We must always approach God’s promises with cautious optimism. Thinking that we can grab the fullness of the promise at once might make us anxious. We might find ourselves spent at the end of the day and never truly enjoy the benefits. In addition, seeking to appropriate everything at one fell swoop will negate God’s principle. There is what I like to refer to as the principle of conquest. God set it in motion at creation. Being the Almighty with unlimited power and resources, it is within reason to say that He could have created everything in a single day; but He did it over a period, achieving one bit at a time. This shows us the path to achievement and greatness.

“When the blessing is more than what we can handle, it becomes a curse.”

Our text captures this principle. God promised to drive out the heathen who occupied Canaan, and plant His people. That would not happen all at once, but little by little. In God’s wisdom, He would not let the conquered land be too vast for Israel’s small population. Their lands would be commensurate with their growing population. Indeed, God would not give to anyone beyond what their capacity can handle. When we want more of God’s blessing, the first thing is to grow our capacity. When the blessing is more than what we can handle, it becomes a curse.