Believers Used and Protected by God

Text: Joshua 2 Theme: God raises up believers, uses them for His mission and protects them through his promises. Key verses: “So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.” (v. 1b) “The king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men…” (v. 3a) “…the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.” “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below…please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have sworn kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that will spare…us from death.” (v. 11b-13) “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down and unless you have brought…all your family into your house.” (v. 17-18) “Then the two men started back…and came to Joshua…and told him everything that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, ‘The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands…” (v. 23-24) What God said to me: Son, my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts and plans much greater than man will ever comprehend. Question: How did those men come to enter a former prostitute’s house for refuge? Why such an ignoble choice of people to be protect them? The answer is simple: Rahab’s faith was famous in heaven. She belonged to me and I raised her up. There is no other explanation. Furthermore, she single-handedly gave a window of assurance to Joshua through her helping the spies. And do I ever forget about those who trust in me? Do I fail to protect those are under my promise of care? My servant, Rahab, faithfully hung a simple scarlet cord in a window and thus saved her entire household from destruction. Dwayne, when you trusted my Son as your Savior, you hung a scarlet cord in your heart. His blood now protects you from destruction. That cord of salvation and redemption from your sin is my reminder never to let you go, never to leave you, never to destroy you, and always to protect and guide you. You are my forever child, my modern-day Rahab, totally undeserving of my love, voted least likely to be in heaven by the enemies of darkness. Your faith has made you free. I will use you in ways beyond your very imagination. And, yes, I will be with you until the end and beyond. What I said to God: Thank you, my precious Father and Master, for speaking so clearly to me on this anniversary of my birth. This world is not my home. I am just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. I trust You emphatically. I am startled by Your everlasting kindness and mercy toward me. May the scartlet cord of Your Son’s blood hang not only in my heart, but also in the hearts and lives of my sons and future grandchildren’s. Praise for the blood of Christ! Praise You for the promise of life!