The Old Testament is filled with the stories of people who played an important role in history, but the extent of their contribution is enhanced when they are mentioned in the New Testament. Rahab is mentioned three times.
Matthew 1: As a part of the genealogy of Jesus
Hebrews 11: As someone who showed great faith in God
James 2: Being right with God by her actions
These are three pretty special ways to be mentioned – in the lineage of Jesus, in the faith Hall of Fame and as an example faith in action.
What’s ironic is that the “faith action” that she did was a blatantly lie. This generated good discussion at our tables in both the morning and noon discussions.
The action question of “lying to save one’s own skin” along with asking if it was okay for Rahab to lie caused each of us to wrestle with how we as men struggle with the question of lying. How often do I distort the truth just a little to make me look better. Or do I say, “I got caught in traffic” when in reality it was poor planning on my part or me not valuing the other person’s time.
The other interesting topic that came up was “why the spies?” Forty years earlier it was the lack of faith on the part of ten spies that led to the nation of Israel wandering in the wilderness. Now with Joshua at the helm he was not looking for the opinion of the spies. It was a given that they were to take the land. I don’t think the spies were sent in to see how thick the walls were to determine if a trumpet blast could bring them down.
This story is an example of how God often works by doing things in an unexpected way. Could it be that God’s simple mission for the spies was to find Rahab so that she could be protected?
As you enter the Christmas season where we celebrate another one of God’s “unexpected” ways of doing things, enter with a heart open to letting God work in a way that defies human explanation.