Hebrews Chapter 11 is a chapter of faith. From this chapter, Pastor Mike has shared the faith of Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac as well as the faith of Joseph and Moses. Today, Pastor Mike continued with the faith of Rahab.
Rahab is an example of how God can use anyone and often uses those who don’t fit the mold. In the examples above, all were considered righteous in God’s eyes including Rahab, who was a prostitute. Despite this, she is one of only two women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus put forth in the book of Matthew (Matt 1:5-6).
Rahab’s story is found in the book of Joshua 2:8-21. While men are the main character in the other stories of faith, Rahab is female. She is also a Gentile. Being female, a Gentile, and a prostitute would be considered three strikes back then. Prostitutes were stoned, women were considered property, and Gentiles were hated and rejected as a people who could be saved.
Rahab demonstrates that all people are valuable to God Including women. She demonstrates our God is a God who is not defined by societal norms. Where society rejected her, God used her. He uses whomever He chooses for His glory – even a female Gentile who is a prostitute.
The story of Rahab also proves our God keeps His promises. In Genesis 22:18, God promises Abraham his descendants would be blessed. As we see in Matthew 1:5-6, Rahab is a descendant of Abraham and God blesses her and her family for her faithfulness.
When spies were sent from the Israelite camp to scout around Jericho, someone told the King of Jericho about them. Rahab lied to the King to protect the spies and sends the King’s men on a wild goose chase by providing false information as to their whereabouts. In the meantime, Rahab speaks to the spies. She acknowledges the God of the Jews.
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 God of the heavens above and the earth beneath.
Joshua 2:11
Rahab demonstrates her faithfulness, her belief in the God of the Jews when she hides the spies and again, when she helps them escape the walls of Jericho. In return, her life and the life of her family is spared when the walls of Jericho fall.
But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Joshua 6:25
What does Rahab’s story say to us? First, God makes no distinction between man and woman, Jew or Gentile, or any category put on us by society. God is the author of diversity and inclusion. He makes each of us unique and He is all inclusive.
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:28
Secondly, we do not determine who is worthy. God does and God can use any one He chooses. The Bible did not omit the fact that Rahab was a prostitute, nor did it attempt to gloss over it. Christianity doesn’t exclude people – people exclude people. Revelation 7 reminds us that no one is beyond salvation. The price Christ paid for our salvation was too high for us to get to decide who is and is not saved.
Third, God is merciful. His love for everyone held Him to the cross. Were I in Christ’s place, I’m sure long before I was nailed to the cross, I would have broken and said “Hey, just kidding. I’ll be going now.” Yet Christ bore a suffering few can even begin to imagine so we could be saved. No one’s sin is too offensive for God’s forgiveness. His love and His power are greater than our sin.
Pastor Mike shared a story of a business owner I’ll call Art who purchased eggs on sale for $0.49 a dozen to give his clients. Weird, I know, but stay with me. While sitting at home, Art felt the Lord put it on his heart to buy more eggs and see whom he could bless with them. He went to the grocery store and purchased 100 dozen eggs and took them to one of the facilities that feeds the homeless in his town. When Art was directed to the chef, the chef’s mouth dropped. He took Art into their pantry to show him the bare shelves. He had been praying for a miracle when Art drove up – an answer to a prayer. The many homeless people the pantry served would be able to have a hot meal because Art heard God and obeyed.
Like Art, Rahab was willing to hear God and obey His word. She was open to being used by God. She believed He was who He said He was. She humbled herself and allowed God to use her and as a result, her faith grew. I can only think because of this, God blessed Rahab making her the mother of Boaz who was the father of Obed, father of Jesse, father of David (King David). What an honor to be in the line of David and in the line of the Messiah!
Are ready and open to hearing God speak to you? Will you listen and obey? Will you allow Him to use you for His glory?
Pastor Mike left us with this advice:
Let your faith grow exponentially by learning the stories of those willing to be used by God.
Until next Sunday, may the Lord be with you.
– PSG –
Referenced Scriptures:
Hebrews 11:31 Rahab’s faith
Matthew 1:5-6 Rahab mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy
Joshua 2:8-21 Rahab’s story
Genesis 22:18 God’s promise to Abraham
Galatians 3:28 All one in Christ
Revelations 7:9 John sees people from all nations before the throne of God
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
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