A Scarlet Rope

A Scarlet Rope

(Joshua 2:1-24)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Action”

Series Title:  “Kindness in the Land”

March 5^th, 2023

Something to think about:

As we begin a new series today entitled “Kindness in the Land,” we will be exploring the exploits of the Israelites after they entered the Promised Land.  One of the first narratives that we will be exploring is in Joshua 2, and a woman named Rahab.  Rahab, as we will see, is one of the most unlikely of characters to help the Israelites. 

One of the first cities that the Israelites come to in the Promised Land was the city of Jericho.  Being a rather large city, Joshua sends two spies into the city to scout it out and bring back a report.  While in the city, the two spies encounter a woman (a prostitute) by the name of Rahab, whose dwelling is inside of the city wall.  Requesting cover and safe passage, the two spies take cover in Rahab’s home while being pursued by the King of Jericho.  Rather than turn them over to the king, Rahab promises them safe passage if they will spare her and her family when they come to take the city.  The spies assure her of this and she sends them out her window and down the city wall to safety.

Rahab confessed to the spies that she and the people of the city knew that GOD was with them.  She confessed that the stories of their escaping the Egyptians through the Red Sea, and GOD’s miracles in sustaining them in their wilderness wanderings, had preceded them.  In her holy fear of GOD, and her faith in Him, Rahab became a household name in Israelite history.  A hero of the faith and an ancestor of Jesus, Rahab stands as a testimony of what GOD can do through the most unlikely of people.

Let’s take a closer look at her story today:

Turn in your Bible to:  Joshua 2:1-21

Here’s the takeaway:

Key Point:  “GOD’s kindness is sometimes shown through the most unlikely of people.”

• All the people inhabiting Jericho were to be laid to  , but because of her faith in GOD Rahab and her family were  .

Hebrews 11:31 (NLT),  It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

• As evidence of Rahab’s  , she protected the Israelite spies who came into the city.

James 2:25-26 (NLT), ²⁵  Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. ²⁶  Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

• Because of Rahab’s holy  and  for GOD, her future was radically altered for the better.

Matthew 1:5 (NLT),  Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.

Something to take home:

It’s been said that if you “feed your faith then doubt will starve to death,” and I believe there is a lot of truth in that.  What you feed is what ultimately grows!

Where is your faith?  What do you have faith in?  Who do you have faith in?  These are questions that we all have to answer. 

The faith that pleases GOD is not blind faith, but faith rooted in the assurance of what we hope for and evidence of things not seen.[1]  GOD proves Himself to us over and over and over.  Everything in creation points to Him as Creator.  We stand without excuse before GOD, and must come to Him in faith. 

Rahab believed, do you?  It’s because of her faith and belief that she is counted among the faithful cloud of witnesses.  And oh how kind and loving GOD is that He can draw even the most unlikely of people into fellowship with Him, and can extend His kindness through them to others.  What a mighty GOD we serve!

Key Point:  “GOD’s kindness is sometimes shown through the most unlikely of people.”

[1] Hebrews 11:1-2.