Back after the Annual meeting worship service when I did not preach.
Okay, the sermon title is a bit silly. I couldn't resist the title since Rahab literally lowers the Israelite spies out her window by a rope as they escape from Jericho.
I suppose I could have titled the sermon something like "Life and Death Decisions" to describe how Rahab makes a decision to save the spies because she has heard about what God has done. It saves the life of the spies; it saves her life and the family's life when the Israelites return to destroy Jericho; it saves her life in the spiritual sense that she has given herself over to God's ways.
Rahab gets mentioned three times in the New Testament: in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew (one of five women mentioned); Hebrews uses her as an example of how her faith saved her; James uses her as an example of how one's works save. The inclusion in the genealogy is fascinating, and what a conundrum that Hebrews and James use her on both sides of the argument about works vs. faith (admittedly, Paul is more at odds with James than the Letter to the Hebrews).
We also should not overlook that Israel is saved by the prostitute Rahab, which means God's people are saved by a woman (lower class than a man, right) and a prostitute (not quite a queen, right). What does that tell us? And the remember that her name is mentioned in the genealogy of the Son of God, and we have this interesting little play on power in the world.
Why did Rahab decide to join forces with the God's people?
I don't think I'm getting into it this sermon, but the fall of Jericho is one of those where God decrees total destruction. how do we process that? Some like the image of God who destroys all those who do not believe, but the coming of Christ seems to suggest God works a bit differently than that.
What appeals to you in the story of Rahab?
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