Readings for today: Joshua 1-2, Psalm 105
God is no respecter of persons. God does not look on the outward appearance of a man or woman. He doesn’t look to their credentials or their titles or their net worth. God doesn’t need the influential or the powerful or those with a large platform. God measures a person solely by what He sees in the heart. Is the person humble? Teachable? Do they seek to serve rather than be served? Do they love unconditionally? Are they repentant? Do they cultivate self-awareness? Do they have a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? These are the qualities God looks for in a disciple and we see them on display in the life of a Canaanite prostitute named Rahab.
Rahab is the most unlikely of heroes. She is “triple outcast” due to her ethnicity, gender, and vocation. She lives and works in a disreputable area of town. She is the antithesis of the Law and yet she responds in faithfulness to Yahweh. “I know the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is the God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:9-11) As Jesus Himself will later say, “blessed is the one who does not see and yet believes.” Rahab is blessed for her faith. Though she did not personally witness the miracles that took place at the Red Sea or in the wilderness, she exhibits a deep sensitivity to God which leads her to repentance. Repentance simply means to “turn around.” To make a 180 degree shift in life and head in a new direction. Rahab exhibits this on a number of levels. She turns from her pagan, Canaanite faith to embrace Yahweh as Lord. She turns from her tribal and ethnic identity to become one with the people of Israel. She turns from her life of prostitution and marries Salmon, becoming the great-great grandmother of King David. (Matthew 1:5)
Rahab’s story is one of the most remarkable stories of redemption in all of Scripture. Without Rahab, the conquest of the Promised Land might have failed before it even started. Without Rahab, the people of Israel may have gotten bogged down in a pitched battle at Jericho. Without Rahab, the casualties would have been high, morale would have been lost, and the people might have gone back to Egypt. Her faith saved not only herself and her family but the people of God as well.
One of the great temptations we face is to assume we are too insignificant to be used by God. We look around at those who are more powerful, more influential, more popular and we wonder how in the world we can compete. We look at those who are more wealthy, more financially secure, who seem to have more disposable income and we wonder what difference we can make with our meager resources. We look at those who are younger and more attractive, more physically fit, more healthy and we wonder how we can keep up. We look at those who are smarter, have more degrees, who’ve achieved more success and we wonder why God would ever want to use us. Rahab’s story exposes the lies we so often believe. Her testimony proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that God can and will use anyone who comes to Him by faith. Repent, friends! Turn and believe. Let God use you to further His great plan of salvation in the world!
Readings for tomorrow: None