Unexpected Help
Rahab and the Spies
1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute [a] named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea [b] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. [c] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
Tommy's Thoughts:
We can learn so much from Rahab’s faith in today’s passage. She was a pagan, a Canaanite and a prostitute, the least likely person we might assume to be interested in God. Yet, Rahab with her simple faith, was willing to risk everything for a God she barely knew. She didn’t allow her past or background to tie her down from seeking God.
Rahab also believes and acknowledged that God is all-powerful and sovereign. Her faith and fear in God guided her to do her best to save herself, her family and God’s people; ultimately accomplishing God’s great purposes in the process.
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that You are faithful and I can trust You to provide help when I come to You. You will show me ways when there seems to be no other way. Teach me Lord to have simple faith, to worship and believe in You, the same all-powerful and miracle-working God. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Bee's Thoughts:
This passage reminds me of a joke I heard some time ago. It's true that many times God let satan foot the bill for us. :) Help can just come our way at the right time... God is always on time. He can use non-believers to help believers to accomplish His purpose, just like in the case of Joshua above, and also in the story of Joseph (Old Testatment). In return, God also blesses the non-believers who have unknowingly provided helps to the believers. Isn't that good?
Dear Lord,
Thank You for always providing unexpected helps for us when we need them most. Thank You that You will take care of us and our needs at the right time. Thank You for Your faithfulness always. Amen.
.......the devotion of Bee & Tommy
