Rahab, One of Four Women Mentioned in Jesus’s Genealogy

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            Last month we learned a little more about the story of Tamar, the first woman mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. This month I want us to meet Rahab. In fact, she is most often referred to as “Rahab the Harlot.” Can you imagine going through life having attached to your name the worst sin or character flaw you may exhibit? Jill the gossip, Jill the liar, Jill the
abortionist. Put your own name there and see how
it would feel to be so represented. Her story begins in Joshua 2, a book of the Old Testament. Her house was located in the outer city wall of Jericho and she was an innkeeper there. Archeological discoveries make it pretty clear that prostitution was common in

drinking establishments and inns. In fact, the two professions were so closely related, to call one an innkeeper insinuated that sex would be offered as a service. Since she was in a position to lodge guests, it was natural for Joshua’s spies to go to her place of business. We are told that most everyone knew about the miraculous events of the wandering nation of Israel and the power of their God, Jehovah. They told her about their mission as spies for the Hebrew people and she courageously hid them from the Jericho authorities who were on the lookout for them.

            Who knows why Rahab was so willing to trust the Hebrews? Perhaps she was heartsick of the life she was living, feeling worthless and without value. Whatever her motive, she put her fears aside and by faith accepted the word of the Hebrew spies to protect her life if she protected theirs. But it wasn’t only her life that she bargained for. She might have simply been concerned for her own safety, but her agreement was that she and her entire family would be saved. She had heard of the deeds of their great God and she put her faith and trust in Him. God enabled her to be successful in concealing them and she was rewarded by being saved from death when the Israelitesdestroyed Jericho. In fact, she and her family were the only ones to escape death when the walls of Jericho fell down. (Joshua 6:17-25)

She went to live among the Jewish people, accepting their God as her own, married an Israelite by the name of Salmon and produced a son, Boaz, who became the husband of Ruth and they became the grandparents of King David. Now, if you’re keeping track, that would make Rahab the great-great grandmother of King David, whom we know to be in the lineage of Christ the Messiah.

For her strong faith in God and her courage in protecting the men of God, Rahab along with Sarah, Abraham’s wife, are listed in the Who’s Who of people of faith in the Bible.(Hebrews 11:31) In the book of James, Rahab is used as an example of how someone can be transformed by a living faith in God and produce good works. It matters not what your past looks like, God’s grace is able to totally change you into a woman of sterling character and make you His child. That is even better than being in his lineage. There are lessons here for each of us women. God’s love reaches deep into the recesses of our lives, regardless of what lies there, and offers us transformation and a purpose for living. As someone put it, “If a common harlot of Canaan could become an uncommon saint of faith and courage and receive the privilege of motherhood in the line of Jesus Christ, then surely nothing is impossible with God.”

Actually, God shows His great mercy and power through human weaknesses. That should be encouraging and freeing for each of us. Each of us comes to him with broken places in our lives, carrying more baggage than we’d like to admit, and yet, Jesus welcomes us with open arms into his family. But, he does more than that. He transforms us into His image, which is one of perfection and love.

            Pastor Tim Dilena reminds us that the only way the past lets go of us is when it is confronted with a future in Jesus. “When you are connected to Jesus, the future is bigger and greater than your past.” So, just like Rahab of old, no matter what characterized your past, give it to Jesus and let him give you a future filled with joy, purpose and hope.

            Pastor Tim further reminds us that if time heals all wounds, then we wouldn’t need Jesus. You, as widows, have had a past marked by mistakes, sins, disappointments, and grief,  deep grief. Even the good times have often been overshadowed by some of the negatives. Perhaps even now, your grief and disappointments weigh you down. Your best efforts, your attempts at maintaining a balance in your life just aren’t working. Let me assure you that Jesus’s love for you transcendsall of your own efforts, even when coupled with the attempts by others to bring joy and fulfillment back into your life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.” Now, that’s real living. Can you imagine Rahab’s absolute joy to be accepted into the Jewish community, marry a good Jewish follower of God and conceive a son and become a normal mother in the neighborhood?

            You, too, can experience a renewed hope in living when you make Jesus the Lord of your life. Remember, God does not measure us by the sins of our past; it was Rahab’s choices that entered her into such high standing in the Bible and brought her into the lineage of Jesus Christ as well as the Honor Roll of Faith in Hebrews 11. Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to be women with perfect backgrounds to be used by God significantly? We just need to give our lives to Christ wholeheartedly, with integrity and we will find ourselves, much like Rahab, used of God to influence our families and our communities for eternity.

You say, where can I find that trust? By giving your life to Christ. Here's how:

Admit - your sins have separaated you from God. (Psa 14:1-3; Rom 3:23)

Believe - that God did something about your sins through Jesus Christ. (The final Pascal Lamb/Messiah.) (Lev 17:10; Heb 9:19-22);

Commit - yourself to His righteous by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Isa 53:5; Col 1:22): 

Do it today!  (Isa 49:8; 2Cor 6:2). 

