Promises

 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:5 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/deu.9.5.ESV

What was true for the children of Israel in the old covenant is true of the children of God in the new covenant. It's not because we're any good that we're going to inherit the earth. It's not because Israel was any good that they inherited the promised land.

The Canaanites were an evil people. They were the kind of people who thought that killing their kids was a good thing (a bit like people who think having an abortion is okay). They thought prostitution was a good and religious thing to do.

Clearly the Canaanites were pretty messed up. They were unrepentant too, so the children of Israel would sweep them aside and take possession of Canaan. God wanted His people to know that it was because of Canaan's wickedness; not because of their goodness, that they gained the promised land.

God keeps His promises. If He promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob a land, He would fulfil that promise, even if it took Him hundreds of years. He's promised His new covenant people a new creation, and He will fulfil His promise, even if it continues to take thousands of years.

'Covenant-keeping God, we trust You to keep Your promises. Please help us to be patient, until You call us home, in Christ's name, amen'

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