A Working Faith

A Working Faith - Rahab

In Joshua 2, the children of Israel begin their military push across the Jordan
River to take over and occupy the promised land of Canaan. Joshua sent out two
spies to view the land and city of Jericho. Once entering the city, the spies lodged
at the house of a woman who came both an ally for the army of Israel and an
example of faith for Christians.
The story of Rahab in a fascinating one and I find it interesting how God will use
people from all walks of life in a multitude of different situations to show a
working faith. Some struggle with the fact that God would honor a Gentile
prostitute who is best remembered for the fact that she told a lie. In fact, Rahab
is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament; Matthew 1:5- she is one of five
women mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Christ, Hebrews 11:31- She
has her own verse in faith’s “Hall of Fame”, and James 2:25- James uses her as an
example of justifying faith alongside Abraham.
As the story progresses, the king of Jericho heard of the spy’s presence and sent
men to Rahab’s house demanding that the spies be delivered to them. Instead
she hid them on her roof and told the king’s men that they had already fled out of
the city. After Rahab had sent the king’s men out looking for the spies she came
to them on her roof: Josh. 2:9-11 - and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has
given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the
inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how
the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of
Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the
Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our
hearts melted, and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you;
for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” All of
Jericho believed that God was with the children of Israel. Rahab was not saved
because she only believed in God… she was saved because her faith moved her to
action. She hid the spies and spared their lives, in hope that they would return
the favor. Faith does not save unless it moves us to action and faith without
works is dead: James 2:17- Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by
itself.
In fact, her faith reached out to others. The first thing that Rahab did was secure
salvation, not just for herself, but also for her family: Josh 2:12-13 - “Now
therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that
you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of
truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters,
with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” In some ways our
faith is very personal, each of us stands as an individual before God. We are
saved as individuals and we will be judged as such (2 Cor. 5:10). However, God
wants us to have a faith that looks outward, not just inward. Does our faith move
us to try to save others or just ourselves?
Our relationship with God is built upon our faith: Heb 11:6 - And without faith it
is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and
that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. But God doesn’t recognize just any
kind of faith. Rahab’s faith demonstrated itself in works/action and reached out
to others and changed her life. It’s a kind of faith we should all strive to achieve!
- Craig Hecht

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Praying Children

Have you ever witnessed something like this? It’s bedtime and a five-year-old
boy bows his head to pray:
Dear God, thank you for my bed, and my Spiderman pajamas, and
my Teddy Bear, and my toys, and my friend Bobby, and ice cream,
and hamburgers, and the swing in our backyard, and the slide at
the park, and our house, and our car, and my Tetra fish, and my
Astros cap, and my cool tennis shoes with the red laces, and our
new toaster, and . . . oh yes, and for Mommy and Daddy and
Jesus. Amen
Maybe that’s one of the ways we need to be more like children.
1 Thes 5:18 - In EVERYTHING give thanks.
- Leonard White

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What if you woke today with only those things
that you thanked God for yesterday.

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Think how happy you’d be if you lost everything
you have and then somehow got it all back.
So, why aren’t you happy now?

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