.
Go Up by Faith
Les points out in Deuteronomy 1 that God set the land before Israel and intended the whole nation to go in by faith, without spying, because He promised to drive out the inhabitants.
Seven Nations Delivered into Israel's Hand
Les reads Deuteronomy 7:1 showing seven nations God would cast out and deliver before Israel, with Israel then to smite and destroy them.
The Easy Conquest They Missed
Les teaches that because of unbelief, Israel lost the opportunity to go in without lifting a sword; God would have handled the inhabitants if they had believed.
Hornets and Israel's Unbelief
Les repeats that God said, "I'll drive them out, I'll use hornets, I'll chase them," and all Israel had to do was move in and take whatever was there.
Exodus 23:20: Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
God promised to send His Angel before Israel to lead them into the land He had prepared.
Exodus 23:27: I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
God would send His fear before Israel and destroy the people they encountered.
Exodus 23:28: And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.
God promised hornets would drive out the Hivite, Canaanite, and Hittite before Israel.
Exodus 23:29-30: I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
God explains why the removal would be gradual—so the land would not become desolate and wild beasts multiply.
Deuteronomy 7:1: When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
Lists the seven nations God would cast out before Israel as part of His plan.
Deuteronomy 1:21: Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
Moses reminds Israel that the land was set before them to possess by faith.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that God never instructed the twelve spies; He intended Israel to go in by faith. Israel's request for spies was an expression of unbelief, although God condescended to their request.
God said He would not drive them out in one year because the land would become desolate and wild animals could multiply against them. He drove them out gradually as Israel increased and was able to inherit the land.
God's plan was for Israel to move straight into the Promised Land and take it, with God driving out the inhabitants by hornets and other means. They could have possessed the whole land without losing a son or lifting a sword.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Enter the Promised Land (Exodus 23 & Deut 1)