Believe like a Prostitute

I have always loved Hebrews 11 and the "hall of faith" chapter.  The history major in me enjoys the summary and retelling of much of the Old Testament - from Abel, through Noah, to Abraham and his sons and grandsons, then to Moses and into the Promised Land.  It's cool to follow along with how God has worked among His people. But have you ever noticed who gets mentioned when it comes to entering the promised land?  It talks about the people having faith as they walked around Jericho, but it doesn't mention Joshua.  It does however mention Rahab in the next verse.  As I read the story of that battle, of how God brought victory at Jericho, I was struck with an interesting question - what was it like for Rahab?

Think about that for a minute - she believes that God has given the Israelites this city.  She tells the spies that, which is why she hides them.  She has faith in their God.  But she isn't given the battle plan.  She is sitting, locked away in her house, with her family, and she does what the spies told her to do, and she puts that red cord out the window, and then the Israelite army gets there, all the people - but they don't attack - they just march around the city.  For six days the Israelites get up and walk around the city in silence.  Do you think Rahab starting having any doubts? You think she got frustrated - trying to figure out what in the world was going on? Do you think it was hard being locked in your house, just waiting and not knowing what is going on? Did that last question feel like it could describe you and me in the midst of this coronavirus mess? 

I don't know what went through Rahab's mind during the battle of Jericho.  I don't know what she thought of them marching around the city everyday.  I do know that she left that scarlet rope in the window.  I do know that the writer of Hebrews talked about her faith. I know she is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew.  I know that after Jericho has fallen it says in Joshua 6 that from then on she lived among the Israelites.  She became a part of the people of God - not because of her heritage, her genetics - but because of her faith.  She didn't know what the plan was, she didn't know what was happening outside those walls for that week of marching.  But she trusted that God was in control of it and that He would provide the victory and that He would take care of her and her family.
Sounds like what you and I need to remember today - it's not about the unknown things around us - it's about trusting the God that we do know.

Love you guys - see you soon.