Faith from an Unbelievable Source

By Words of Hope, Thursday, March 22, 2007

Read: Joshua 2:1-16

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Hebrews 11:31, niv)

I find the TV show Ripley's Believe It or Not fascinating. This show is a takeoff on Robert Ripley's famous cartoon collection of strange facts. Today the show travels the world in search of people doing the remarkable.

At first glance the story of Rahab might sound like something straight out of Ripley's archives. A prostitute is included with the great patriarchs like Moses and Abraham in the "Faith Hall of Fame"! Not only is her name listed in Hebrews 11; she is also included in Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. This woman's immoral lifestyle did not disqualify her from being used by God to hide the men who came to spy out Jericho and to aid them in their escape. Instead of following the orders of the local king to turn them in, she put her faith in the God of the Israelites. Consequently, she and her family were saved as Jericho was destroyed.

If you feel that your past failures eliminate you from being called a person of faith, let Rahab's story encourage you. God remembers anyone who puts their trust in him. Now, that is something that we can believe!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the example of Rahab in the Bible. Help her faith to inspire ours.

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