Monday, January 25, 2010

aiding and abetting

Hebrews 11:31

The author stays in Jericho but turns the spotlight on Rahab. Looking back in the book of Joshua, I find Rahab's story interesting. She indicates that all the citizens had heard news about the nation of Israel and were living in fear of them for it was obvious that God was on their side. However, she is the only one who acts on that fear by suing for peace.
I'm actually struggling with this passage. Probably because I don't fully understand the act of faith that hiding the spies was. To me, Rahab's move seems logical: it's obvious God's hand is with the nation of Israel and her only hope of survival is to side with him and them. However, it can't have been such a logical move if she was the only one to make it. Also, it would have required a significant amount of faith to continue to live in Jericho, trusting the word of the spies, for the time between the spies' visit and the actual conquest of Jericho. I also wonder if she started to doubt when she saw the battle plan unfolding; who conquers a city by marching around it?
There is a similar situation today: God is obviously at work and has provided a way of salvation that seems really logical but also requires faith. Most people in this world aren't making the "logical" conclusion and turning their lives over to Christ. Even some who have grown up with the message and understanding of salvation begin to doubt in the time they wait for the fulfillment of their salvation and they turn away. This reminds me that as logical as my faith may seem to me, it is not really all that logical for it is based on being sure of things hoped for and certain of things unseen.

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