In God's eyes - Pt 9

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. (Joshua 2:1 ESV). What list of influential and faithful women of the Bible would be complete without mentioning Rahab. Certainly we cannot say she was a “good” woman; however, her actions were based on a faith that we would see as righteous. The writer of Hebrews did (cf. Hebrews 11:31). Remember she was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. She was used to having men visit her house. But nothing could have prepared her for the choice she faced on this day. Two groups of men came knocking on her door one afternoon. The first group was two Israelite young men, sent by Joshua to scout out Jericho on behalf of God’s people. The second group was a delegation from the king of Jericho, looking for the Israelite spies. Rahab faced a choice. She could side with the Israelites and their God or side with the Canaanites and their multitude of gods. She had heard stories about the awesome power of Israel’s God; as a result, she and her family chose him. Rahab’s life-changing choice charts the course of the book of Joshua, where many people faced a similar choice: Achan, the Gibeonites, and other Canaanite tribes. Those who sided with God and his people lived. Those who did not were destroyed. This theme comes to a climax later in Joshua: Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15 ESV). God saw Rahab’s heart. He knew her as his child, not a sinner. That’s how he knows us as well. All of us are sinners. It is by his grace that we are redeemed at all. In that work of grace we are given the opportunity to influence our family and friends to make the same commitment as Rahab. We can stand with God and his people through every circumstance of life. Her choice led her to her be a part of the lineage of our Savior. Rahab is referred to as being the wife of Salmon, one of the two spies she sheltered. In turn, she became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth from whose son, Obed, Jesse the father of David came, through whose line Jesus was born. God always has a way of working his will and purpose through people. It does require our commitment to him. What will you choose? And, what will that choice lead you to be a part of today?