Reading Joshua 2
Today I tried to put myself into the shoes of Rahab for a moment to see from her eyes. It’s interesting how God will use people that on the surface makes no sense, but God will use those that fear Him. Rahab feared the God of Israel and we see that when she is speaking with the spies. She comments, “And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” (vs. 11)
Rahab not only feared God but she believed He was the one true God of heaven and earth. She had a revelation of who God was that many today do not have. I believe it was because of this revelation that she was willing to help the spies and hide them on her roof. Many may have turned them in because they were coming after her people. Instead her only concern was for her family. What I find fascinating, is that God, in the same way cares for His family, His children. He loves us and wants what is best for us. He desires to protect us from any weapon that may come against us. How much does our God want to do for us, yet often times we do not feel worthy or that we are deceived that God does not care about us.
Rahab was not the most upright person in the city, she was a harlot. Who knew what the people thought of her, but she had love and compassion for her family. She didn’t ask that only she would be spared. Often times people think only of themselves and not of others. Yet her first thought was of her father’s house which shows her true nature. As a mom I know my first thoughts are of my children and what I can do to protect them and keep them from harm’s way. Often, I would do anything to take a pain from them and endure it myself. Love will make us do some crazy things that many may not understand. Rahab’s love for her family I think was a key to her helping out the spies. I’m sure she was thinking, I have the children of Israel, who are going to destroy my people, in my home. Through her revelation of who God was, her thoughts went to how can I save my family? She was willing to help these two spies in hopes they will do the same in return. If she didn’t help them, she and her family would have been destroyed with all of Jericho. Thankfully because of the love she had for her family and knowing who was against her people, she was able to save her entire family.
Similarly, Jesus did not think about himself when here on this earth and when he went to the cross. His thoughts were only for His family and how He could protect them. It was because of His love that He was able and willing to endure all that He went through. God is love and Jesus came to give us the new commandment to love one another. Laying down one’s life for another is the greatest act of sacrifice someone can do and can only happen because of love for that other person.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Thank you for a thoughtful post. Rahab was a part of Jesus’ geneology. The Lord rewarded her with marriage and children, and, I assume, respectibility. Just think, just as we have a part of Jesus in the Holy Spirit, Jesus had a small part of Rahab in His geneology. He does forgive.