You Are Not Insignificant

There are many people walking in the earth who have been physically, verbally, emotionally, mentally and sexually violated.  These offenses have left them in a state of brokenness, feeling wounded and in a state of down.  The truth of the matter is the devil meant it for their demise, but God can turn it around for their good.  Our heavenly Father knew you before you were even formed in the womb of your mother; way before your mother and father were born; even before their father's father and mother's mother were born, "GOD KNEW YOU!  God is well acquainted with you for He created you and "YOU ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT!"

Let's take a look at the story of Rahab.  Everyone has come to know her as a prostitute, someone who most will look upon as INSIGNIFICANT.  It is one where Joshua the son of Nun was appointed leader of the Israelites shortly after the death of Moses.  Joshua along with Caleb about forty years prior to this, had accompanied a group of men who were sent to spy out a land being urged to siege it.  Joshua now being the leader sent our two spies to Jericho to investigate their secrets.  Jericho was a city fortified by walls that were 12 to 15 feet apart and were so considerable that houses were built on them which made them most distinquished.  In their quest, they found their way to Rahab's house, a harlot, a prostitute.  She was a resident in one of these houses.

Let's explore some questions that one may ponder...

1.  WHY WOULD THE HOUSE OF A PROSTITUTE BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THE
     SPIES TO GO WHEN THEY ENTERED THE CITY?

It was very common in the days of Joshua to build houses on town walls.  These houses were built with wooden logs and laid across the top of these walls.  It is believed that this is the type of house that Rahab resided in with a window that looked out of the city itself but also of the area outside of these protective walls.  She probably had a view not only of the city itself, but also of the area outside of these protective walls which proved to be most beneficial to the spies as providing an ideal location for quick escape.  This view also gave her the perfect advantage point for spotting potential customers because she entertained locals and welcomed guests from various caravans whose routes crisscrossed Jericho.

Men from all over the East brought a noise about a particular group of people encamped east of the Jordan known as the Israelites.  She had heard the marvelous stories about the exploits of the great God of the Israelites; how He had dried up the Red Sea so they could escape their Egyptian slave masters; how He had given them victory in the battle against Sihon and Og; (the two kings of the Amorites)  How for forty years the God of the Israelites had trained and toughen them in the desert.

Perhaps the good Lord Himself led the Israelites spies directly to Rahab's house because He knew she would be receptive to them by opening her heart to the God she had heard about through the marvelous stories of His mighty acts.

2.  WAS RAHAB JUSTIFIED IN LYING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE ISRAELITE
     SPIES?

We know that lying is a sin and the Word of God does not condone this act nor does it speak negatively about it.  Rahab was deceiving the enemy, a normal and acceptable practice in those wartimes; Rahab not being a Jew could not be held responsible for keeping the moral law; she broke a lesser principle--telling the truth----to uphold a higher principle in protecting God's people.  Rahab was both clever and wise.  She knew judgment was inevitable and was able to implement a plan of escape for the spies as well as provide protection for her and her family.

SUMMARY

Rahab was a prostitute living in the middle of an idolatrous and heathen people.  Her story clearly illustrates how God's grace accepts those who we may look upon as having no value, not being of any importance or to make it plain and simple, INSIGNIFICANT...
It reveals God's willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcast, who we may see as unsuitable to accomplish His Holy purpose.

She found joy in the God of the people of promise because He had given her, an idolater, a prostitute a chance to know Him and to belong to His  people.  Her victory was in her faith that saved her and her entire household from the terrible death that was decreed for her city.

Rahab is the only woman singled out by name and commended for her faith as part of the great "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in the Book of Hebrews.

IN CLOSING

God does not wait for us to become spotlessly clean or totally mature in our faith in order to use us.  Instead, He takes ordinary, willing people and accomplishes the extraordinary, both in their lives and in the lives of those around them.  God chose a stutterer name Moses to speak for Him; a weakling name Gideon to defend Him; an infertile woman named Sarah to be a mother of a nation; a ruddy younger son name David to become the most unforgettable King of Israel; an unknown virgin name Mary to become the mother of His Son Jesus; and a persecutor of Christians name Paul to take the gospel to nations.  If God can take a prostitute and use her for His glory as He did Rahab, just think of what He can use you for.

Please remember, YOU ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT...