Impact events in the life of Rahab.(Josh 2:8-21. Heb11v31)
It true that great events in world history always stand out in the lives of people. When something out of the ordinary happens? People seem to always remeber where they were, what they were doing and so on.
For instance I am sure that in the mind of many Iraqi people the mass graves unearthed will impact their lives for a long time. The day the statue of Sadam Hussein was toppled down in Baghdad symbolising the liberation of the people from their dictator, will be also vividly remebered. And the ongoing carnage is an idelable stamp never to be removed.
For the American people Sept 11th will stay in the mindset of the American people forever. The two great world wars of our nation will stay in the mindset of our nation and always be remembered. The 6 million deaths in the holocaust will stick in the mind of the Jewish people and the world I hope. All these things happened and impacted the lives of people who lived around that time. But have you noticed?
The distorted time line.
But as time marches on these impact points often become further and further removed from our reality.
When some of those events happened I wasn’t even born. None the less they happened. We have history, which record such events, which reveal the lives, impacted at that time. But as time marches on many of the above events get distorted, especially in our post modern world where objective truth is under constant attack.
But individual testimony is vital.
For us here today there will be events that will impact our lives to an extent that they will effect the way you think and act. Many of these events will cause many to think about God for the first time. These are life changing events. This is exactly what happened to Rahab and will happen to us as history roles on. These events which wil impact your life, will not cease to exist because of the roll of time…
These major impact events we will see will cause Rahab to take notice of God’s work, it effected her whole life. Will it effect yours?
In fact it took her in a totally different direction. What was it that had impacted her life? To have once been a Cananite prostitute rejected by society and yet later on she would become one who possesses great faith (Heb11:31) and one who would become an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matt.1:5)
I’ve got three points for us today.....
1.Rahab was aware of God’s work.
She knew of the historical events that had taken place; The acts of God, she recounts them to the spies
V10, For we have heard how the Lord, dried up the water of the Red Sea, brining the people out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites.
a.Notice 40 years later these great miracles are still remembered even by those who were not there. The Exodus when around 2 million people leave Egypt the most powerful world power at that time, yet God delivers them safely out of Egypt.
2. Ex14:21. Notice the division of the Red Sea to enable the people to cross over and escape from the Egyptians. (A Divine miracle) And in three more day’s God’s people would cross the Jordan Jos.3:16.
Rahab was also certainly aware of God’s future work…
While many took no notice.
V9, I know that the Lord has given you the land.
She was well aware of the great Army of Israel camped out on the other side of the Jordan River who were ready to cross over in three days. She knew that victory for them was certain due to the Lord being with them.
She had heard of the destruction of the Amorite kings in battle. And the effects of which had brought fear upon her own people.v11 and herself. She realised that God was at work and that her city would be destroyed.
I wonder if this week, for the first time you are being made aware of God’s work in History.
The Bible the book we are using is one of the oldest historical books of antiquity we have. The accuracy to the original manuscripts is amazing we have over 24,633 manuscripts, which authenticate today’s NT.
Sir Isaac Newton. The founder of science; “The Bible is a rock from which all the hammers of criticism have never been able to chip.
Have you ever taken notice of Gods greatest work through Jesus Christ? His unique Birth, life, death and resurrection and ascension and coming again!
This as all happened in a historical setting and is a true and reliable account, found in the greatest book of Antiquity the Bible.
History is taking its course and God continues to impact this world with major events. The incarnation of the Son of God, the spotless life and miracles of Jesus, his atoning death and wonderful resurrection and ascension and his promised return. All of which happened in history, not in the Tales of Narnia or Lord of the Rings but history. The life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is as axiomatic as the life of Julius Ceaser!
Has it made an impact in your life? Do you know like Rahab about the soverign works of God in history?
2.Rahab acknowledged their God as all-powerful (omnipotent)
Jos2. v 9,11 v9.”I know that the Lord has given this Land to you, and a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. Fulfilling (Ex15.15, 16.)
She acknowledges that God was behind all that the Israelites were accomplishing. Gods great work had effected her heart and also the hearts of the Cananite people, their hearts had melted and fear had gripped them. Whilst many did nothing about their fear, Rahab’s heart was effected differently it had been melted and a reverent fear of God had gripped her, which in turn had softened her heart rather than hardening it.
AS SOMEBODY ONCE SAID “The same sun hardens clay yet will melt ice” It’s the same God that hardens hearts and softens others. 2 Cor 2:16.
I wonder do you have a reverent fear for God? when I consider much of our world today when they experience impact events in world history without God and without hope in the world.Where do they turn? It reminds me of the startling situation upon the crosses between the two criminals when one said to the other, at the greatest impact event this world has ever seen “Do you not fear God?” I ask you the same question?
