2018-09-09T08:00:00-05:00
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright (c)2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. http://www.esv.org
They are so much alike they are sometimes mistaken for twins. Everyone confuses them. And it's no wonder. They frequently travel together and even seem to make a point to show up at exactly the same time. Helplessness and hopelessness are nearly indistinguishable, and for the unredeemed, usually inseparable.
Like me, you have probably entertained both. You found yourself in some situation or relationship that seemed utterly futile, completely out of your control, and careening headlong toward despondency. Remember that? But that sense of utter helplessness didn't remain neutral. It wasn't sterile and contained. Pretty soon, the twin terror of loss of hope crept in. "Well, what's the use," we say, "nothing I do seems to make a bit of difference." And then we utter the mantra of our hopeless age, "Well, whatever!" We're undone by our helpless estate. Hope is gone.
But Hannah, Samuel's mom, knew the better way, the way of the redeemed. She traveled with helplessness, but knew that hopelessness mustn't join in the journey. And where did she go, this woman with deep faith and bone-crushing sadness? She went to God Almighty. She knew the eternal truth that rings throughout all of scripture. God is at work, always and everywhere. And for those who know Him, that work shines most brightly when we finally come to the end of ourselves.
Think of the stories! A man from Ur with a settled history and an extended family is told to leave all that and take off for who knows where. A young boy is sold into slavery by his own brothers. A petulant missionary finds himself in the belly of a fish, and an erudite Roman citizen sings praises chained to the floor of a filthy dungeon. The stories are legion, and the stories are true. They teach us again and again that our pernicious belief that we are in control is folly. They teach us to draw near to God.
Think of the disciples. They watched helplessly as their leader was accused, arrested, and led away to execution. There was nothing they could do. Then he breathed his last, and his lifeless, broken body was hurriedly hustled into a borrowed grave. Darkness was coming. Darkness had won. Helpless and hopeless, the fearful disciples hid out.
And then, in the central event of all of human history, the eternal torrent of hope washed over creation like a tidal wave. "He is alive!", they cried. Indeed, HE IS ALIVE. In Christ, there is "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow."
So when you hear yourself sighing, "Well, I've done all I can do, I guess there's nothing left but to pray", remember Hannah. Remember all the others. And remember that chained, helpless, hope-filled Rabbi who reminds us all.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10