"The woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, two men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they’d come from. At dark, when the gate was about to be shut, the men left. But I have no idea where they went. Hurry up! Chase them—you can still catch them!” (She had actually taken them up on the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax that were spread out for her on the roof.) So the men set chase down the Jordan road toward the fords. As soon as they were gone, the gate was shut. Before the spies were down for the night, the woman came up to them on the roof and said, “I know that God has given you the land. We’re all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and God, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below. “Now promise me by God. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters—everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death!”
I just finished reading a fictional book on the life story of Rahab. While it is not all accurate (not recorded in scripture) it gave me great insight into what her life might have been like.
She trusted a God she had never known, never seen, never understood. She was set apart by Him to be a part of a miracle, even when her life didn't reflect what the world would say could be used as such. She let the borders of her trust be torn down and it opened up limitless space for God to love her.
A life that was full of every fault in the world, even though she lived in a wretched, sinful place - she was still considered "one of those people." Yet, God prepared her heart for things unknown to her, and she didn't understand those things until she was obedient to His spirit in her. God used a lost child of his to bring victory to a whole nation that did know Him. That's His heart.
As I was praying through what the Lord taught me through the scripture, and what insight I was given into her life, I thought of the song "Oceans." It is a pure picture of her life. How faithful she was, even in her faults. When I think I have reached a place of intimacy with the Lord, I am quickly reminded there is so much more to the depths of the Fathers heart, and I am no where close.
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine
love this Jamie
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