Rahab

BY Kaitie Stoddard

I had this sneaking feeling that I was going to lock myself out of the office one day. Every once in a while, it would cross my mind that I should hide a key somewhere, just in case, but then I’d brush that thought aside. Well, what do you know, today was the day! Of course, my coworkers were gone for the day, and the second the door latched behind me I knew I’d forgotten my key. They say hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn’t do you much good when you’re trapped on the wrong side of the door, pulling up Google on your phone to find a locksmith.

Sometimes we feel that nagging urge to act, and we just stuff it down. Getting locked out of an office is a minor inconvenience, but what about when the urge to act comes from the Lord? What about when that holy nudge requires you to step out in faith?

Rahab is a woman who saw what was coming and chose to act in obedience. She didn’t obey because she was an especially godly person. Far from it, in fact. The book of Joshua tells us that Rahab was a prostitute. But despite her moral failings, Rahab recognized the power of God. When Joshua’s two spies were in need of a hiding place, Rahab sensed they were men of the one true God. Though she barely knew this God, Rahab put her faith in Him and betrayed her own king (Hebrews 11:31).

How did a woman living so far from God take such an enormous leap of faith? A single act of courage, that’s how. That’s all it took to completely change the future for Rahab and her family. Although she had only heard of the power and goodness of God, she recognized what He was doing and stepped out in faith. This foresight saved the lives of Rahab and her family, and she went on to become part of the lineage of Jesus Himself (Matthew 1:1–6).

Just as God worked through Rahab, He delights in using women from every walk of life to tell His grand story of redemption. It doesn’t matter what you have or haven’t done in the past. You don’t need to be a “perfect Christian” for God to call you to action. You don’t need to be a perfect Christian to listen to that still, small voice and “see it coming,” whatever it may be. God does not wait for us to get it together in order to weave us into His plan of redemption. “Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

If you are hearing a voice that says you can’t be used by God, that you’re too much of this or too little of that, let me tell you that voice is not from the Lord. Maybe God’s given you a dream, but you’re not taking the next step because of these critical voices. Would you join me in throwing off that spirit of condemnation? Our courage comes not because we believe we are strong, but because we know that God can do anything. If He calls us He will also equip us for His work. Let’s be women who see what God is doing, and follow Him in faith.