Just yesterday, I forgot again. It had been a long day, and I was tired—physically tired, but emotionally exhausted too. It seems we live in that place of general fatigue more often than not these days, huh? And when an already-full cup gets bumped, we all know what happens: it spills over, and there is usually a mess to clean up.
I spilled over, and circumstances are not to blame. Circumstances, I’ve lived long enough to know, are always going to shift and change. If I set my hope on them, I’m guaranteed disappointment and discouragement. So, I must set my hope on something else instead—Someone else. I must remember what is true when the stresses of life fill me to the brim. I must remember who is true.
Rahab’s story in Joshua 2 is one of my favorite narratives in Scripture. I love that this loudly-labeled woman defies her definition and turns toward Yahweh in a remarkable plot twist. I love the symbolism of that scarlet cord in the window and the passion I can imagine in Rahab’s voice as I read her words. But the thing that gets me every single time I read Rahab’s story is how she seems to understand from the start something I struggle with daily. She recalls and remembers the acts of Yahweh, and this leads her to worship—right there in the most unlikely and uncertain of circumstances:
“I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us…
we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you…
When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you,
for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below”
(Joshua 2:9–11, emphasis mine).
Rahab calls to mind what she knows, and this leads her to profess what she believes. What if we did the same? Whether we’ve walked with the Lord for days or decades, we are here opening His Word together because we have seen Him at work in our hearts, our lives, our world, or all of the above. We have seen evidence of His hand, His goodness, His glory, and it’s enough to melt our very hearts before Him in awe and worship. What if we made a practice of remembering this? Not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard. Not only when blessings are evident, but when they’re hidden. Not in times of ease, but in times of stress.
Join me today in recalling what you’ve seen God do. Join me in remembering who He is. Let the record of His faithfulness draw you to worship, and let’s echo Rahab’s profession together: “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11). We give our moments, days, and hearts to Him.
It’s amazing how Rahab’s faith also inspired the spies’ faith. In the Numbers passage, the spies reported in fear, but after the two spies encountered Rahab, they left full of faith by hearing what the people of Jerico thought of God and were ready to take possession! I pray for faith that helps me and others recall the goodness and greatness of the Lord!
I’m encouraged by the fact that God goes before us. We aren’t told how these spies knew to go to Rehab, but they did because God had prepared a way for them. He is the same God today. I love believing and knowing that He goes before me and prepares my way when I am walking with Him. Who knows who He will bring into our paths that will speak His truth into our lives. God is good at being God.
Rahab did not have a community of believers, a bible, podcasts, apps, pastors preaching the word, and access to sermons from all over the world through the internet- yet she believed. Her faith was so strong, even though she did not have all the resources we do today to strengthen it. God used her faithfulness for the Israelites AND to become the mother of Boaz, great grandfather to David. Amazing!
I love that Rahab, even as she lived a sinful life was able to see the Mighty God of the Israelites and then you seen she believed in her heart that God is mighty. The spies must’ve have also needed this reminder of God’s faithfulness to them in the past. I love that Rahab was the one who pointed these spies back to their Mighty God. I love that she acted on this belief in God and helped to save the spies. Belief and action! I also love that Rahab is in our Dear Savior’s lineage! Not only was she saved but her family too! God is so creative and full of Grace! Such a line of love, provision and Grace!
I can relate to what others are saying hear. My tired mind and eyelids closing over hear make it even more difficult for me to comprehend what I am reading. “I must remember what is true when the stresses of life fill me to the brim. I must remember who is true.” Sometimes I wonder if I would be able to lie and hide someone or something. My heart would be beating so fast and I’d probably be sweating, hoping I wouldn’t be found out. But Rehab seemed so calm, she was strong, courageous and unafraid.
Wow. I love the point of “Rahab calls to mind what she knows and then professes what she believes”. We have the head knowledge but do we live like we believe God is who he says he is?
We give our hearts to him.
I love these last few readings with Esther and Rahab that show how women from the most unlikely places are being used by God. Esther was an orphan and ended up becoming queen and saving the Jews. Rahab was a prostitute. And yet, God used them both. It’s amazing what God does in each and every life!