Title: Rahab's Act of Faith/
Content 1. Words that begin
Few people are satisfied with who they are today and with the reality they find themselves in. Most people are dissatisfied or complaining about their current life and dream of something new. The good news is that a person's tomorrow cannot be known by anyone, not to mention himself. Therefore, we must be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity to change ourselves and our reality when it comes.
After Moses' death, Joshua, Moses' servant, became the commander of the conquest war to receive the land of Canaan, which God had promised to give to Israel during Moses' lifetime. Of course, if we keep and follow the book of the law given through Moses, the road will be smooth and prosperous.
2. The Crisis of the Israeli Spies
Joshua ordered two men from Shittim to search out the land of Canaan and Jericho, and the two went and lodged in the house of Rahab the prostitute in a remote place. However, he was caught before he could work properly and was in a big crisis. A Jericho who knew their identities reported to the king of Jericho, and the king sent a message to Rahab the prostitute and ordered that the spies of Israel be brought out.
The crisis of the Israeli spies is also a problem, but even worse is that they are completely unaware. They were clearly recognized and chosen as outstanding men among the people of Israel, but they did not even notice, let alone know, that they were in crisis. No matter how excellent a human being, whether we believe in God or not, we must realize that unless God protects us, we are nothing.
3. Rahab's Act of Faith
Hearing the king's orders, Rahab was in a very pitiful situation. He had already had to hide the Israeli spies in three sets of spies on the roof, but if discovered, he, as well as all his family members and all his relatives, would be subjected to terrible torture and death. It is truly a moment of decision that risked my life, and the lives of all my family and all my relatives. At that incredibly difficult moment of decision, Rahab decided to stand on the side of the well-known God of Israel. "They came to me, but I didn't know where they came from. They went out by the time the gates were shut, so chase after them and you will be able to catch them," he lied to the soldiers. The soldiers rushed out of the gate, and in the meantime the gate was closed.
Here we run into two problems. The first is whether Rahab's lies are wrong, and the second is whether Rahab is a traitor to the nation.
As for the first issue, just as inevitable lies for love and goodness are tolerated, it can be seen as acceptable because it stems from the belief in God's providence to judge Canaan, who commits all kinds of idolatry and evil for Israel. As for the second problem, Jericho, who did not believe in the God who established and governs each nation and each nation, and worshiped all kinds of idols and committed evil deeds, rebelled against God, and Rahab never rebelled against the nation. Rather, the Jericho people, like Rahab, should have repented of all idolatry and evil practices and believed in God. And even risking his life, he had to show an act of faith.
The majority of German churches supported Hitler, the great murderer who plunged the world into a vortex of war. Perhaps there were churches praying for Germany to win the war and rule the world. However, the confessional churches that opposed Hitler to the end were severely persecuted as they were a group of rebels. However, instead of defining those confessing churches as a group of rebels, history highly appreciates them as the Church of God who truly loved Germany.
Everyone, please believe that Rahab is truly a woman who made a wise decision based on faith and who showed an act of faith.
Rahab went up to the roof and said to the Israeli spies,
First, he knows that the LORD has given the land of Canaan to Israel. In this land of Canaan, there are many idols that are worshiped, but it means that they are nothing in the sight of Jehovah. In a nutshell, what God has promised, he will surely fulfill it.
Second, we are very afraid of Israel, and all the people in the land of Canaan will melt away in front of Israel. The reason is not because of Israel, but because the LORD, the God of Israel, had dried up the waters of the Red Sea and had destroyed the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og. Hearing God's power and judgment that no other gods can stop, his heart melted and he lost his mind.
Third, there are many things in the world that are called gods, but the only true God in the world is the Lord of Israel.
Every word of Rahab, who lived and acted as a gisaeng, is a remarkable confession of faith. Please believe that really wise decisions were possible because of such faith, and because of believing in God, you risked the lives of your relatives to hide God's spies. James 2:25 says, "In the same way, was not Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?" In other words, it was not through works as a prostitute that Rahab was saved, but through works of faith. I hope that all your actions will be acts of faith in God, not natural reason.
4. Rahab's plea
After confessing her faith in God before the spies of Israel, Rahab then asked them: ?쏯ow, swear by the LORD, and pay me a true mark, because I have been good to you, so that you also do good to my father?셲 house, to spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who have them, to deliver our lives from death.??Then the two spies promised, "If you do not divulge these things about us, our lives will be used for you, and when the Lord gives us this land, he will treat you with kindness and truth.
Of course, after Israel conquered Jericho, Rahab's request was granted. The writer of Hebrews said about the meaning of eternal salvation implied in this historical event of salvation, "By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace, so that she did not perish with the disobedient." These are the words of Hebrews 11:31.
5. Conclusion
There can be no individual or family, no workplace or business, no church or country that does not need change. The God who created all things in the universe not only renews all things, but also renews our inner man. He wants to be changed and works in various forms of idolatry and living in disobedience to God's Word. He wants to change the present indolent religious life of our believers. Like Rahab, we earnestly pray that all of us will become agents of faith who believe in God more clearly through the words we usually hear, have confidence in the fulfillment of God's promises, and fear the power of God.