"Mishpatim — Part VII — Moshe’s Ascent & the Structure of Creation"

7.2 — Gradual Redemption

Why the land is conquered slowly

As Parshas Mishpatim draws toward its conclusion, the Torah shifts from legal structures to a vision of the nation’s future in the land. Hashem promises that Israel will inherit the land, but He immediately adds a surprising condition: the conquest will not happen all at once. Redemption will unfold slowly, through a measured process.

The Torah states:

שמות כ״ג:כ״ט–ל׳
“לֹא אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ בְּשָׁנָה אֶחָת, פֶּן־תִּהְיֶה הָאָרֶץ שְׁמָמָה, וְרַבָּה עָלֶיךָ חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה.
מְעַט מְעַט אֲגָרְשֶׁנּוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ, עַד אֲשֶׁר תִּפְרֶה וְנָחַלְתָּ אֶת־הָאָרֶץ.”
“I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field multiply against you.
Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you become fruitful and inherit the land.”

At first glance, this appears to be a practical concern. A land emptied too quickly might become overrun with wild animals. But the mefarshim see something deeper in this passage. The Torah is teaching a fundamental principle of covenantal life: Divine transformation occurs through process, not sudden upheaval.

Ramban: Redemption Must Match Human Capacity

Ramban explains that the Torah is not speaking only about military strategy. The gradual conquest reflects the spiritual and social condition of the people. A land cannot be sustained unless its inhabitants are prepared to cultivate, govern, and sanctify it.

If the land were emptied instantly:

• It would become desolate.
• Wild animals would overrun it.
• The people would be unable to sustain its cities and fields.

Redemption must therefore align with human readiness. The nation must grow:

• In population.
• In organization.
• In spiritual maturity.

For Ramban, this reflects a broader Torah principle: Divine blessing does not overwhelm human nature. Hashem’s providence works through the structure of the world, not in defiance of it. Even miracles are calibrated to the capacity of the people receiving them.

Abarbanel: Redemption as Moral Education

Abarbanel adds a deeper, educational dimension. The gradual conquest was not only practical—it was moral.

If the people had received the entire land immediately, they might have mistaken success for their own strength. Sudden abundance often leads to complacency, arrogance, or spiritual forgetfulness. A gradual process, however, forces a nation to remain vigilant, dependent, and morally alert.

Each stage of the conquest would remind the people that the land was not theirs by right of conquest alone. It was a covenantal gift, dependent on their relationship with Hashem. The process itself became a form of education. With each step forward, the nation would learn responsibility, humility, and gratitude.

In Abarbanel’s reading, redemption is not simply a political or military event. It is a long moral journey that shapes the character of the people.

The Torah’s Pattern: Growth Through Stages

This principle appears throughout the Torah.

Creation itself unfolds over six days, not in a single moment.
The Exodus develops through ten plagues, not one instant act.
The wilderness journey lasts forty years, not forty days.
The conquest of the land unfolds over generations.

The Torah consistently rejects the idea of instant transformation. Instead, it teaches that:

• Character is built over time.
• Societies grow gradually.
• Holiness emerges through process and sustained effort.

This is the covenantal rhythm: not sudden perfection, but steady growth.

Why Sudden Redemption Can Be Dangerous

The Torah’s warning—“lest the land become desolate”—is not only agricultural. It reflects a deeper spiritual truth about human nature.

When blessing arrives faster than a person or a society can handle it, it often becomes a source of corruption.

• Wealth becomes corruption.
• Power becomes tyranny.
• Freedom becomes chaos.

Without preparation, gifts turn into burdens. Sudden success can destroy what it was meant to elevate.

The Torah therefore builds redemption slowly, ensuring that:

• Capacity grows alongside blessing.
• Responsibility grows alongside power.
• Character grows alongside opportunity.

The Covenant as a Path

The covenant at Sinai is not a single dramatic moment. It is the beginning of a lifelong journey. The laws of Mishpatim, the conquest of the land, the building of the Mikdash, and the shaping of a just society are all stages in a long covenantal process.

Israel’s destiny unfolds through obedience, struggle, and gradual transformation. Redemption is not a switch that turns on. It is a path that must be walked.

Application for Today — Patience in Spiritual Growth

The Torah’s model of gradual redemption offers a powerful lesson for modern life. Many people expect instant transformation:

• Immediate spiritual insight.
• Quick moral improvement.
• Rapid success without preparation.

But the Torah teaches that real growth comes slowly. A person becomes righteous not through sudden inspiration, but through:

• Daily choices.
• Consistent habits.
• Steady commitment.

A practical way to apply this teaching includes:

• Accepting that meaningful change takes time.
• Focusing on small, consistent improvements.
• Building spiritual habits rather than seeking dramatic breakthroughs.
• Measuring growth in direction, not speed.

The covenantal path is not about instant perfection. It is about faithful progress. Just as the land was conquered “little by little,” so too the soul is transformed step by step.

📖 Sources

• Full sources available on the Mitzvah Minute Parshas Mishpatim page under insights and commentaries.