Pray:  Father in Heaven, I'm sorry for the things I've done that are wrong: I am a sinner; forgive me.  Thank You for loving me and sending your Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for my sin. Holy Spirit, come into my heart; Jesus be my Lord and Savior. I give You my life.   Amen

Message by Shari Hervold

                                    

                                          Music by Don Moen

 

                                                                                               

 

Four Women Menioned in Matthew's Genealogy of Jesus - TAMAR

  

It always makes it more meaningful to a story to understand its setting, what came before to influence the story line and where and when the story takes place. One’s genealogy helps to do that for an individual. Today there is great interest in one’s genealogy, learning from where one’s ancestors hailed and...

Mary, Did You Know?

 

Mark Lowry wrote a song a few years back that quickly became a holiday favorite entitled, Mary, Did You Know? It questions whether Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew the true essence of who Jesus really

was as the Son of God. Did she really know the extent of what she was saying when she told Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be unto me according to  your word,” (Luke 1;38 EV)? Regardless of our speculations about Mary’s foreknowledge, the question remains: What enabled her to endure in quiet humility his cruel and unfair treatment,   especially by the church leaders of the day? It is the same strength that will keep you strong when life throws you “curve balls” that seek to undo you. Mary’s absolute trust in her Heavenly Father was unshakeable and she knew that His ultimate purpose would prevail. His word was his bond.

            In this life we will experience pain, sickness, death, poverty, childlessness, unwanted pregnancies, disappointments with children, financial reversals and other unpleasant occurrences, all of which are part of the human experience. John 16:33 reminds us, “In this world you will have tribulation.” So, what should a Christian woman’s response be to all of these vicissitudes of life?

 Let’s look back again to the response of Mary to the announcement of Gabriel. Without consideration to what it would personally cost her, she could say with full assurance in her heavenly Father, “May it be unto me according to your word.” In other words, may everything you have said come true. Mary was able to ponder each incident in her life with full assurance in the words of God. When Jesus made the announcement that we would have troubles in this life, He knew that it would not be received well. Who wants to be assured that bad times will definitely come? But then He delivers the good news, “But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33 MEV). We, like Mary, must believe the words of Christ and have a calm assurance that he is in control no matter what comes our way. Our faith must be rooted in our risen Savior who is the ultimate overcomer.

            As women we identify with the mothering aspect of Mary’s role in Jesus’s live. We can feel her humiliation at being considered an immoral young woman, we feel her hurt as her child is mistreated by the neighborhood kids for being a “bastard,” we share her pride when he becomes a rabbi, we understand her confusion over some of his teachings and activities, we weep with her as he is brutally beaten and crucified, and rejoice with her at his resurrection. Then, she learns that he is going to return to his heavenly home, his true home. But, we don’t read of any disappointment from Mary over this because by this time she had come to realize that she was simply a vessel chosen by God to be a part of a plan for mankind much larger than she. Living out her reply to Gabriel had by now become second nature to her. She willingly waited with the others in the Upper Room for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and, upon reflection could see how God’s plan was coming to pass. We must do the same, becoming stronger in our faith with each tribulation – no matter the form it takes – and someday we, too, will reflect on our lives and see the hand of God in it all.

            As we experience the joy of the wonderful Christmas season and look forward to the new year, we are faced with a question concerning our own lives: Do we know what lies ahead for us? We only know what Jesus told us. We know that in addition to good times, we can expect some tribulation. Perhaps for some it will be sickness, other may face financial reversals, some may make a major move with a change in lifestyle, and others may experience the death of a loved one. But one fact remains, only God knows what lies ahead for each of us and, if we want to experience true peace of heart and mind, we must remain firm in our faith and trust in Jesus and His Word. Then and only then can we say as Mary did, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be unto me according to your Word.” Have a blessed and joyous Christmas!

Message by Shari Hervold

 "Mary Did You Know"  by Mark Lowry

 

                                     

                                              

A Question from the Widow of Zarephath

 

  It will come as no surprise to you when I say that widowhood doesn’t hit every woman the same way. Some of you, in addition to dealing with the loss of your husband, your shared companionship, your chauffer, your escort to events of all kinds, you have suffered the loss of income.  What you ladies are experiencing isn’t the “one size fits all,” even though you have many feelings and experiences in common. No matter where you are in the grieving process or the circumstances of your widowhood, you are all asking or have asked the question, “What next, Lord?” God’s Word has the answer to that question. We are going to look at the situation of a widow in the land of Zarephath to see how God answered that question in her life.    

The story of the widow of Zarephath, (her name was never given to us) is recorded in I Kings 17:8-18. Let me summarize the story for you. The setting for the story is Zarephath,