And they went, and came into a harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. | ||
| Joshua 2:1 (b) | ||
| Although the Hebrew word translated “harlot” can also refer to a female innkeeper, each time Rahab’s name appears in the New Testament, it is in conjunction with a word in Greek that can only be translated “harlot.” Why did these men go into a harlot’s house? Most likely it was because, as enemies in the gated city of Jericho, Rahab’s house was the only place they could hide in anonymity. In Hebrews 11, a small number of people are singled out as heroes in God’s “hall of faith.” Isaiah didn’t make it. Jeremiah didn’t make it. Daniel didn’t make it. Elisha didn’t make it. But one who did make it into the hall of faith was Rahab the prostitute. Rahab’s name appears again in James 2 as an example of what it means to have faith that is real. But the most important place Rahab’s name appears is in Matthew 1, as she takes her place with only three other women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. How could it be that Rahab would be exalted to this position? In 2 Corinthians 5, we read that every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ - not to be judged for our sin because our sin was washed away by the blood Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary - but to be rewarded for what we’ve done. In 1 Corinthians 3, we read that all of our works will be tried by fire wherein the wood, hay, and stubble - that which was done with mixed motives and carnality - will burn away, leaving only gold, silver, and precious stones. Revelation 1 describes Jesus as One whose eyes are like a burning fire. Therefore, I believe it is as He looks on us that all the stuff that’s polluted and defiled by mixed motives and carnality will evaporate and disappear. What will be left? Based on the story of Rahab, I suggest what’s left will be a lot more than you think. You see, in Jeremiah 15, the Lord said, “Jeremiah, you will be My spokesman if you can extract the valuable from the vile.” We tend to notice only the vile. Not so the Lord. He does the opposite. He pokes around in the pile of our rubble and stubble and finds the jewels. We would call Rahab a harlot and a liar. Not God. Simply because she believed in Him, He calls her a hero. We have a tendency to listen to Satan who perches on our shoulder, saying, “You’re not going to be rewarded for that. Your motive wasn’t pure. Your thoughts weren’t right. Your attitude was amiss.” But God would say, “I specialize in extracting the precious from the vile. Oh, I know there’s all kinds of weakness even in your best deeds and ministry. But I will find the gold, silver, and precious stones others don’t see - even in your simply giving a cup of cold water in My name” (see Matthew 10:42). Pastor Jon Courson | ||
