Beside the Well
The story of Rahab reads like a movie script. Spies, a threatening army, fear for family safety, and a courageous act all make for a most intriguing plot. It’s a mix of a thriller and a rags-to-riches story. But I doubt Rahab saw it that way!
While her profession as a prostitute may have put food on the table, she risked her life and well being in such a career. But also, it put her in places to hear secrets and know the movings of the city.
No doubt she had heard of the exploits of the Israelites. She might have even encountered the earlier spies as they searched the land. She had probably heard how the Jordon had opened for them to march into Canaan. She may have been told of this strange group of escaping slaves observing the Passover in the plains of Jericho for the past forty years. And, no doubt, she was aware of the impending attack and saw the fear that gripped the leaders of Jericho as they shut up the city.
Rahab, a woman very capable of taking care of herself, refused to allow the situation to cause her to resort to tears and fears, as Lynn Cowell said, “Rahab put down doubt so she could pick up faith.”* She started making moves to come inline with the great God she had heard so much about. Instead of cowering, she rested her cause in the God of the Israelites. You can almost hear her saying to herself, “Who knows but that He might have mercy?” Eventually, her act of faith saved not only herself, but also the spies, and her extended family.
It makes me wonder. What do we do when faced with fearful things? Do we hide in doubt cowering and crying because we don’t know what to do? Or, do we pick up faith and bring our emotions and actions in line with God?
Rahab’s decisions placed her into the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, but we must remember—there was no Hebrews 11 when she put down her doubt and picked up faith. She moved forward with nothing but a knowledge of the God of the Israelites. And God honored her faith. He will honor yours as well. How does your script read?
While her profession as a prostitute may have put food on the table, she risked her life and well being in such a career. But also, it put her in places to hear secrets and know the movings of the city.
No doubt she had heard of the exploits of the Israelites. She might have even encountered the earlier spies as they searched the land. She had probably heard how the Jordon had opened for them to march into Canaan. She may have been told of this strange group of escaping slaves observing the Passover in the plains of Jericho for the past forty years. And, no doubt, she was aware of the impending attack and saw the fear that gripped the leaders of Jericho as they shut up the city.
Rahab, a woman very capable of taking care of herself, refused to allow the situation to cause her to resort to tears and fears, as Lynn Cowell said, “Rahab put down doubt so she could pick up faith.”* She started making moves to come inline with the great God she had heard so much about. Instead of cowering, she rested her cause in the God of the Israelites. You can almost hear her saying to herself, “Who knows but that He might have mercy?” Eventually, her act of faith saved not only herself, but also the spies, and her extended family.
It makes me wonder. What do we do when faced with fearful things? Do we hide in doubt cowering and crying because we don’t know what to do? Or, do we pick up faith and bring our emotions and actions in line with God?
Rahab’s decisions placed her into the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, but we must remember—there was no Hebrews 11 when she put down her doubt and picked up faith. She moved forward with nothing but a knowledge of the God of the Israelites. And God honored her faith. He will honor yours as well. How does your script read?
*(devotions@proverbs31.org, Sept 25, 2017)
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