By sis Tan Geok Eng
You may have heard about this famous quote – A woman is like a tea bag; you never know how strong it is until it’s in hot water. Women played significant roles as recorded in the bible, both in the Old and New Testaments.
Particularly, I admire the faith of Rahab and what she did to save the two spies sent by Joshua and also her own family members. Rahab, a woman who displayed her great faith, was recorded in the gospel according to Matthew as being in the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 1:5).
In the Hall of Faith, the writer wrote in Heb 11:31, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”
The name ‘Rahab’ was mentioned five times in the book of Joshua, (Josh 2:1,3; 6:17,23,25).
Rahab was a harlot as stated in Heb 11:31 & Josh 2:1. In Josh 2:15, it states that “…for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.” Probably Rahab’s house was the first house, so these two spies came and saw her house and stayed there.
Rahab might have known that these two men were Israelites (Josh 2:9). She had kept herself updated on what the Israelites had been through from the time in which God helped them to escape from the Egyptian’s armies at the Red Sea. God’s miraculous power and providence to the Israelites indeed had caused the people of the land to fear. Rahab confessed and acknowledged their God was “God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (vs 11). She made them swear to return the kindness she had given them to her and her family (Josh 2:9-13). However, there were conditions she had to follow, as explained by the two spies (Josh 2:17-20).
Lesson I learned from Rahab:
1. Rahab was wise to follow the real news & keep herself updated. Notice the word she used in Joshua 2:9-11 “..I know…all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you….we heard how the Lord….what ye did unto the two kings… our hearts did melt for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
Likewise, how can I know the God I believe in is true? Rahab followed the real news and kept herself updated.
My real news comes from the right source - the Bible, the inspired word of God (2 Tim 3:16). To keep myself updated, I need to open the Bible and read it. In Ps 111:2, it reads that “The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.” The phrase ‘sought out’ means carefully examined and NKJV uses the word “studied”. In order to keep myself updated on who God is and His greatness, I need to study and carefully examine what is in the scriptures.
After careful examination of the events recorded in the Bible, my heart feels for God because the God in the bible is awesome. He is the Most High God, who deserves the glory, honour, and praises from mankind (Ps 7: 17, Ps 100).
God Himself declared He is God and there are no other gods. God wants us to believe in Him. What He hath spoken to us in the Bible shall come to pass. (Ezk 12:25)
2. Rahab obeyed all the conditions set by the two spies sent by Joshua (Josh 2:17-20).
She and all her family would not have been saved if they had not obeyed the conditions set by the two spies. This shows us the value of obedience. If I believe in God wholly, but do not His commandments, I shall be as one of those Jesus spoke about in Mt 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Hence, I need to do His commandments, so that I may have “right to the tree of life” (Rev 22:14).
May these 2 simple lessons I have learnt from Rahab help all of us also in our Christian walk.
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