Deity in the Details

"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." Hebrews 11:30-31   The Right Stuff Have you ever felt like your stuff wasn't quite right, or people just looked at you with a crooked eyebrow or an upturned nose. There were many folks in the Bible that the world saw in one way, but God saw them and used them in a very different way. One of those individuals was Rahab, the harlot. The Bible's only real descriptor of Rahab is one that tells us about her lifestyle, and it's not so positive. Whether living it by choice or because it was what she had to do to merely survive, all we know about her is that she was living an active life of sin. Certainly not what one would characterize as having the "right stuff". Yet, God used Rahab as part of His plan to allow Joshua and God's people to destroy the city of Jericho. And, because of her faith in and obedience to God, God spared her life: "And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab, the prostitute, and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent." Joshua 6:17. God chose to use Rahab in His perfect plan. God transformed Rahab, the harlot, into Rahab, the heiress. God used Rahab in the royal genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, as she was the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth and became the great grandparents of King David. Yes, God used Rahab, the harlot, and Ruth, the Moabite, two lowly Gentile women, to bring the story of salvation to all people. Because God used Rahab in this very special way, she forever became a part of the Bible's "hall of faith" with the likes of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. So, if you are not feeling like you have the "right stuff" today, remember that our God is a God of forgiveness, our God is a God of promise, our God is a God of new beginnings, and our God is a God of hope. God loves you and has a very special purpose and plan for your life. God is in the process of revealing your full story through the awesome work of the Holy Spirit in your life. Because of Jesus Christ's complete and perfect work, you are counted as heir to the Kingdom of God. Lord, we thank You for Your work; Your sinless life, Your death in our place on the cross, and Your triumphant resurrection from the grave. We thank You that Your work is always right and righteous, even when ours isn't. God, we ask You to use us like You did Rahab. Transform us and give us a new purpose and a new life. Let us be a part of Your perfect plan to bring salvation to the world through Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.