God and you

Day 131

'Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, "Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.

But someone told the king of Jericho, "Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: "Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land."

Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, "Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn't know where they were from. They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don't know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them." (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) So the king's men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king's men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut.

Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. "I know the Lord has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

"Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families."

"We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety," the men agreed. "If you don't betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land."

Then, since Rahab's house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. "Escape to the hill country," she told them. "Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way."

Before they left, the men told her, "We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way."

"I accept your terms," she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

The spies went up into the hill country and stayed there three days. The men who were chasing them searched everywhere along the road, but they finally returned without success.

Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. "The Lord has given us the whole land," they said, "for all the people in the land are terrified of us."'

Joshua 2

I know, I know, I did pick a very long passage - in fact an entire chapter. But I had to, really, or I wouldn't get the whole story in. I think this story is an amazing example of how God uses people. You see, Rahab was a prostitute. The lowest of the low, a woman who would sell her own body for money. She was literally seen as scum. No-one wanted to be around her in daylight (although night was another matter (!)) In fact, Rahab's house was built into the town wall so she could call down from her window to men who were entering the city. She was a seducer, a cheater, a deceiver, pretty much the wrong sort of person you wanna know.

Yet God used Rahab. Even though she was at the bottom of the heap, God used her. Even though she had probably disobeyed loads of God's laws too, he used her. God helped Rahab to protect and hide the Israelite spies from danger. In return, he gave her safety, and his protection. I don't know about you, but I think Rahab was changed that day. I think she found God, and she discovered that he loved her, no matter what. He had unconditional love for her, just like he has for you. And through God, both the Israelites and Rahab were saved. His almighty power and amazing grace did that for them.

And what I wanna say to you is, God can use you. He can use you, and he will. He has a huge plan for you, a plan that can only be filled out if you trust him. Because of his wonderful mercy, you will be saved, no matter what you've done, no matter what you've said. Even Rahab was used by God. He won't disown you if you do something wrong. God will always love you. And any people you know, no matter who they are, God can use them too. He loves everyone. He has a plan for everyone. It's just whether you choose to fulfil it. Rahab chose to follow God's plan for her, and by doing that she was saved. Make the choice like Rahab. trust in the Father who loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank you for Rahab. Thank you that although she was a prostitute, although she was a sinner, you used her. Lord, I give myself to you. Use me Lord Jesus. Help me to follow your plan for my life. I love you.

Amen