Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho. Her house stood on the city wall. No doubt she had a poor public image. However, when Jericho a fortified city where giants lived, fell into the hands of Joshua as the army of Israel made its assault, all its inhabitants were slaughtered; only she and her family members were spared. You may be wondering why. Well when the two spies Joshua had commissioned entered this stronghold – the future Promised Land - she had offered them a safe haven. “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” (Joshua 2:3) She misled her interrogators into believing that the spies had left before the city gates had been shut when in fact she had hidden them in the attic.
Her reward for this gesture was an assurance that when the army of Israel returned to take over the city, they would offer her protection along with her family members. “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.” (Joshua 3:17-18)
When Joshua and the army of Israel took over Jericho they burnt down everything; but “spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho.” (verse 6:25) She had saved their lives at a great risk. Those who did not think much about her did not survive wheras she did. All she had to do was to identify her place of abode with a red ribbon. It was not by sheer luck that Rahab enjoyed such favour, mark you, particularly when you think that she was a pagan – not a believer. Her action and her testimony were both acts of faith that warranted the seemingly unmerited favour she was an object of.
Few people would think a prostitute like Rahab could have been exempted from the statistics of the Jericho massacre. One would hardly think that Rahab could have had a place in the Bible even, in our Lord Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:5) – but she came out, prostitute or not. Again I am asking the question, why Rahab? A quote from Jesus’ teachings provides a suitable answer. “I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed – only Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:25-27) And so Rahab became an exception so that the glory of God may be made manifest. You also will be an exception!
The worst situation you can find yourself in is when people in your entourage slander you; that is, they talk evil about you and sometimes it gets to you. Your character is smeared, rightly or wrongly. But let me tell you, ‘today you are coming out,’ in spite of the chatter and the gossip, for the Lord will be with you and he will see you through it all.
Dry bones
God showed prophet Ezekiel, in the spirit realm, a valley littered with ‘very dry’ bones and he asked him; “Son of man, can these bones live?” What a question! Wisely, the prophet answered; “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) The Lord continued. “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4-6) When he prophesied, the bones came together with a rattling sound. He prophesied again and breath came. Everything “came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.” (verse 10)
Actually, God was talking about how he would revive the House (nation) of Israel and thus he painted this image to prophet Ezekiel. He was talking about how he would restore Israel, bring Israelites back to their land from exile. “I will put my spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it…” (verse 14)
The Lord is equally directing these words to you and to me. He is confirming that entire nations will also be restored. Our lack of zeal and enthusiasm will be rekindled. He will put an end to our deadness and lukewarmness by reviving all – the myriad of things - that are dead and dry in us. Dry bones have no place in the kingdom. We are called to be alert, vibrant, buoyant, vigorous and zealous for the work of God - for the war to be won against the forces of darkness which seem to have overpowered the people of God.
Dead bones receive life in Christ Jesus because you are coming out of the valley to take your rightful place on the mountaintop. Be a warrior in God’s army for victory over sin and Satan. Be restored! Be revived in Jesus’ name!
