Joshua 2:8-13 - Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this
land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us,
so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD
dried up the water of the Red Sea for
you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon
and Og, the two kings of the Amorites
east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because
of you, for the LORD your God is God
in heaven above and on the earth below. Now then,
please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me
a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and
mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them,
and that you will save us from death."
Who would figure…that God would reveal
himself to a known harlot…and use her to save these two spies. What faith and
courage it must have taken for Rahab to hide the spies on her roof…to send the
kings men in the opposite direction so they would be safe. But she doesn’t just
hide them…she boldly proclaimed to them that their God was different…and she
feared him…and wanted his protection…not his judgment….for her whole family.
Rahab’s story proves that God can use
anybody…anytime. God melted her heart
and revealed to her that he was the only God…and she accepted him into her home…and
changed her life to be used of him in an instant. I’m jumping ahead a bit to later chapters….but
the blessings she received for turning her life over to God did not stop…for
she was taken into the Israelite’s camp…was given the wonderful child Boaz…who
was one of the ancestors of Christ himself.
Her faith made her whole…just like the many
others Jesus healed in the Streets during his ministry…James 2:25 says…. “In
the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what
she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different
direction?’” And whoever wrote Hebrews
11 included Rahab in their great examples of faith…for verse 31 says… “By faith
the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those
who were disobedient.”
Father…grant that I would have more faith.…to
see you in your goodness...to accept the parts of your plan that I cannot see…to
trust that you have blessings to give me when I believe in that which I cannot
see. Forgive me for not trusting you…for
wanting to see more than you know I need right now. Help me to learn to wait…and hope and trust
in your love for me. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment