04-03-20

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 3, 2020
Scripture: Joshua 2:3-6
Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.” But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.” She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.

Thought for the Day: Rahab is the second woman of strength and grace that I want to reflect on this week. Now what makes this a bit challenging is that Rahab lied. It is always dangerous to suggest that doing something wrong can actually do something good. It does happen, but I have a concern about opening that door too wide. With that said, women throughout history have required a bit more creativity and wisdom to navigate the patriarchal structures of society. Often the rules did not apply to them, and the rules given to them by society would often change without warning. Yet Rahab’s motives were pure, for she later (vs.11) offered an explanation to the Israelite spies that she hid. She said, “We heard this and our hearts turned to water. Because of you, people can no longer work up their courage. This is because the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.” Word had come to Rahab about what God had done for the Israelites and with the Israelites. The story she heard was so compelling that doing nothing was not an option. She not only saved the lives of two individuals through her quick and creative response, but she also participated in the movement of God in the world. What does it say about an individual who knows nothing about this God of the Hebrew people one day, and then after hearing a story was so moved as to put her own life on the line for complete strangers? There must have been within her a unique spiritual availability that made accommodations for this new and life-giving understanding of the divine. To be that available, and then to act upon it with grace and sacrifice, is really quite amazing. It’s interesting, Rahab heard the story of God liberating the enslaved Israelites, and then she did the very same thing – just on a slightly smaller scale.

Prayer: Whenever my take on you, O God, is skewed and off base, I ask for the spiritual openness of Rahab. Allow me to see you so clearly that my life reflects what I have seen in you. Amen.

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