Believe As Rahab; Covenant Of Peace

February 23, 2021

And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord , since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

~Joshua 2:11‭-‬13~

During the time which Joshua sent out spies to search out Jericho for which God was giving to them. Rumor went out amongst the land and they knew God had chosen people to come and take it. Fear took ahold of the people of Jericho, they knew about the great Adonai which dried up the Red Sea during the time of their escape from Egypt; "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea." (Exodus 14:16)

They heard of the two kings of the Amorites in which they had destroyed, Sihon and Og;

"after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei."

(Deuteronomy 1:4)

This caused a great threat to arise in the king of Jericho's heart and he commanded Rahab was to hand over the men who were sent in to spy. Rahab, who being a harlot, carried a genuine fear in her heart; not a fear of the king but rather a fear of the Lord. This is the proper and only type of "fear" we are to carry. The type which says, "I trust God's will more then my own king's in this land." Rahab honored God by stating with faith who God is; "the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath," (vs. 11).

Rahab carried a wonderful reverence for the Lord whom she only heard about at that time. She acted out of kindess to His people and in return asked for her and her family to be spared when the land was overtaken. The spies of course agreed to this. Her faith in God had given her wonderful mercy; "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." (Hebrews 11:31)

The Lord asks us to act in love and respect to Him and His people. Israel has always been His chosen and to this day we are to understand how important it is to keep that peace with them. As we have peace with them, we shall hold our peace in our land. "And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)

I never thought I would see the day when I would say, we can all learn a lot from this harlot; as she carried such peace and reverence in her own heart. This just goes to show "you should never judge a book by its cover." The name may throw you off at first but you end up finding out it is one of the most knowledgeable books you have ever read. Rahab was a woman of belief that was hard to come by in this time. She housed her entire family and all she cared about was sparing their lives and staying out of God's way. Too many people lack that fear of the Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

Of course in this story we know the fools were the rest of the land of Jericho. I am wondering had more people not resisted in God's plan for His people would they have been spared as well? I'd like to think so as God is a merciful God; "So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." (Joel 2:13)

God does not wish to cause harm; He does so out of anger, lack of instruction and reverence towards Himself. We are all created to have fear of Him in a way that says, "what ever You choose, who ever You give favor to I shall understand and respect Your choice." There are blessings upon others we cannot understand. Rahab never questioned this favor, she merely submitted and in turn she received favor as well as her entire family. When we do not rebel, we gain access to His favor and we change others lives who are dear to us. "But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” (Joshua 6:22)

When we make a covenant we seal our promise. We follow through with it. This is serious with God. "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments."

(Deuteronomy 7:9)

When we break a covenant we will suffer from this. "Therefore thus says the Lord God : “As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head."

(Ezekiel 17:19)

God takes our bond with Him very seriously, as should we. Rahab gave her word to the Lord's people and made a peace covenant with them; "Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace."

(Numbers 25:12)

This pleased the Father.

Our faith should be even stronger today then Rahab carried as our covenant includes something far beyond what she had an opportunity to see; "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:26‭-‬27)

His Son was given to all of us for an everlasting covenant as the Prince of Peace gives us salvation. We shall respect the Father in the same as Rahab did; believe in His will, show others genuine kindness with our faith and keep our covenant unbroken as we follow His ordinances. We may feel as though because Christ died for us we have no work left to do, but on the contrary our faith comes with works to please and fulfill the Lord's will for our lives. "Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:25‭-‬26)

We still have things the Lord Jesus may ask of us to do, if we refuse, rebel or resist in doing so we are actually being dead to the Body of Christ. His works are not completely finished through us until our lives end on earth. We are here to submit and do the works we were sent here to do. We can thank God for the grace and mercy He gave us with salvation all the while believing in His better covenant with His Son and living holy faithful lives in what we do; " But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22)

When we follow His commands big and small, doing the works of God on earth we are locking hands with Jesus and claiming, "We are a team in this journey." Jesus Christ didn't die to just give us a free ride in life. We may suffer. We may lose something. We may have to give up things. We may even be subject to persecution or even death for Him. But what ever He asks of us in our personal journey, as we do so the way of Rahab; with pure reverence and honor for God, we will reap what so ever we sow.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for the mercy You give as we respect Your commandments and put our faith to work. Help me to align my kindess to that of Rahab. Reveal any wicked or lazy way in me where I need to stand tall and proud of my Lord Jesus. I praise and honor the Son who gave His life for the surety of a better covenant. Use me today for Your blessings towards Your children just as You used Rahab. I put myself last and others ahead according to Your will. Thank you for giving me life everlasting and I want to honor it to the very end. I pray to never fall away, become deceived or turn myself away from Your statutes. I vow to be in total agreement with You only. The enemy shall not prevail against me with his lies. I shall prosper in the Lord Jesus Christ and renew my mind each day in Him. It is in His Name I rejoice and receive blessings today, Jesus Christ, my King of Kings. Amen.