Have you ever had that moment when you thought you were seeing one thing and it turned out to be something else altogether?  I’m sure that the two spies Joshua sent to scout out Jericho didn’t think much at first of the prostitute named Rahab.  But, due to their circumstances they found themselves staying at her house.  They probably didn’t think that a prostitute would be much help to them or to the Israelites.  According to their laws, they were most likely quite repulsed by her and her “occupation”. 

But, the two spies were about to learn that they couldn’t judge a book by its cover.  Can you imagine their surprise when Rahab said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt…for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:9-11)

The spies had to be thinking how did this prostitute from Jericho know about our God?  She speaks as if He is her God also!  You know the rest of the story.  The spies save Rahab and all of her household when the Israelites destroy the city.  As a matter of fact, her family is the only family spared in all of the city!

Who is the Rahab in your life?  Who is it that you have already judged, categorized, and dismissed as not important in your life?  I know I am guilty of devaluing the lives of some that I have judged.  Who am I to judge them?  Am I any better?  Am I not a sinner just like them?  I am guilty of thinking my sins aren’t as “bad” as theirs. 

Lord, I pray that you would heal our hearts and minds.  I pray that we would see those around us as Jesus sees them.  Wow, wouldn’t we be surprised if we saw people as Jesus does?! 

Rahab was later named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and is listed in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews chapter eleven.  And the Pharisees–who were supposed to be the teachers of the faith–are called by Jesus “sons of hell” (Matthew 23:15).

This week, our challenge is to identify a person–they could be someone you know or don’t know–that you normally don’t associate with and try to start a conversation.  Is this radical?  Perhaps.  Is this what Jesus did?  You bet! (See the Gospels for many examples!)

Let’s see what happens!

More to come…

Jeremy