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So, week two of our Thursday Grit&Grace Series! I've been super busy this week, life is crazy like that sometimes; but I've had this week's topic on my heart since LAST week, so here goes...
Ever hear of Rahab?
The prostitute? Yep, That one!
Last week we talked about Hannah, wife of Elkanah, mother of Samuel the prophet. We dug through her character and found beautiful shards of godliness spewing from her everywhere. She was a lovely woman to study in the lens of our topic. Her character was faithful, steady, steadfast, gracious, and persevering. Hannah exhibited qualities that many of us ladies can only pray to one day possess. It does make one think, however. It makes one wonder. Does God ONLY use the Mary Poppins's of this life? Does He ONLY use the women that are "practically perfect in every way?" What about those of us that have messed up? What about the women that are no longer pure, no longer virgins? What about those women that weren't so steadfast at one point, the ones that got mixed up in environments that they shouldn't've? What about US?!
Have you ever felt unworthy?
Have you ever looked back over your life and felt a level of disappointment in yourself?
Have you ever thought something like "God couldn't possibly use someone like me."
Have you ever felt shame? Guilt? Self-doubt? Inadequacy?
I'd like to offer you a word of encouragement, ladies. The Lord can (and does!!!) use those of us women that have messed up. Wanna see where?
Turn with me to the book of Joshua for a minute--
I'm sure you've heard of the battle of Jericho, right? Maybe you've even sung the song? Well, kicking off in chapter 2 of Joshua's book, we see that Joshua is beginning preparations for that very fight. As the Israelite army is encamped outside of the massive City of Jericho, Joshua forms a plan. He decides to send 2 spies into the city to scope the place out- to see just what it is they're up against. [2:1]
Now, we don't know why, Scripture doesn't specify, but these 2 spies ended up hiding in the home of Rahab. Rahab, as I'm sure you recall my mentioning earlier, was certainly no saint. Far from it, if we must be honest. Verse 1 tells us that Rahab was a prostitute. She was a woman that literally lived off of immorality. She sold her body to any man willing to purchase it. And yet, somehow, for some unknown reason, those 2 Israelite spies found their way to her home.
Fast forward with me to verse 9-
"and [Rahab] said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land 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 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. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."
Now, does that sound like a statement made by an unbeliever? "for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." [2:11] Rahab may have been a prostitute of prior, but I would dare to say that she came to believe in the One True God through accounts of His power. She listed some of God's biggest moments to date when making this statement. Obviously The Lord's divine power had affected her in a way that changed her.
This change from belief in her own self and secular government to a new respect of the One True God is evident through the verses of this account. Let me ask you this now, knowing that this woman had lived a sin-filled life, understanding just *what* all she had done, does God decide that He no longer wants to use someone with such a flawed past? Does He cringe in disgust at her history and therefore deny her any chance at a victorious future with Him?
No.
Verse 3 tells us that the king of Jericho somehow got wind that there were spies amongst his city. Naturally, he went looking for them to take out that threat. Rahab, as a civilian of Jericho, could have easily told the king that they were in her home. She could've, in all legal justification, ratted out the men of the enemy army. And who knows, she may have even been rewarded for it. Prostitutes weren't looked upon very highly in this era, and this was her one big chance to make bring a positive connotation to her name. She doesn't do that however.
Instead, she lies to the king. [2:4-7] She protects the men of Israel. Why does she do that? Because she believes in the power of their God.
The Lord uses this impure woman as a vital component to His plan. He doesn't shy away and avoid using her because of the mess that she was, no. He takes this broken woman and uses her life powerfully for His glory.
Rahab wasn't just thinking of herself in this, though. No. She went to the Israelite spies and pleaded for the lives of her family to be spared during this battle. [2:12-13] She knew that her city was doomed to defeat before any army even set foot in the vicinity. She knew the God of Israel's power.
The men agreed on one condition. She must make her home visually distinct from the rest. They gave her a scarlet cord to hang from the window. [2:17-18] If this cord was hung out, then they would be spared. If not, they would be killed along with the rest.
A visual distinction though? Something that so obviously stuck out from every other building in the city? What kind of ridicule do you think that brought? Oh, I'll bet the tongues were wagging on the day that she hung that bright cloth! Do you think people asked about it? Do you think they drew their own conclusions on it? I can almost hear it now "That filthy prostitute thinks she believes in the enemy God. She thinks that cord will save her life. What kind of God would be interested in sparing her?"
Well, I'll tell you this, Ladies--> OUR God was interested in sparing her. OUR God DID spare her!
The One True God spared Rahab, the prostitute's, life and the lives of her family. [6:25]
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." [Hebrews 11:31]
Rahab's story is a beautiful message of hope, Ladies. The Lord used the life of one imperfect woman to bring about an awesome show of His might, as displayed on the city of Jericho. Do you have any idea what that means for us? Do you have the slightest clue of what that account proves about our God for your life?
Ladies, He can use you! My imperfect sister, The Lord can take the wreckage of your life and use it to exhibit His majestic glory! Take heart, my beautiful friend, that your life is NOT too far gone to be of service to The King of Kings. It is not.
Scripture tells us that:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" [Ephesians 1:7]
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." [John 8:36]
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." [2 Corinthians 5:17]
And more!!!
Y'all, if we are in Christ, we are REDEEMED, FORGIVEN, FREE, and made a completely NEW CREATURE! How awesome is that?!
Those things that you were guilty of before? Nope! You're forgiven!
Those spiritual debts that you were enslaved to before? Nope! You're free!
Those feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy? Nope! You are a brand new creation in the sight of God!
If God can use a prostitute in an enemy city to bring about His glory, He can AND WILL use you!
Before I go, I wanna warn you of one thing. Rahab showed grace to the spies and aided them, and then was shown grace from God by sparing her life during the battle. But it wasn't that easy. Rahab was asked to do something noticeably strange to the eyes of others. She had to hang that cord out her window for who-knows-how-many-days before she saw the promise of safety upheld. That, y'all, is grit. That is determination. That is standing up in the face of an unsaved environment and proclaiming a belief that no one else supported. It probably came with ridicule. It more than likely went hand in hand with some rude looks. It was radical and it was grit at its finest.
Oh, my beautifully redeemed Rahab reader, are you ready for such a show of grit in your own life?
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