This was their only salvation. In the midst of sin and degradation, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, God wanted His people to shine forth as lights in the world (Phil. 2:15).

 Some have wondered why God permitted His people to live among such conditions as prevailed in Egypt and Canaan. But though they lived in Egypt they were not to mingle with the Egyptians (see John 17:15). This is evident from the fact that He provided a separate place for them to live, the land of Goshen. Had they kept their place, had they obeyed God’s counsel, they would have remained separate from the evils that surrounded them. Instead, they mingled with the Egyptians, learned their ways, and became corrupt themselves. Their 40 years of wandering were years of education, during which God designed that they should forget the ways of Egypt and learn His ways. When the time came for them to enter the land of Canaan, the generation that departed from Egypt had all but vanished. During this interval God gave them His law from Sinai, He gave them ordinances, “which if a man do, he shall live in them”; He gave them demonstrations of His power and of His ability to provide for them under all circumstances. All this was intended to strengthen their faith. If they would but place their trust in God, all would be well.

 God led Israel into the land of Canaan, knowing the temptations that awaited them there. He could have done otherwise, but in His wisdom He considered this best. Nevertheless they were not to mingle with the Canaanites nor learn their ways. The process of occupying the land of Canaan was to be a gradual one (Ex. 23:29, 30). During that process they were to have further opportunity for character development; their loyalty to God was to be tested. Had God removed all temptation immediately, there could have been no development of character.

 Israel was to occupy only sufficient territory to meet their immediate needs. The plan was ideal. It would protect Israel and give them the territory needed; at the same time it would keep them from direct association with the heathen and leave a missionary field right at their door. But Israel failed to cooperate; they “entered not in” (Heb. 4:6).