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"God's Surprising Servant" by John M. Nielson
Joshua 2:1 Y’hoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Sheetim with these instructions: “Go, inspect the land and Yericho.” They left and came to the house of a prostitute named Rachav, where they spent the night. 2 The king of Yericho was told about it — “Tonight some men from Isra’el came here to reconnoiter the land.”
3 The king of Yericho sent a message to Rachav, “Bring out the men who came to you and are staying in your house, because they have come to reconnoiter all the land.” 4 However, the woman, after taking the two men and hiding them, replied, “Yes, the men did come to me; but I didn’t know where they had come from. 5 The men left around the time when they shut the gate, when it was dark. Where they went I don’t know; but if you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them.” 6 Actually she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there. 7 The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut.
8 The two men had not yet lain down when she returned to the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that Adonai has given you the land. Fear of you has fallen on us; everyone in the land is terrified at the thought of you. 10 We’ve heard how Adonai dried up the water in the Sea of Suf ahead of you, when you left Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Emori on the other side of the Yarden, Sichon and ‘Og, that you completely destroyed them. 11 As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed us. Because of you, everyone is in a state of depression. For Adonai your God — he is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 So, please, swear to me by Adonai that, since I have been kind to you, you will also be kind to my father’s family. Give me some evidence of your good faith, 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers and sisters and all who are theirs, so that we won’t be killed.” 14 The men replied to her, “Our lives are certainly worth yours, provided you don’t betray our mission. So when Adonai gives us the land, we will treat you kindly and in good faith.”
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When Joshua and the people of Israel entered the Promised Land and surrounded the city of Jericho, one family had special protection. Rahab had hidden the Israelite scouting party that Joshua sent into Canaan. Her words indicated that the reputation of the people of Israel and their God had preceded them. She knew that Yahweh was the God of heaven and earth, that He was to be feared, and that the land would be given to His followers. It is amazing that sometimes those who are not followers of God have greatest knowledge, respect, and fear of Him than some who claim to be His children.
Rahab’s courage and confidence not only protected God’s people and preserved God’s plan, but she, a prostitute and Gentile, became an ancestor of Jesus, the incarnate Son of God (see Matthew 1:5). Rahab also appears in the roll call of heroes in Hebrews 11:31 and is honored among the righteous (James 2:26).
We must never write people off. God will use people we least expect. We must trust what God sees in them and in His redemptive power at work in their lives–and in our own!
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Hymn for Today: "Trust and Obey: by John H. Sammis
1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
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Thought of the Day: Romans 3:22 and it is a righteousness that comes from God, through the faithfulness of Yeshua the Messiah, to all who continue trusting. For it makes no difference whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, 23 since all have sinned and come short of earning God’s praise. 24 By God’s grace, without earning it, all are granted the status of being considered righteous before him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that was accomplished by the Messiah Yeshua.
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Please Pray: for faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in Costa Rica.
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Please Pray: for faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in Costa Rica.
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