In our Joshua passage we see a principle that runs right through the Bible, and into our lives as well. God saves us by His grace, and He does 100%. But He also expects us to do our 100%. We don't get to just sit back and watch God do all the work. He does 100% and we give 100%. (Reminds me of the secret to a happy marriage - both couples giving 100%, not each giving 50%).
Joshua still had to prepare and fight battles, just as we have to prepare and fight battles spiritually.
It's important to note that Israel's conquest of Canaan wasn't again innocent people. This was God's judgment on an evil people - and He gave them six centuries to repent!
And then we see something beautiful. In the midst of this judgment, a Canaanite woman comes to repentance.
Dr Rayburn says....
Canaan is a type or embodied prophesy of heaven. Rahab is the proof that those who enter heaven do so not because of their ethnic or national identity, not because they find themselves in the right place at the right time, and certainly not because they are better than others... People got a place in the Promised Land only because they trusted in the Lord and confessed him as Lord.
We see this in the story of Rahab, and it gives hope to everyone, that they too can be saved. In fact, not only was Rahab saved, but she became a hero of Israel's history and an ancestress of the King of Kings!
In the face of coming judgment, Rahab turned to the only God powerful enough to save her.
The same reality was bearing down on everyone else in Jericho but the light bulb went on only in Rahab’s mind and heart. And then she took action. And what was that action? And what was that action? She confessed Jesus, Yahweh, as Lord and God; confessed his name and acted accordingly. That’s what Israel is going to have to do: confess Yahweh’s name and act accordingly. That’s what you and I have to do every day we live: confess the Lord’s name and act accordingly. That is the lesson of Rahab and that is why her story was told.
There is, as we see in our NT passage, a cost of discipleship. But when you count the cost, you will find it worth the price!
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Joshua 4-6; Luke 15:1-10
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9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Wise words.
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