Somewhere Down the Line
Rahab could have asked for anything.
But what she asked for instead saved her family, transformed her future bloodline, and helped to usher in God's plan of salvation for all. What would you do if you had the opportunity to ask for anything? Would you choose something to take for yourself or would you choose something that would give to others, even if that meant somewhere down the line?
Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn has been teaching about the testimony of Rahab and the victories God gave his people under Joshua. One of the recent messages he preached was called "Hold the line."
You see, in Joshua 2, Joshua sent two of his men out to survey the land. While they were there, the king found out and went after them. But as they stayed in the home of Rahab, she hid them and, eventually, guided them to a route of safety. Now, Rahab was a harlot. She was in the business of making money by any means necessary. She could have asked them for money or treasure, but instead, she asked for something much more valuable.
She asked that the lives of her family members be protected and delivered from death when Joshua and his men came to overtake the land. The servants of Joshua agreed to preserve her family and they made an oath with her that if she would hang a red line (scarlet chord) in the same window that she helped them escape from, they would ensure no harm came to all those who were within her household.
In Joshua 6, when Joshua and his men came to occupy the city of Jericho, it was utterly destroyed by them but they spared Rahab and her family as promised and got them out of harm's way.
It reads:
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.
25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn has been reminding us lately that faith comes by truly hearing and receiving the word and testimonies of God. And faith is what pleases God. It is obvious that Rahab heard and believed what was said about Joshua and his troop and she believed in the power of the God they served. Therefore, she honored the servants of Joshua and wanted to help God's people. She chose to help when the king could have killed or jailed her. And she chose to make an oath for the well-being of her family and those that would come after her when she could have asked for something monetary or temporal.
Hebrews 11:31 says: It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Later down the line in the Bible, we learn that Rahab must have left her old ways as a harlot and been transformed by the encounter and experience with Joshua's spies and his army. Her faith pleased God and, in fact, she became a part of the family of God. Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and intercessor, is a descendant of Rahab, who helped to save Joshua's men and interceded for them. Look at the highlight below in Matthew 1:2-16, and you will see that she is the mother of Boaz, and out of Boaz came Obed then Jesse, and then David, and the rest is history.
Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.
We have the opportunity to be like Rahab and realize that the decisions we make right now, and what we ask God now, can change generations and lead many to salvation. But the only way to do that is to choose not to be a taker.
It reminds me of Cain and Able. Cain's name meant to "get or acquire." And he was indeed all about himself and keeping for himself. He did not give God the best of his stock nor the best offering, and out of jealousy was angry with his brother Abel for his faithfulness. Cain took Able's life and became the first murderer instead of sacrificing and repenting to correct where he displeased God in his offering.
Able's name meant “vapor” or “breath" and that is how he lived before God. He seemed to count his life or what he possessed as meaningless without pleasing God. Like breath gives life, Able gave freely unto God before Cain killed him. But Cain's decisions and taker mentality had consequences down the line.
Genesis 4:
16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.
17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
You see, Cain chose not to do what was right and did not want to be a part of the family of God, so he left God's presence and he built himself a city. And it sure seems like Cain did not think about nor care about what would become of the next generation because of his choice. Some have praised Cain as the father of modern civilization because the attributes of the culture we know today are believed to have come from the innovations of Cain's city and his descendants. But as one commentator said "Cain initiated a new godless way of life" for his family and future generations. In the commentary of my Bible, it mentions how Cain's choices led to his descendants being the founders of polygamy and that from Cain's city and his bloodline came the development of weapons of war, more murder, civil disorder, robbery, worldly music and dance, licentiousness and the attempt to gain knowledge, skill, and blessing without God involved.
So, will we be like Rahab and turn from our ways unto God's ways and set our lineage towards service to the Lord, or will we be like Cain and turn away from God, follow our own ways and set our lineage towards destruction? Will we be like Rahab and esteem others before ourselves or will we be like Cain and only esteem ourselves? Will we be like Rahab and humble ourselves in the presence of God and his people or will be like Cain and decide that life without God is better?
Catch up on the most recent episodes of FORREAL Radio Broadcast with Chief Apostle Gunn below:
Thank you for the encouragement sis!
The last two blogs have been sobering additions...both have brought us back to the choices we make! Choose life or death...heaven or hell...Great job Apostle Kanya!! Continue to allow God to use you & if not now, somewhere down the line people are going to get free and curses will be broken!!!! Stay encouraged!!!!