Exodus 23:28
“I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you.”
What does Exodus 23:28 mean?
God is promising to help the Israelites take the land he's giving them, and he uses the image of hornets to show how he'll clear the way. Whether literal insects, a metaphor for fear and confusion, or both, the point is the same: God will go ahead and create circumstances that make it possible for his people to advance. This reassurance comes as Moses is laying out God's covenant promises, reminding Israel that their success doesn't depend only on their own strength or military skill. It's a tender reminder woven into practical instructions, telling a people about to face real enemies that they're not entering that land alone.