Rahab recounts Gods awesome Power. We have heard….
V10 1.Coming out of Egypt (world super power) 2 million people
2. Ex 14.21. Dried up the Red Sea. Parting of a sea!
3.The defeated armies Sihon and Og the two Kings of the Amorites destroyed. Many people have heard;
God’s awesome power through Jesus Christ in a historical setting (conquering sin and death). But the question remains are we going to apply what we have heard or are we going to ignore it?
Winston Churchill. once said, "People occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up carry on as nothing had happened."
This wasnt the case for Rahab she acknowledged the truth that God was behind it all! Rahab acknowledged that their God is v11. The God of the heavens above and the earth beneath. Creator God, omnipresent God.
This is an amazing turn around for a Cananite woman to express this wonderful truth. Considering the culture that she was brought up in their diversity of gods from El, Baal, Asherah, goddesses Ashtoreth and Anath Mot god of drought and death Reshpeh god of pestilence. Many at this time would turn to their many gods. What about our culture?
a.Pluralism pick and mix…. Present Day
(Tony Blair quote) Today people turn to other gods… Idolatry Leaving us oblivious to the truth.
David Beckham once said "I want to baptise my son , but I dont know which religion yet."
b. Today in our world when disasters strike which are nt man made we attribute it often to natural causes.
The God of atheist (humanism) today which denies the existence of God. Is your heart worshipping this god today the god of self determines truth. Psalm 14:1. The fool in his heart says there is no God. (The Atheist God) God is in control of this earth, he has not winded it up like a clock, but he is fully in control of everything nothing happens without his purposes being fulfilled.
3.Rahab responded and acted by faith.
Rahabs confession points to faith. v9 - 11.
She openly confesses the great works of God and explains the effects upon herself and her own people. She then pleads for safety for herself and her family. In saying all this, her faith in God is revealed.
Here she is openly confessing her faith in their God as her God.
Faith what is it? Heb11:1.Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Rahab had never seen God yet she had heard and believed in him.
CH Spurgeon said “Faith sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, touches the intangable and does the impossible.
Illustration.
Raider of the lost ark temple of doom
Neil Armstrong. Quote. One small step!
Rahab took that step of faith and believed in the one she had not seen, and openly confesses Him to the spies.
Jesus said Jhn20:20. Blessed are those who believe in me yet have not seen me.
Although we haven’t seen Him we can know Him still today...
Impacted World History.
The historical Jesus divided history and impacted it like no other AD/BC. More than a mere man.
(Arnold schwarzanigger wants to be remembered running for governor of California.
What do you want to be remebered for? How about coming to faith in Jesus Christ? Are you at that point in your life for the first time prepared to openly confess the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour who came into world to save you?
b. Rahabs conduct points to faith. Heb11:31.Read. James2:25.
Notice she is prepared to hide the spy’s v4, pass on information v9-11. Then to pass on false information in regard to their where about to the kings officials v4-5.
She provides a way of escape v15 and advises them to hide in the hillsv16.
God changed her life? Her Conduct showed her faith.
A Cananite. One time prostitute working in a tavern.
Rahab would become a descendant of Jesus himself.
We too, no matter what we have done can come into God’s family.
Daniel was a young man from Cardiff stabbed five people yet today by Gods immense grace he is a child of God, forgiven and accepted into the family of God. Phil Grimes who lived a life of sex drugs and rock and roll encountered the grace of God.
Rahab too who once lived and worked for herself,now wants to work for God. What could change a persons conduct like this, surly only God the Holy Spirit?
c. Rahab’s cry points to faith v12 - 13.
Rahab sees her great need, the coming destruction the lose of life and family and her own people and at this point cries out to the two spies that they would make an oath/swear by the Lord to show kindness to her and her family
Rahab asks for mercy for herself and her family as she has shown them great kindness in concealing them from their enemies. She sees with the eye of faith the coming destruction upon her land. Here we see her cry for salvation.
Do you see your great need?
This opportunity is open to all according to the promised (covenant) Gen12:1-3.All people blessed through you.
Rom 10:13. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
d.Rahab listened to Gods messengers V17 – 21.
She listens to the spies and carries out precisely what is asked of her v21. Tying the scarlet cord in the window. Made the house a place of safety. Again here we ssee a picture of the (Passover and ultimately the picture of the Cross and the blood shed.)
Are you going to listen? Then come to the cross by faith and see that it was the blood of Jesus that was shed for you to as well as Rahab.
Friend this is the greatest impact event of history one which we need to embrace, to enable us to stand all the others that will come into our lives to Rock us, but with God by our side nothing will be able to seperate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Pastor Aubrey Vaughan www.cbchurch.org.uk
