IMITATE THEIR FAITH / She Was "Declared Righteous by Works" - RAHAB THE PROSTITUTE -Conclusion

 However,  Jehovah also decreed that certain groups in the land were to be completely wiped out.  (Deuteronomy7:1, 2) As the righteous "judge of all the earth," he had read every heart and knew well how deeply entrenched their wickedness and depravity were.  (Genesis 18:25; 1 Chronicles 28:9)  What was it like for Rahab to live in such a condmene city?  We can onl imagine how she felt how reports about Israel reached her ears.  He learned that the God of Israel had led his people-a downtrodden nation of slaves - to complete victory over the arm of army of Egypt, the mightiest fighting force in the world of that timee.  And now Israel was about to attack Jericho!  Yet, the people of that city persissted in their wickedness.  We can see why the Bible speaks of Rahab's felliow Canaanites as "those acting disobediently."

Rahab was different.  Over the years she could have contemplated the reports she heard about Israel and its God, Jehovah.  How completely unlike the Canaanites gods he was! Here was a God who fought for his people instead of victimizing them, who elevated the morals of his worshippers instead of debasing them. This God treated women as precious, not as mere sexual objects to be bought, sold, and degraded in vile worship.  When Rahab learned that Israel was camped across the Jordan, poised to invade, she must have been dismayed over what that could mean for her people.  Did Jehovah notice Rahab and value the good in her? 

Today, there are many people like Rahab. They feel trapped, stuck in a wy of life that robs them of dignity and joy, they feel invisible and worthless.  Rahab's case is a comforting reminder  that none of us are invisible to God.  No matter how we feel,  "he is not far off from each one of us." (Acts17:27) He is close by, ready and eager to offer hope to all those who put faith in him. Did Rahab do that?

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH / She Was "Declared Righteous by Works" - SHE RECEIVED THE SPIES

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