My friend, Dr. Cynthia Mitchell, says, “People will try to hold you hostage to who you were to make themselves comfortable…Make them uncomfortable!” No one can define you but God.
In Joshua 2, we read the incredible story of a prostitute named Rahab. As she sat in her “inn” waiting for the day’s clients, two spies sent by Joshua knocked on her door.
The King of Jericho ordered her to “bring out the men in your house.” As frightening as disobeying that order must have been, something else was stronger.
- Faith in the reality of God’s sovereign power creates a courageous heart.
She had been told about Yahweh’s great deeds, and this brought her to a public declaration of faith:
“…We have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt… No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! …For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” (Joshua 2:9–11)
The ”moon god” of her culture no longer held Rahab captive; neither did any of the pagan rituals in the land of Jericho. She risked her life to choose to believe in the great Lord God, and her life was spared.
You might be having trouble believing that God is serious about this forgetting the past thing, but He is.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: . . . Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. . . . And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:1–6, 15–16)
The spy, Salmon, fell in love with Rahab and married her. God in his mercy wrote her name into the line of the Savior! In fact, Rahab was the great grandmother of King David. Wow.
- God doesn’t care where you start in life. He is interested in your future and the “new thing” He is going to do in you.
The LORD says, “Forget about what happened before, and do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening.” (Isaiah 43:18–19 NCV)
God’s grace flows deep and wide. The dramatic salvation and changed life of Rahab is a story handed down over thousands of years, and it will continue to be told.
- Through salvation in Christ, new potential is always around the corner.
PRAY: Thank you that “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! Great is Your faithfulness; Your mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lam 3:22-23). I accept your grace and begin today to believe in the good plans you have for me.”