Whose Side Are We On - Part 2

 Today let's look at the other side.  How do the Canaanites feel with this strange group of nomads coming at them from the desert?  Here is where the story of Rahab comes in.  (Joshua 2)

Joshua sends in some spies to check out the land.  He had to be a little concerned about this since 40 years prior to this Moses sent him (Joshua) and 11 other spies and only he and Caleb came back saying God will go with us if He wants us to possess the land.  While the other 10 were scared out of their wits telling everyone, NO, we can't conquer them they have walled cities and they are giants compared to us, etc. etc.

Well, Joshua takes the risk and in go two spies checking out the city of Jericho.  It tells us in Joshua 2:1 he sent them in secretly.  Humm.. I wonder if that was because he didn't want all the Israelites to know and try to interrogate them when they returned.  (that's only a guess by me) ;)

Ok now where do the spies go?  I think they were trying to enter unnoticed and picked a prostitute's house to look like they were normal male visitors passing through.  My footnotes said it was most likely an Inn where the spies could get information that was run by Rahab.  I do think it is interesting that the spies are not named in the story except where they from, Shittim.  I read some notes on this and it seems to be a spot where Israel fell into the sin that Rahab later abandons.  

I just love everything about Rahab.  She doesn't seem to mess around.  She knew all the stories of how Israel's God had saved Israel from Egypt when parting the Red Sea as well as conquered the kings Sihon and Og of the Amorites.  She knew her own people were not afraid of the Israelites who were rather rag tag looking after wandering in the desert 40 years.  No, they were afraid of Israel's God!  

Time to make a deal with these guys from Israel, thought Rahab.  My life for yours.  It didn't seem to take the king of Jericho long to figure out Israel had spies in his land and that they were at Rahab's house.  You think God had a plan to save Rahab from the beginning?  She makes a deal and hides the spies.  They agree but they tell her the only way she and anyone in her family can be saved is if they remain in her house.  She must tie a scarlet cord in the window she helped the spies escape from.  The crazy part of this story to me is her house is part of the city wall.  (Joshua 2:15)  Yes, now how in the world does her house stay standing when the walls of Jericho come down?  Obviously with God's help and purpose.  

My favorite part of this story is the fact that after she was saved (Joshua 6:25) she was spared because she hid the spies.  This chapter tells us she stayed and lived among the Israelites.  She did not need to, as that wasn't part of the agreement to save her.  No, it was her choice to stay and worship Israel's God. How do I know this?  Well, check out Matthew 1:5, Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus!  She not only stayed but followed God so beautifully that she was chosen to be able to marry in the godly line of King David and therefore Jesus Himself.  She would not be there had she not become a child of God.  

This shows me that God does not take sides but wants all to come to Him.  2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, (of returning - His 2nd coming) as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God loves all people, but as Rahab, we have to choose who we will follow.  Whose side are we on?  In this day and age is it important to choose Jesus who wants to give us life so we can have it to the full? (John 10:10)

To be continued.....

Whose Side Are You On?

I was asked to do a devotion for my granddaughter's bridal shower this past weekend and I enjoyed thinking over what I should speak about.  The Word of God, to me, is filled with a myriad of ideas for married couples but I felt the Lord giving me the thought of "whose side are you on?".  This thought just wouldn't leave and the Bible story of Joshua kept coming to mind.

If you are familiar with the story of Joshua you know God made him leader of the Israelites after Moses'  time was up.  This is where the book of Joshua begins.  Joshua must lead the group of Israelites into the promised land - a  very large group of people who have wandered in the desert for 40 years.  They were totally dependent on God in the wilderness for food - manna came daily in the form of rain - water came from rocks or wherever God chose to give it.  Their clothes did not wear out.  Now here they are at the door of the land God promised.

There is so much to explore in the details of this story so I might just write a mini series.  Whether you want to read it or not is up to you.  I felt it helped me to ponder these thoughts myself because of the season we are all living through.  The pandemic, the political uncertainties and differences, the ideas of who is right about how we treat each other, the weather has been wild in many places as well.  As you know there is a lot going on and it is my habit to look to God's Word and see what way he wants me to face each day in the places he asks me to walk.  For those of you who wonder, I am doing well with God as my strength being a widow a third time.

Well back to Joshua, he has already done everything God told him to do when He said it is time to enter the promised land.  It involved some things I will write about in my next blog.  This time we will jump ahead a bit.  Joshua 5:13-15 speaks of an encounter Joshua has.  He was near Jericho and I am quite sure he was alone, probably praying and reassuring himself that God would be with him and wondered if he needed to know anything more.  Just then a man appears holding a drawn sword!  Joshua (I suspect little nervous) and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" Or another way to put it "Whose side are you on?" A reasonable question I think and maybe all that came to his mind at the moment!  Ha!

The crazy answer he received was, "Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."  

The first time I noticed this I was like "SayWhat??"  I thought these were the Israelites - God's people. Wasn't God on their side?? But let's continue.....

That made Joshua do a face-plant on the ground and ask, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"  Joshua doesn't seem to worry about the who's side thing.

His answer?  "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."  And Joshua did so.

I just want to take a minute with the who's side thing.  I think we often want people (and God) to favor us and be on our side.  God doesn't work the way we expect; ever.  Nope, he never takes sides, but he is always in control.  Today all He wants from us is our faith in Him and trusting Him with our lives and hearts.  He has a promised land for us, but it will never be gained our way, fighting over who is right, or who's side we are on.  

The Bible teaches us to serve as Jesus did.  Yes, He gave up everything that we may have life.  God always does what we least expect.  John 3:16 simply says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  

In marriage, my granddaughter is soon going to be a wife, she will need to learn to serve and love her man as God loves her and not fight about who is right.  We all know that we can't give each other too much love and consideration.  The home life is filled with peace when there is love, God's love pouring from our hearts.  May we all give more love and complain less as we muddle through this difficult time.....

To be continued......