Joshua 6:22-23
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her." So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
The Bible says that the righteous will live by his faith, and Rahab is the best example. First, she is a righteous person. Righteousness of men is often self-righteousness, righteousness by law or righteousness by judging others. But righteousness of God is by one's faith, which is righteousness by grace. A person, whether he is a big sinner or a small sinner in the eyes of others, as long as he lives by his faith of God's promise and salvation, he is a righteous person. Roman 3:28 says, "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." Because Rahab believed in God's salvation and promise, she is a righteous person before God.
We must be humble before God, because we often believe ourselves to be righteous while convicting others of their sins. In the parable of prayer that the Lord told, when the tax collector cried before God, " God, have mercy on me, a sinner.", the Lord said that the tax collector was more justified than the Pharisee. The way God judge righteousness is totally different from that of men. When you believe that you are more spiritual than others, think of the example set by Rahab, and make yourself be humble before God.
Second, Rahab was saved by her faith. Before Israelites attacked Jericho, Joshua told two spies to go into the house of Rahab, taking the whole family out in order to save them. The salvation descended into her whole household because of her. Thus do not stop praying for the salvation of your family, because there are God's promises. Do not be disappear, but keep praying. Pray that God get rid of strongholds in their hearts. He will surely do the work of softening people's hearts. Not only were Rahab's whole family saved, they kept everything they had. God is truly compassionate. You thought that by following the Lord you are surely to lose everything. Instead, God saved everything you own.
If you are confronted by many decisions today, do not doubt God's kindness. The path He prepares for you is indeed the best. The righteous will not only live because of their faith, God will also raise them up, so that they will obtain glories. What a glory Rahab received when she finally became one of four female ancestors in the genealogy of Jesus. It's something she never thought of. Indeed, as Bible says, what God has prepared for those who love him is more than anything that eyes had seen, ears had heard, or hearts had ever dreamed of. How wonderful it is to know such truth!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I thank you again for your promises. I especially pray for the non-believer family members of our brothers and sisters. May your spirit descend on those family members because of our prayers, so that they have softened hearts that are open to accepting you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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