RAHAB

RAHAB

She sat by the window looking out from her room. " I'm tired of Jericho" she sighed as she looked beyond the walls, these walls that had protected her people for years suddenly felt like they were caging her in. Some of the benefits of being the king's mistress was choosing to live in a house where she could see beyond the walls of her city. Growing up Rahab was a curious child, wanting to explore and see the world for herself. This curiosity lead her to meeting with the king and for the most part of her youth she belonged to the king to use as he pleased. What did she care? she had this house and she was able to take care of her family, that was all that mattered then until recently, with the stories she had heard about the God of Israel, she was curious to know more about him and being locked within these walls was her biggest obstacle. She needed to get out, she needed to know more about this god, she had heard tales about the god that parted the red sea for his people to walk through and  had given a small people as Israel victory over great nations and now they were coming for Jericho. What had her own god done for her lately? she needed change, she needed to go close to this god of Israel and see for herself. She was tired of this life, everyone called her a Harlot, wasn't that what she was? all she was good at was taking men on long trips of pleasure and she made their every penny worth the ride.With years of experience she was known as the goddess of pleasure in all of Jericho, little wonder did she stay warming the king's bed all these years. But she was done with this life and it was time for change.

Joshua had sent two Israel spies to sneak into Jericho and spy on the land they were about to take over.  The two men put on a disguise and entered into the city of Jericho. Rahab looked down and saw two unfamiliar men, they were Israelites trying to sneak into Jericho even the guards didn't notice but she did. she hurriedly ran down to them. " what do you think you are doing? '' she asked as she stood in front of them. " please leave the way, we don't know what you are talking about" the men responded trying to cover their faces. 
"you are Israelites. Don't try to fool me,follow me now or you will get killed." she said and started to move towards a dark alley.
"hurry climb to the roof before someone sees you" she said as she showed them to their hiding place on her roof top. The men climb up and she covered them.

Some Guards who had seen the men follow Rahab sent news to the king, and the king sent a word  to Rahab's house. "bring out the men you have in your house, they are spies and have come to spy on our lands."
Rahab replied the guards " yes I was with them today but they ran way before I could alert the guards. if you follow through the gates you may catch them.''
Immediately, the guards ran towards the gates. Rahab went to the roof and called the spies to come down. 

 “I know that God has given you this land. We’re all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you,when you left Egypt and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and God, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below.Now promise me by God. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters—everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death!” Rahab requested.

They responded " our lives for yours. Once God gives this land to us you and your family will be safe."

The deal was struck and when the time came Rahab's family were the only Ones  saved from the destruction of Jericho.

A harlot, was saved because she was tired of living the life she was used to. She had faith in a God that she had never been raised to know. She did not discredit herself of not being worthy to join the Israelites to serve God, all that mattered was going over the wall Jericho; beyond the wall she wouldn't be called a harlot, she will be call a people of God, the one true God. Rahab's act of bravery led her to becoming part of the people in the genealogy of Jesus.

This story challenges us today to get up from our sin beds. We have slept on way to long its time to trade this life for something better. And the God we serve is so gracious not to remember the past. You don't have to sit there and count yourself out when the master hasn't even scored you. He scored you 100 when he sent his only son to die for you. Righteousness is a gift, and it is given to them who believe.We haven't been made righteous by our works. Jesus gave his righteousness to us freely and there is nothing you can do to gain this righteousness without believing in Jesus. The hinge between us and Righteousness is Believe.

'' Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness"- Gen 15:6

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reference : Joshua 2:1-24, 6:1-27