My Sunday Skl

What’s the title? “God wants to use her? But she was a Harlot?”

It’s great to learn about God’s protection, but we’ve gotta remember the core message. See this isn’t about how to stay safe in Jericho. Nor is this about how God rewards those who follow His instructions.

It’s about how God can still work through people even when their past decisions may appear to disqualify them.

Oh no, He’s gonna call her a prostitute again.

Actually, Rahab was a Harlot. I’ve got to emphasise this because God does. We don’t read about “Moses the murderer” or “Abraham the Liar”, but we do see Rahab the Harlot – again and again.  Why? I think God wants us to know through her example that our past doesn’t have to determine our future.

I don’t know what your past is. I don’t know where you were 6 months ago, 12 months ago or even 5 years ago. I don’t know what you were thinking last night or what was the first thing you did this morning. I don’t know how many guys or girls’ lives were shaken simply by meeting you. I don’t know how many promises you’ve broken.

All I know is that the woman described as a Harlot is Joshua 2 is the same woman described as righteous in Hebrews 11.

You know the Hall of Fame. Well Rahab was inducted into the Hall of Faith. Her, Abraham, Moses and Sarah, doing up gang at the ceremony. We can’t forget Noah. Enoch and Abel. She didn’t have the same religious background as a lot of the others. Her career wasn’t as long and she stats may not have been as impressive. But when God called on her, she rose to the challenge and gave a Hall of fame (faith) performance.

You wanna know something that’s somewhat poetic. Rahab, after all of this, finally got her name back.

What do I mean?

So, Rahab still had a lot of life to live after the event of Jericho. She got married, had a kid. A kid who actually ended up being part of Jesus’ lineage.

Matthew 1:5-6 says,

⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

Check out the first line. Rahab…but no harlot, no prostitute, nothing. Rahab was not only restored from her past, but she even ended up as the great-great-grand-mother to King David. In the moment she had no idea where God was going to take her and use her, but she stepped in Faith, and her legacy was changed forever.

As He did with Rahab, He can do it with you too. God can start your life all over again. It’s easy to want to change, but it is hard to lose that reputation and title from your past. But God will take care of that. The man who was known for his anger issues, will be restored as one of the most loving and kind people out there. The woman known for gossiping and rumours will be remembered for her honesty and transparency through God.

Your past decisions don’t dictate your future. It is what you do now and who you put your faith in that will dictate the shape of your tomorrow.