Why Are You Hesitating to Return to God? Learn from Rahab
The story of Rahab is found in the book of Joshua 2:1-21.
She was one of the four women mentioned in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The other three were Bathsheba, Tamar and Ruth. Rahab married Salmon
and Boaz was born. Boaz married Ruth and their great-grandson was King David
from whose line Jesus came.
Before Rahab became an Israelite, she was a citizen of
Jericho where she lived as a pagan and prostitute. Thus her status in Jericho
made her a most unlikely candidate for the blessings of God. Further, the city
of Jericho was doomed, having been marked for destruction. But she worked her
way into the blessings of God.
When the conquest of Jericho was about to commence, spies
were sent ahead to view the land. Rahab accommodated and protected the spies
and helped them to escape when the King of Jericho sent men to arrest them. She
made an agreement with the spies that rescued her and her entire family from
the destruction of the city of Jericho.
The lessons to learn from this remarkable woman are as
follows:
1)
Her faith: Her recognition of the mighty acts of
Jehovah God in the past formed the basis of her faith in Him. She was aware of
how God dried up the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over on dry ground.
She was also aware of how God empowered the Israelites to utterly destroy the
strongest Amorite Kings, Og and Bashan and their kingdoms. Obviously she was
aware of the ten plagues in Egypt which brought that world power to its knees
and the total destruction of the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea.
By her knowledge of the past events, she
acknowledged the power of the Mighty God of Israel over all the nations on
earth. She stated to the spies that ‘the Lord your God is God in Heaven above
and in earth beneath’.
2)
Her insight: Based on her knowledge of the
mighty acts of the God of Israel and His wonders, she was truthful and
intelligent to foresee the total conquest of, and destruction of the nations of
Canaan including the city of Jericho. She was sure that any resistance from
Jericho against the impending invasion would be useless.
3)
Her ability to take risks: Having foreseen how
events would turn out in Canaan, she planned for the escape of herself and
family from the impending conquest and destruction. She obeyed her own part of
the agreement to the letter. She could have chosen to remain loyal to the King
of Jericho by giving up the spies. But she did not and rather made a clear
decision not to sink with the doomed city. She took the risk to work her escape
from the destruction and by that effort; she worked her way into the blessings
of God and became a member of the Israelite nation.
1)
She made a clear decision to turn her life over to
the God of Israel. She chose to be saved rather than to be destroyed along with
the multitudes in Jericho. Out of the many families in Jericho, only her family
was saved. Matthew 7:13-14 says that few shall be saved and many will be lost
and we see this occur in Jericho. It also occurred in Sodom and Gomorrah where
only 3 persons escaped the destruction of the two cities. Also only 2 persons
of the generation of 600,000 men who started the Exodus actually entered into the Promised
Land. The others perished on the way in the wilderness.
Rahab escaped the destruction because she did not allow any traditional
loyalties to Jericho to hinder her from submitting to the God of Israel. Do you
allow any traditional loyalty to your environment or any religion; parents,
relations, friends or peers to hinder you from turning to the God of Israel for
salvation? You must take a decision not
to follow the ways of the multitudes in the world (Exodus 23:2). You must
decide not to perish with the perishing multitude. Determine to be among the
few who will make it to heaven (Luke 13:24) and take the right steps like Rahab.
2)
There is a direct link between knowledge, faith,
action and commitment. Rahab’s knowledge of the power of the God of Israel
formed the basis of her faith to trust in Him for her future. Based on her
faith, she took action and committed herself to that action without looking
back.
You know the power of the God of Israel; what He has done; what He is
doing and what He can do based on His promises. You are aware from the
Scriptures that God destroyed the first world because of sin; He destroyed
Sodom & Gomorrah for their sinfulness, and has promised to destroy this
present doomed world at a future date but is warning you to flee for your life now by
accepting his free gift of salvation that will secure your soul from damnation
(2 Corinthians 6:2).
You know that death and judgment are certain (Hebrews 9:27) (2
Corinthians 5:10). You know that the world and its systems rooted in darkness
and iniquity will pass away (1 John 2:15-17). You are aware of the reality
of heaven and hell. You know that your life on earth is very short (Job 14:1).
You know that there is an urgent need to accept Jesus Christ now as Lord and
Saviour, before it becomes too late to do so (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Then, unlike Rahab why are you still hesitating to take the right decision? Why are you remaining a prospective victim of Hell despite the enormous information starring you in the face warning you to flee for your life? (Matthew 24) (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
Then, unlike Rahab why are you still hesitating to take the right decision? Why are you remaining a prospective victim of Hell despite the enormous information starring you in the face warning you to flee for your life? (Matthew 24) (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
May be you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour but like Lot’s wife,
you have looked back into the world. Lot’s wife was already out of the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah before she looked back into the world and was destroyed. You laid your hands on the plough but have you
looked back into the world from which you were called out of? (Luke 9:62) (1
Corinthians 1:1-3). James 4:4 says that whoever is a friend of the world is an
enemy of God. If you are an enemy of God, how can you make it to Heaven? Hell would
be your home.
Hebrews 10: 26-31 warns that it will be much worse for anyone who
tramples upon the Blood of the Covenant by which he was saved. You ought to
repent and take a firm decision to follow the Lord to the end (Ruth 1:16).
Without a solid commitment and loyalty to the Lord, no one will make it to
Heaven!
You have a role to play in the salvation of your soul, go and play your
part...
Knowledge of what God can do is not enough. Faith to take the risk, action and commitment are also required. Work your way into God's Kingdom by accepting Jesus as Lord and Personal Saviour now and stay committed to your decision to the end.
Knowledge of what God can do is not enough. Faith to take the risk, action and commitment are also required. Work your way into God's Kingdom by accepting Jesus as Lord and Personal Saviour now and stay committed to your decision to the end.
Ayodele Adegbulugbe
Phone: +2348035978352
Email: ayodeleade2002@yahoo.com
Christian titles by the author:
Christian titles by the author:
Riches: A Blessing or a Snare?
Solutions to Sexual Abuses in Marriage
No comments:
Post a Comment