Change

Recently, I had the opportunity to give a devotional in a small group.  My assigned topic was to choose a woman from the Bible.  After skimming through what turned out to be a very long list, my eyes fell upon the name of Rahab.  If you quickly flip through the Bible to each mention of Rahab, you find these facts. 

·        Joshua 2 tells us that Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho.  When the Israelite spies came into the city, they went to Rahab’s house and she hid them there from the king of Jericho.  She not only provided protection for Israel’s spies, she also arranged for their escape.

·        Joshua 6 mentions Rahab again, when the Israelites march around the city of Jericho and the walls “come tumbling down.”  Under orders from Joshua, the spies rescue Rahab and her family from the rubble.  Joshua spared her life and the lives of her family and they settled in the land to live with the Israelites.

·        The next mention of Rahab is in the New Testament account of the genealogy of Christ in the book of Matthew.  She is the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz. 

·        The fourth mention of Rahab is in Hebrews 11, the hall of faith.  It simply says, “By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish…”

·        Finally, we see Rahab used as a beautiful example in the book of James as a woman who puts action to her faith. 

Yet, what do these simple facts tell us about Rahab’s life and her faith? 

The first thing I noticed is that Rahab’s faith saved her. When the spies retrieved Rahab and her family from the Jericho ruins, they saved her life in a physical way.   Nevertheless, it is her faith in God that saves her spiritually.  We discover the evidence of her salvation when we see how she settled in the land of Israel.  Her faith was a real, soul saving faith.  A soul saving faith is also a life-changing faith.  Instructions on how to transform your life fill the libraries and bookstores of the world.  Only the work of God can accomplish true transformation for all eternity.  According to the book of Matthew, Rahab married Salmon who is part of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of Christ.  There is an ongoing work of God in her life.  She gave up her past as a prostitute and took on her new, God given identity.

The second thing I noticed is that Rahab responded rightly.   With a proper fear of God, she rejects the reaction of the crowd and follows the God of Israel.  The whole city of Jericho was afraid.   Rahab herself tells us the people of Jericho knew and heard of God and were very afraid.  Still, she is the only one who bent her knee and bowed her heart to the God of heaven and earth.  Think about the things that must have crossed her mind as she watched from her window while the Israelites marched around Jericho.  Remember, she had a front row spot; her home was on the outside wall of the city.  The citizens of Jericho knew that the people of Israel were about to storm their gates and yet they adamantly refused to acknowledge God.   Rahab was a light in a dark world.

I want to leave you with two challenges.  First, embrace your identity.

Rahab’s story is now our story.  Salvation begins and ends with faith in Christ.  When we place our trust in Christ as our Savior, we become his betrothed.  This means we should commit to leaving behind our idolatrous and adulterer ways and take on our new identity.  II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

Second, I challenge you to shine in a dark world.

Rahab’s testimony is now our example.  As the time for Christ’s return grows closer, we will face the challenge to reject the response of the crowd and follow God.  Just as Rahab stands steadfast in her faith, we must do likewise.  Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.” 

The message is clear; we are to walk in a manner worthy of His name.  I’m going for a walk, I hope you’ll come along.

Disappointment

I will not deny that I was disappointed in the results of the November 6^th election.  Moreover, I could write an entire blog on why I do not agree with Progressive Socialism.  However, I do not want to go there.  My purpose in writing my blog is aways to share what God is teaching me in the hopes that I influence the kingdom of God for His glory.  So with that out of the way, let us talk about what I am learning in the midst of disappointing political circumstances.

I have a great admiration and respect for a man named Daniel.  Daniel was Jewish and from the tribe of Judah.  In the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, things are not going well.  King Jehoiakim is the king of Judah, the southern kingdom from the original nation of Israel.  The king of Babylon marched his army to Jerusalem and the next thing you know, the land is now under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.   On top of that, humiliation, Daniel’s place of worship, his beloved Temple of God, has been ransacked and pillaged.  Then things get worse.  Daniel is among those who are brought to King Nebuchadnezzar’s palace to be immersed in Babylonian culture and thinking.  To make the leap that Daniel experienced disappointing political circumstances is not that hard.  Therefore, I decided to look at how Daniel managed his disappointment.

I needed only to read to Daniel 1:8 for my first instruction.  “But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself…”  God’s economy is much different from the world’s way.   The world tells us that the end justifies the means; dog eats dog; toot your own horn. However, God tells us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.  (Micah 6:8)  I must not defile myself with the ways of the world. As Daniel set himself apart from the world of Babylon, an interesting thing happened.  He was presented to the king for "inspection" and found to be ten times better.  Wow!  The story gets better.

In chapter 2, events in Daniel's life begin to heat up.  The King of Babylon has a bad dream; his wise men cannot give him the answer he is looking for; he becomes unhinged and decides to decimate his wise men.  This decree of death included Daniel.  This is where God taught me the second lesson.  When Daniel finds himself in a dire situation, he made the matter known to his companions and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven.  Part of that prayer can be found in verses 20-22: 

²⁰ Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;

    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;²² he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.

Daniel sets quite an example for us.  Daniel never loses sight of who God is and what God is capable of doing.  In his prayer, Daniel reminds himself, his friends and us that God is eternal, almighty, omniscient, and sovereign.  We must never lose sight of God's character. 

And this brings me to the third lesson I learned this morning.  Daniel had lined up his life, heart and attitude with God's will.  I am fairly certain it happened early in his captivity.  Nevertheless, it was in Daniel's prayer that I noticed it.  Because Daniel kept God in his rightful place on the throne, Daniel was able to accept all of the events in his life as opportunities to obey God rather than looking at them as disappointments.  When you read Daniel’s story, you do not see someone tossed about like a ship in a storm.  You do not see a man on an emotional roller coaster.  When you read Daniel’s story you see a man of prayer, a man who obeyed God without excuses and a man with a great big faith.

My instructions are clear.  Determine to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God; pray often-keeping God on the throne; contour my life with God’s will.  I hope you decide to join me.