The Faith Dare
Joshua 2:1, 6, 8-15; 6:22-23
As believers, we talk a lot about faith, but do we really comprehend the depth of faith? It is easy to express our faith in words, but it is sometimes difficult to express our faith in actions.
Joshua had called on the lsraelites to prepare to enter the Promised Land. As they prepared, Joshua also prepared. He sent two spies to scout the land, especially the heavily fortified city of Jericho.
They went to the house of Rahab, a prostitute, where she hid them on the roof. When the king’s delegation came and demanded she turn the men over to them, she sent them on a wild goose chase.
That night she made a deal with the spies. Rahab confessed her belief that lsrael’s God was the true God. She had heard of the mighty works the Lord had done for the lsraelites and the victories He had given them since they had escaped from Egypt. She acknowledged that she believed the Lord had given the land of Canaan to the lsraelites and admitted that the people of Canaan were terrified. In exchange for her protection, she requested safety for herself and her family when they conquered Jericho.
The spies agreed to save her and her family from destruction, if she did not report their mission. Rahab turned her back on Jericho and accepted the God of lsrael. This was an act of faith. In another act of faith, she helped the men to escape from her window and advised them to turn west toward the hills. In another act of faith she hung a scarlet cord in the window to identify her location. They told her that if she gave them away, the agreement would be broken.
In an act of faith, Joshua led the lsraelites into Canaan by a miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. Later, an angel of the Lord went to Joshua and laid out the plan to conquer Jericho. In a bold and courageous act of faith, Joshua followed the Lord’s plan and destroyed Jericho.
The spies went to the prostitute’s house and saved her and her family. Rahab and her family were integrated into the covenant community, and she was in the lineage of King David and the Lord Jesus Christ.
What a great reward for her faith. Rahab boldly put her faith and trust in the God of lsrael – and she put her faith into action as she protected the spies, helped them escape, and trusted their promise to save her and her family.
Dare to courageously put your faith into action. The Lord has a plan for everyone and we will only accomplish His plan as we boldly put our faith into action.
Johnston– Lessons in the ETB series for the summer quarter are being written by Virginia Johnston, a member of First Baptist Church, North Charleston, where her husband Dan is pastor.