Friday October 22nd THE INFAMOUS BECAME FAMOUS, RAHAB

The Infamous became Famous, Rahab

 

                                           The next woman in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, who was infamous is Rahab. She was an inhabitant of Jericho during the time of Joshua( whether she was a native I don’t know). She was well known among the inhabitants of Jericho as Rahab, the harlot. Though, Jericho was not a very godly city, yet, I don’t believe that the profession of Rahab is one that would have been appreciated. When the two spies sent by Joshua came to Jericho, they came into her lodging. And, she hid them when the king’s officials came looking for them. When she decided to hide the spies, what she actually did was, betray her own people and the inhabitants of the city in which she made her living. How unpatriotic it seems.

Rahab hid the spies

                                             If the people of Jericho detested her earlier(especially the women), now they had even more reason to loathe her. With her help or without her help, the Lord would surely have given Jericho into the hands of Joshua. But, Rahab because of her choice became a useful vessel in the hand of the Lord. It was not just hiding the spies that helped, but also her words that brought the needed courage and faith for the Israelites. For she said, “I know that the Lord has given you the land,  that the terror of you has fallen on us, and all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 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 the earth beneath. Now, therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”- Joshua 2: 9-13 

The spies climb down the scarlet robe

                        The incidents that Rahab was referring to had taken place nearly forty years before. The parting of the Red Sea took place under the leadership of Moses and the kings were defeated some years later that. What Rahab shared with the spies was a revelation that even the Israelites did not have. The woman, whom we could call a sinner had realised the unmatched power of the God of Israel. And she decided to submit to this awesome God of heaven and earth instead of trying to fight Him off foolishly. This decision of her’s not only saved her own life but the lives of her loved ones. And God remembered her and honoured her by giving her a place in the genealogy of His beloved Son. I was amazed at the life of Rahab, for she is an example of God’s mercy. The Lord our God did not regard Rahab for her personal life or her nativity, but when she chose to submit to Him, He chose to accept her. Just as the Scriptures say that He will by no means cast out who come to Him. Let Rahab give us hope of God’s abundant mercy to anyone who seeks Him and also give us the wisdom that we can never oppose the power and work of God. It is wise to submit than to fight.  

                    ...... To be continued