Recently, I've been led to share about the Power of ONE. At our most recent Bible Study, I asked a general question, "So girls, out of Eve, Rahab, and King Josiah, which ONE is your favorite?!" I expected a mixed inaudible and somewhat chaotic answer. But, boy was I wrong. See, what do I know about teaching teen age girls?! There was this unanimous and thunderous reply in chorus, "RAAAHAAAB!" I'm not sure, but the class next door might have heard through the cinder block wall. Sorry! :/ But, my heart was overjoyed! I really don't have ONE favorite yet, but as we shared from a bag of Twizzlers and talked about Rahab, maybe you'll see why she is their favorite ONE.
By far my two favorite things about fall are colors and scarfs! I love to wear them and plan my outfits around them! Here are a few fav scarf moments:
From the hot pink and famous last fall...
with Jennifer Rothschild
and Kathy Troccoli
to the real red everyday down home end of summer at VBS...
with Annah!
Grey, black, khaki, yellow, and bright blue hang in the closet, too. I seriously look for ways to wear them...as evident with the bibbed overalls. I feel wrapped up and cozy when I wear them. But as the girls and I learned when I wore my long red scarf to Bible Study a few weeks ago, Rahab's scarf was a statement of faith, not fashion! Let me share what we learned ONE night.
Many cool middle eastern nights might have seen it hanging from the window. Some may not have been surprised given Rahab's "red light district" profession and reputation. But don't you think when a long scarlet scarf hung outside from Rahab's window for 3 days, then 7 more, while spies escaped and the king's men looked for them and the invading trumpeters marched around the city walls someone might have asked, "What's up with that?!"
The book of Joshua tells the whole story about how spies got help from a prostitute, named Rahab, ONE in a city who believed in all of God's miracles and that He would lead Joshua and the Israelites to take the city of Jericho. When the spies promised to save her (AND her family), "“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window." I've read different translations from a thread, to a cord, to a rope...never a Twizzler, but perhaps a scarf?
ONE woman's faith, in what she had only heard yet never seen, made her bold enough to believe infront of an entire city. She believed in her rescue, her redemption, and in her Redeemer. I found it interesting that in two New Testament places (Hebrews and James), that Rahab is still refer to as "Rahab, the prostitute." What's up with that?!
What about this ONE? Rahab, the Brave - she hid the spies under the nose of the King.
What about this ONE? Rahab, the Clever - she helped the spies get out of the city undetected.
What about this ONE? Rahab, the Loyal - she got word to her family so that all under her roof where spared.
What about this ONE? Rahab, the Patient - she sat under that one roof (with her family!!) for 10 whole days. Kinda makes you think of the holidays, right?!
What about this ONE? Rahab, the Victor - hers was the only house saved in the entire city when the walls of Jericho fell down.
Our class came up with all those descriptions, didn't Paul and James see it?! Yet, she is Rahab, the prostitute. I don't WANT to be know as:
April, the angry
April, the unjust
April, the unforgiving
or even April, the child of a murder.
What's up with that?!
But friends, that IS what shows the power of Her Redeemer. Our Redeemer can take anything and rescue, restore, and redeem. ANYTHING!! I think Paul and James were praising God and testifying to what great things God did through this ONE, Rahab, by reminding us who she was before she believed. THAT'S what's up with THAT! Amen?! God didn't leave her in Jericho either. I'm sure the marchers saw the red scarf in the window, too. Everyone knew. But God didn't leave her in the ruin, He Redeemed. Look at what she once was and how her belief in God and faith in His Word allowed God to use her, rescue her, and give her a new life.
So, what hangs from you? your neck? or even your home to show your faith? Do we display our faith? Call attention to our faith in the ONE true God? Do we live out our faith from the windows of our lives like Rahab? Even when God closes a door?! Ouch...my toes!
God's Word says, it is better to wear a millstone around our necks and be downed in the sea than cause ONE of our brothers or sisters to stumble in their faith in Jesus. Ouch...my toes! Sometimes it isn't easy being virtually barefoot!
So join me! Encourage the faith of others who are facing battles that seem like there is no victory in sight. Be ONE who displays your true colors..the scarlet that healed you, the scarlet that saved you, the scarlet that cleansed you from your sin and made you whiter than snow. Be vulnerable about the past that He has redeemed you from and the mountains and the valleys let the Holy Spirit drape your efforts as you minister to them.
Let it all hang out! Rahab did! Want ONE? I'm sharing!
Thank you God for Rahab! We know that You love the power of ONE because You used her to be pivotal in bringing us Your ONE and only Son. How sweet is that! Amen!?!
1 comments:
Amen, April! :) Great post.
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