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LOOKING UP!
With Missionary Carol Hall, Japan |
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THE UNLIKELY HERO… RADICAL RAHAB
THE
BOOK OF JOSHUA IS A REAL MEN’S BOOK!
WARS, BATTLES, STATEGIES, SPIES…. HOWEVER….there
is ONLY ONE WOMAN mentioned in the whole the book of Joshua… RAHAB THE
HARLOT, and she became the great great great grandma of King David, and
is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (In Matthew 1) Only 5 mothers are mentioned in that genealogy, and Rahab is
one of them …….right along with MARY,
WOW…she must have been some kind of woman!! Her earthly name means: Proud..but God
didn’t resist her..cause He gave her a new Heavenly name. Most
everybody knows how she hid the spies and put the scarlet cord out the window
and saved herself and her whole family.
But there are some un-noticed things about her: 1.
In Joshua 24:15 it says: “CHOOSE YOU THIS
DAY WHO YOU WILL SERVE…THE god’s WHICH YOUR ANCESTORS SERVED……….or…….THE
LORD….YAHWEH.” The
story of Rahab starts in Joshua 2. I
believe she was CHOSEN BY GOD ahead of time…the spies didn’t just
accidentally (or purposefully) knock on her door. If she was a true harlot, she was out on
the streets finding customers, and God led her to the 2 spies & she gave them a place to hide. When she found out who they really were,
she told them how everyone in Jericho was so afraid & fearful of the
Israelites because of the miracles of their God. … …but she also said that she BELIEVED THAT
THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS THE TRUE GOD, and she used the Word “YAHWEH” when she
said “Lord” So,
her FEAR turned to FAITH and she proclaimed it to the spies and she hid
them……….When the king’s soldiers knocked on the door, demanding that she send
the men out I think her heart began knocking too. With her shaking hand on the door latch,
she had to make a choice…… She could
so easily turn over the spies, and her life could have gone on……She had her
own house, and probably a business making garments (from the flax)…plus her
side night business! If she chose the
God of the spies, she would be betraying her own gods, her own city, her own
family, her own tradition… she would still lose all. She
only had a FEW SECONDS to CHOOSE! (The Holy Spirit was there…He chose
her..but.. would she choose
Him?) WITH A RACING HEART & MIND…she chose YAHWEH! She opened the door……………to a new life.
She
had ONLY HEARD of the miracles that Yahweh did for the Israelites……but
had never seen or experienced them…YET SHE CHOSE TO BELIEVE…&
acted on that belief. JESUS
SAID:
“Blessed are they who have not seen, & yet have
believed. Jn. 20:29” “Jesus told the Pharisees
(religious people) Truly I say to
you…tax collectors and harlots go into the kingdom of Heaven before you
do!” Matt. 21:31 As a
result, when Jericho fell, Rahab & her family were spared, and bought to
the camp of the Israelites………Oh, I bet Rahab got the evil eye from some of
the women there! She was the enemy, a
idol worshipper, & a HARLOT & probably looked like it. I
can’t imagine how she felt when she saw her city, her friends, her house,
totally destroyed right before her eyes…..She must have felt guilty of
betrayal. CHECK
OUT HEBREWS 11, the GREAT CHAPTER OF HEROES OF THE SARAH and RAHAB THE HARLOT! Also,
in JAMES 2:23, she is called “THE HARLOT, RAHAB” It seems NOBODY could forget her past
life. This seems unfair and is Is
discouraging, but also it gives us all hope.
The devil never lets us forget our past mistakes……and neither does the
world. But JESUS makes us totally new
thru HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD He sees
something of the HERO in us, and works with us accordingly. People
may remind you of your past mistakes & weaknesses no matter how hard you
try. ….but LOOK UP!!! In Christ You have a NEW NAME and a NEW
IDENTITY and a NEW LIFE and a NEW CITIZENSHIP in Christ….. HE CHOSE YOU………..an UNLIKELY
HERO! All Heaven is ON YOUR SIDE! Blessings, from an unlikely Hero, Carol Hall
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