It Starts Small

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Scripture Reading:

• Hebrews 11:31
• Matthew 1:5

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³¹ By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Hebrews 11:31

Ponder a moment: How far can God’s grace reach?

Deep within our very souls, an intense yearning compels us to seek the answer to this profound question. Deep down, we crave that answer, for it holds the key to our longing. When we grasp this truth, we realize that we would never want to be “outside looking in” at the boundless grace of God. We forever desire to be enveloped in that divine embrace.

So how far can God’s grace reach?

The answer is powerfully clear: There is no distance on this earth that can hinder God’s incredible grace! No person, no place, and no predicament lies beyond His unwavering reach. Nothing you have ever done can push you out of His embrace. Nothing you will ever do can disqualify you from His boundless grace. You need not remain an outsider gazing in! If this seems like just a cliché, I assure you, this truth is alive. Followers of Christ are not merely parroting teachings. This reality is as tangible as flesh and blood. An inspiring example stands right before us in the story of Christ’s genealogy… Rehab!

We are first introduced to her in the captivating pages of Joshua. You may remember the awe-inspiring story of Jericho. This remarkable book narrates the powerful transition of God’s people, the Israelites. They move from their long, arduous wandering in the wilderness. It leads to the triumphant moment of claiming the promised land. It stands as a pivotal testament to faith and destiny. In an astonishing twist, Rahab becomes a critical player in God’s plan for His people. She leaves an indelible mark on their journey towards redemption.

There is a detail we cannot overlook. When it comes to this woman, there is no way to delicately say it. She was a prostitute. Not just that, but she was a Canaanite. She was part of a pagan society that God was about to judge through Israel’s conquest of Canaan. In a natural sense, she was the least kind of person. She was an unlikely candidate to receive, much less reflect, God’s grace that you could come up with. Right now in your mind, imagine that person who is the polar opposite of godliness. That’s Rehab.

Her chosen profession could not deter the Lord’s divine purpose. He poured out abundant grace upon her. She was saved from utter destruction. She placed her unwavering faith in the miraculous work of God through the nation of Israel. Her confidence was not in the crumbling city walls, but deeply anchored in the mighty hand of God at work. In an astonishing display of divine mercy, grace went beyond all expectations. It embraced a prostitute. It rescued her and granted her an invaluable place in the promised land.

⁸ Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof ⁹ and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. ¹⁰ For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. ¹¹ When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 

Joshua 2:8-11

News spread fast about this “mob” traveling in the wilderness. These people’s God had destroyed Egypt and parted the Red Sea for them to safely get away from the Pharoah’s army. This same God allowed them to destroy the Amorite kings before crossing the Jordan. Then, they watched with their own eyes as this same God pushed the waters back of the Jordan and this “mob” crossed over.

Imagine the sheer gravity of that moment! The heart-stopping news spread through the air. The once-mighty Egypt—the greatest city of its time—had been utterly decimated. The plagues were unleashed by the God of Israel! Picture the awe of their deliverance as the Red Sea miraculously parted before them, a testament to divine power. Skeptics may have dismissed it as mere exaggeration or a fanciful tale… until that fateful day they witnessed the “mob” gather at the river. Picture it clearly: these brave souls had just vanquished the formidable Amorite kings. With fierce determination, they stood ready to cross the Jordan. They were only a stone’s throw away from the imposing walls of Jericho!

Most of the city probably stood that day on those towering “impenetrable” walls. They were filled with arrogance and contempt. The Jordan River swelled to its maddening peak. They reveled in anticipation. They were eager to witness the tragic spectacle of humanity succumbing to the wrath of nature. Men, women, and children alike were swept away in the merciless flood. Little did they realize that they mocked the very God ready to perform a breathtaking miracle. He would push back the waters and create a miraculous path for His people. Picture the scene unfolding before your eyes. It was not merely a handful of souls with a few cattle. No, it was an entire nation crossing triumphantly on dry ground! It wasn’t a fleeting moment. It unfolded throughout an entire day. Not a single life was lost. No soul was soaked in the murky waters. As soon as the priests bearing the sacred ark emerged from the river’s depths, God withdrew His mighty hand. Then the river resumed its furious flow.

Let us dive into the incredible story of Rehab! While we may not know for certain if she witnessed the miraculous events with her own eyes but imagine her lowering the spies from her window, a bold move that defied her world! From that sam window she witnessed from her own eyes, the power of the Lord God Almighty. Yet, it was something deeper, something profound about the testimony of this Almighty God that gripped her heart with undeniable fervor. A Canaanite pagan, she had been raised amidst the worship of false deities—gods of crops, fertility, and weather, each more hollow than the last. She had seen the horrors of animal and child sacrifices, a bleak reality devoid of hope. But here, in this moment, she recognized the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth! While others trembled with fear, she was struck with the exhilarating realization that this God was her salvation. Her faith ignited a fire within her; she believed that this God would not only spare her but also rescue her entire family from the impending wrath and judgment.

In the Jewish mindset, pedigree held monumental significance—your lineage defined your worth. The nobler your ancestors, the more radiant the glory that enveloped you. Yet, in a stunning twist, we encounter Jesus, the beloved friend of sinners. The remarkable story of Rehab unfolds within the grand narrative of redemption and salvation. Were it not for the divine truth revealed in scripture, such an incredible tale might seem too audacious to believe!

⁵ Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse,

Matthew 1:5

God could have selected anyone, from any place, to be part of the Savior’s lineage. Yet, in His boundless grace, He chose someone defined by sin and shame! This was no mere coincidence; nothing God does is! He chose Rahab to remind all of humanity that NO ONE is beyond the reach of HIS GRACE! Christ came to stand in solidarity with sinners—people like Rahab, people like you, and people like me!

Remember this when you find yourself vulnerable to the whispers that you are beyond the hand of grace! Reflect on Rahab’s astonishing inclusion in the greatest story ever told! Take heart in the truth that her place in Christ’s lineage is powerful. It illustrates that you will never have to stand on the outside looking in!

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