Wednesday February 18, 2009 GOD IS THE GOD!
>From Shittim Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent out two men as spies. He told >them, "Go, look at that country, especially the city of Jericho." So they went to Jericho and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab to spend the night there. Before the spies fell asleep, Rahab went up to them on the roof. She said to them, "I know the LORD will give you this land. Your presence terrifies us. All the people in this country are deathly afraid of you. We've heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you when you left Egypt. We've also heard what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites, who ruled east of the Jordan River. We've heard how you destroyed them for the LORD. When we heard about it, we lost heart. There was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is the God of heaven and earth. Please swear by the LORD that you'll be as kind to my father's family as I've been to you. Also give me some proof that you'll protect my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and their households, and that you'll save us from death." The men promised her, "We pledge our lives for your lives. If you don't tell anyone what we're doing here, we'll treat you kindly and honestly when the LORD gives us this land." Joshua 2:1, 8-14 Rahab's confession was stunning. "The LORD your God is the God of heaven and earth." This pagan woman, a prostitute, heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea. She'd heard of Israel's victory over kings east of the Jordan. And she had drawn a simple conclusion - "The LORD your God is the God." What's even more striking is Rahab's report, "We've heard how you destroyed them for the LORD. When we heard about it, we lost heart. There was no courage left in any of us because of you." All the people of Jericho had the same information. And all of them drew Rahab's conclusion. "The LORD your God is the God." The major difference between Rahab and the other of Jericho is simple - faith; they decided to hold out anyway, while Rahab determined to commit herself to the God of the enemy. I suspect that many today who are not Believers share the conviction of the people of Jericho. They too know that "the LORD your God is the God." But somehow they remain aloof and determined to walk their own way. They erect walls, not of stone, but of good works, of excuses, of ridicule, of belief in evolution, or even in religious institutions, and desperately try to hide behind them. They know; but their head knowledge is a far cry from the heart knowledge of salvation. Rahab teaches us the difference between knowing God as an intellectual act and knowing God personally. What Rahab did was to act on her knowledge that "God is." Rahab was willing to commit herself completely to God, sure that otherwise she had no hope. How good to have made Rahab's choice. How good to have made our knowledge of God a stepping-stone to a decision to trust ourselves to Him. How good to know that we too are now safe. How might the story of Rahab help a friend or relative who knows, but hasn't yet chosen to trust God? Father, how marvelous and gracious You are! You and You alone cared enough about the soul of a lonely prostitute centuries ago and today You continue to care. We praise Your Holy name. Help us carry on what Joshua was called out to do. In Jesus' name, Amen O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
