A prostitute, Rahab(Jos 2:1-7)
Emphasizing someone’s value can never be to say it’s too much.
We all became sinner because of one person name Adam. The road of salvation has created by one person name Jesus. Ahgan’s family got stoned at Ahgol valley all because Ahgan. 8 of all family members survived from flood because of Noah.
The ship rocked because of one person Jonah, and Rot’s family got salvation because of Rot.
Today’s main story is about people in the Israel can step into the land of promise, and the family got blessed because of one person name Rahab
Rahab was a prostitute. It seems like a failure life to other’s point of view.
Everyone was blaming on her, pointing figure at her. Yes, she was a prostitute, but that’s the past. She becomes a great person who can make big changes in other’s lives by becoming a God’s worker.
1. The belief that brought changes.
She had a belief that can change many things in her life. What did she change?
1) Changed history of nation.
Rahab changed Israel’s and Jericho’s history. The land of promise was a promised land not a place for residence, because the other people are living in there.
Two spies sent by Joshua went to easiest place to contact Jericho’s bar, and met Rahab.
Surprisingly Rahab knew this land is going to be an Israel people’s land, so she supported to accomplish God’s will.
The history of Jericho became tragic, and the history of Israel became hopeful.
2) Changed the history of Baptist.
In Pedigree of Jesus the name Rahab is in there (Mathew 1:5). There are five women. Rahab is not one of Israel people. She is stranger. Not a guy it’s a girl. She is not a holy woman she is prostitute. She is the one of five women who contributes Jesus when he came down.
3) Changed the history of family.
Everyone in Jericho died except Rahab’s family. This means she saved her family. The history of nation, Baptist, family changed because of one person Lahap. one person seems small and weak but the position that each person is taking is very important, because the one person can effect to others, so we have to be the one who can shares the bless and glory of God.
2. Belief that praised
The belief of Rahab is praised belief. Jesus praised few times.
For example he praised a centurion of Capernaum’s belief.
His loved servant got sick and died. At that time Jesus arrived in Capernaum. Centurion knew there is no illness that Jesus cannot fix.
So, he sent few Jewish elders to ask Jesus to fix his servant.
Elders came to Jesus and said “4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Luke 7:4-5
So, Jesus heads down to centurion’s house
Then centurion sent his friends to tell him 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Luke7:6-8
Jesus heard and he praised, “When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”
Lahap’s belief is also the one of belief that Jesus praised. “31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”
The Joshua praised Rahab’s faith. In Joshua chapter 2 is all about praising Rahab’s faith.
The Apostle James also praised Rahab’s belief, and Matthew praised Rahab’s belief and said its messiah’s belief.
2. Belief that can wisely talk.
We like the person who can speak well not speck much.
God is also like that. Rahab has a wise tongue.
Spies sneaked in. The king of Jericho heard the information and sent the troops and said “find these spies.” But, wise Rahab already hid two spies on the roof.
Now these two spies’ life is on Rahab’s tongue. When the the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”
She said yes at the first and later she said no. at the beginning she shook her head up and down, and later she shook her head side to side.
It is wise lips. If she deny the whole thing it is too obvious that she is lying.
After the soldiers heard Rahab’s word there went to wrong place. This means she has wise lips of faith.
There is a old butcher name Sangpil choi. He runs a butcher shop at the market place. one time two mans came and one of rude man said “yo! Sangpil bring me two pounds of beef, so he gave him 2 pounds of beef.
But other man was feel uncomfortable to be rude to old man so he said gently “Mr. choi can I have two pounds of beef please?”
So, the butcher gave him big piece of beef. It was twice size bigger than what previous customer got, so the rude customer found about it and came back and said “you fool! Don’t you have eyes? It is same two pounds of beef, why his beef is twice bigger that what I got?!”
So, Sangpil choi answered. “Yes, because the beef that you got is from Sangpil and the other’s beef is from Mr. choi.
Everything has consequences on your behavior. Rahab was wise.
3. Belief that act on what we know.
Rahab move to act on what she knew. She said “When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you,2 and when the Lord your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction.[a] You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them.3 You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the Lord would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly. 5 But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down theirAsherim and burn their carved images with fire.
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Everyone was feared after seeing what happened to Israel people as the God’s will.
Jericho people were extremely terrified and lost their mind.
Which means people in Jericho knew what God is capable of. But, Rahab was the only one that who believes God, and act. How many of people will know that we have to live honestly and actually live honestly?
Commentators Barclay said “In fact, the possibility of Israel can beat Jericho is 1 percent.
People of Israel were exhausted in mine labor life. Jericho was in good condition.
Israel had to attack the Jericho. Jericho had to hide and defense.
Israel’s weapons weren’t in the best condition, but Jericho had great weapons. Perhaps the belief about Israel will take the Jericho down is can be insane.
Who can easily agree to Rahab’s belief? on one is going to start applaud on what decision she made. However Rahab had definite belief, so she risk her life and made great decision.
4. Belief that risked adventure.
People who have belief they go to adventure, because the people who go to adventure have belief.
When the king of Jericho sent his troops and searches her house if they found those two spies. She will hang as a traitor of her nation. Belief is not cheap. Not an easy thing to get. We have to adventure through.
5. Belief that saved family because of love.
Person of belief can save all family members. Rahab saved all lives of family members. What a dramatic story?
Even Rahab was an indelicate prostitute she was the only one who had right faith about God’s will.
Con) Prostitute Rahab risked her life for her belief
For your family, and future what did you risked? In Samuel 1 there is a women name Hanna she risked her unborn child’s life. She said she will give her child to God. When right after the baby Weans God takes the baby and made him work at the sanctuary. So, what are you going to risk, for reward of heaven, my family’s happiness, and my future? Do you have an adventure in your belief life or Decision? Before you ask what kind of bless that you want to get from God. You have to think about what can you possibly give it to God.
If you always satisfying at comfortable life with no challenge, no sacrifices, no decision, no loyal, no effort, no adventure, and neutralized belief life, then how can we ask more bless to God? Because he is Not slack!
Therefore we have to have Rahab’s belief, adventure, and compassion.
When we have these things on our mind, our wish will be come true and we will achieve our goal. Hallelujah !amen.
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