DAY 13: GOD CHOSE RAHAB

 
THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: GOD CHOSE RAHAB

DATE: 13 SEPTEMBER, 2020

BIBLE READING: JOSHUA 2

MEDITATION/MEMORY VERSE: MATTHEW 1:5A (NIV)

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab…

 

Rahab; as we have seen from our Bible reading, was a prostitute. And fast forward to Matthew’s gospel; according to our verse for meditation, God chose her to be one of the foremothers to His Son- the Messiah and Saviour of the world. You will want to ask, ‘why Rahab’, won’t you? This is an example of what it means that God works mysteriously- His ways are higher than ours, and they are unquestionable. God working mysteriously does not mean that He doesn’t give us an understanding of His dealing and operation with man (Prov. 28:5; 2 Tim. 2:7), but the manner of His workings and dealings with man are beyond our comprehension (Isa. 55:8, 9). Another typical example we can cite out is the account of Joshua and the children of Israel, commanded by God to march around the city of Jericho for a whole week (Josh. 6:1-4). That’s totally bewildering.

Before we can gain understanding in why God chose Rahab, let’s first of all look at the overview of this background story. The spies that Joshua had sent to inspect the land that were attack, went into the house of the prostitute, Rahab. It is very easy to pass judgment on hearing this. Why would they stop at a brothel (because Bible history has taught us that Rahab was an Innkeeper)? When we look thoroughly at this story, we will be able to strike balance in our judgment.

Proverbs 18:17 ESV

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

 

These spies are considered godly men, so their hiding there will make the King of Jericho less conspicuous of their hiding. Now that will make sense to you, right? But someone, probably a passer-by who saw them going in or one of the lodgers in the brothel, had told the king.

And the King sent soldiers to arrest them. But Rahab had known who they are and how risky to keep them, she hid them and told a lie. The Bible did not cover up her offence; that shows that God doesn’t condone sin (Josh. 2:4-6). Though she had to lie to save them. But why did those soldiers not inspect the place themselves? Probably that’s a culture; not to invade someone’s privacy- so they believed her.

Now after the Bible has told us about who she was- a godless Canaanite, a prostitute and a lair, from verse eight of our Bible reading, it then reveals how she became transformed and was qualified and enlisted in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

 

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

 

She had believed in the God of Israel, that was why she received them with peace (Josh. 2:1), then professed her faith in God as the supreme God (Josh. 2:11). This happened, because she had heard of the supremacy of God (Ref. Rom. 10:8-10). Just this simple act of faith in God, God changed her story by choosing her to become one of the foremothers of Jesus.

Remember in the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 7, they were not to marry a Canaanite (vv. 1-4), but God gave Salmon (an Israelite) to her as a husband (Matt. 1:5). This explain the fact that she operated under grace. In James 2:25, we see that God declared her righteous; meaning God didn’t see her as a godless Canaanite, a prostitute and a liar. And through her, her household were saved and counted as God’s people.

The Book of Son of Solomon was a communication between an Egyptian (Shulamite) girl (SOS 1:5-9), who was not well loved (SOS 1:5-6) but found grace with Solomon (SOS 6:8-9; 8:10-14). Of which it depicts Christ and the church.

Before Rahab chose to serve the true God, God had chosen her. And just as the way Christ did not condemn the adulterous woman in John 8, he will by no means cast out all whom God has chosen (Jn. 15:16; 6:37). No matter your ugly past, God is ready to change your story and give you a fresh start.

 

DECLARATION: LORD I THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING ME, AND WILLING TO GIVE ME A FRESH START.

 

FURTHER STUDY: JOSHUA 6