Love That Never Fails

35. God Chooses the Unexpected

As I read the Bible, one of the things that constantly amazes me is the vast array of different people that God uses throughout history to fulfil His purposes. Many of them are not at all who I would have expected to find in a particular situation, but God has always shown that His plan is best and He doesn't judge people by their appearance and past but by their heart.

On the verge of entering the promised land, Moses' successor Joshua sends spies to check out the land —in particular Jericho. It has always surprised me that of all the houses they should enter there, they end up in the home of a prostitute:

"Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.""
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In this setting, the spies were clearly in danger but this woman already sensed the importance of keeping them safe:

"But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut."
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Rahab seemed to have great knowledge of the spies and the God they served. Her life may have been thwart with bad decisions but here, she made a very wise choice. Despite the remnants of her role as a prostitute, God was still able to use Rahab.

"Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:8-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seemed that Rahab's great insight and heart would become her saving grace! How wonderful that she could acknowledge God as the true God of heaven and earth! It reminds me that God's character speaks loudly to others around us who have never even walked inside a church. His love and power as Lord of all was unmistakable to Rahab:

""Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death." "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land." So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way." Now the men had said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear." "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."
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:12-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We will pick up the rest of this story later but you can be sure that Rahab's faith in putting the scarlet cord out on display, would make an incredible difference in the direction of her life!

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for reminding me of the incredible power You have over people today. You choose those we least expect to become Your instruments to fulfil Your greater purposes and bring about change. I am reminded that You love all people and it doesn't matter what their background is, You are interested in the state of their hearts.

Please help me to love others as You do and to think the best of people despite what I see. I don't want to put people into categories or be judgemental but see them through Your eyes. Lord may my life be a testimony to others of who You are, the God who saves!

I am ready to serve You with boldness today,
Amen.