Hebrews 11:29-31
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
True, saving faith involves trust and that is what the author shows us in all the examples. Christians trust God will keep His word even when all that they have is His promise. For instance, Noah was moved by his trust to build the ark when the Lord said He would send a flood on the earth. It had never rained on earth before. So, Noah had no other foundation for his faith than God’s solemn word of promise. Abraham and Sarah had nothing but God’s covenant promise to give them a son, for, naturally speaking, they were too old to conceive. With the fall of Jericho, the people of Israel faced the challenge of believing God’s promise and that was all they had to rely on. God’s strangely divine strategy for the Israelites to conquer Jericho was marching around the city seven days, blowing trumpets, and then giving a final shout. An ordinary human general would never devise such a plan. The people had to be confident that God Almighty would bless it with success. God acted on their faith and demolished the walls of Jericho. A 16th century theologian commented, “The walls did not fall through the shout of men, or the sound of trumpets; but because the people believed that the Lord would do what he had promised.” And another writes, “Assuredly the sound of trumpets cannot throw down stones, even if one blows for ten thousand years, but faith can do all things.” The Canaanite prostitute Rahab, who helped the Israelite spies, and her family survived Jericho’s fall by her faith and, thereby, she was saved by faith. Not being an Israelite by blood, Rahab shows us that saving faith is not bestowed by the right family relation. God accepts anyone who trusts in Him through Christ alone no matter their history. The grace of the Lord is not limited to those who have made good life choices. It extends to all people who are willing to rest in Jesus alone, turning from their sin. The church must be prepared to receive all kinds of people into fellowship, especially those with a disreputable background. If God receives them through faith in Christ, we cannot refuse to do so.
Source: S C Ball April 20, 2024
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