Thread of Faith

Do you ever feel that it is difficult to always do the right thing?

Sometimes doing what is right requires us to stand alone in the world

while we make decisions and stick to it. It is sometimes difficult to take

a stand for what is right, and do what God has told us. However,

always doing the right thing and being obedient to God is the only way

to fully ensure us of God's favor and blessings on our lives as well as on

our family's lives. We must always do the right thing even when we

don't understand it fully or even like it.

There is a woman in the Bible named Rahab who was known as a

harlot of that time. Rahab though should not be remembered for her

mistakes, but rather for her obedience, great faith, and love for her

family.

Rahab lived in the city of Jericho which was about to be delivered

into the hands of Joshua and his men by God. Joshua sent two spies to

Jericho to “view the land” and these men ended up staying with Rahab.

News of their arrival got back to the King of Jericho and he was not

pleased so he sent word to her. The word sent to her was “Bring out

the men who came to you and entered your house because they have

come to spy out the whole land."

Rahab by this point had already hidden these two men on her rooftop

so she answered by saying “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not

know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close

the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after

them quickly. You may catch up with them.” Based on what Rahab said

the King sent out men to find these two spies.

Rahab then goes to the two spies and says, "Now then, please

swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family

because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you

will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters,

and all who belong to them- and that you will save us from death."

These men agreed to her request, but they had a few stipulations as

well. They told her she was to hang out a cord of scarlet thread from

her window, so she would be found. Also, that she was not allowed to tell

anyone of what was going on, and that if anyone in her household

came out of her house they were not responsible for them if they died.

She was to keep her family in her house until they came for her. Rahab

agreed with what these men asked of her and then she let these men

down from her roof by a rope and they left the city unharmed and

unnoticed. Later when it came time for the city of Jericho to be seized

by Joshua, Rahab and all her family were saved from the city which was

burned down.

Rahab showed tremendous faith, courage, and obedience. Here

was a woman who was visited by two spies and risked her life by hiding

them, helps them escape, and follows all their instructions. She did this

because she knew that they were men of God and because she had

heard all that God had done for them in the past. She knew that when

they came near to her they were of God and she needed to do the right

thing. Imagine Rahab in her house with all her family members waiting

to be delivered. She perhaps was scared- scared that maybe these men

might forget her and not come at all. Maybe she even at one-point

thought, "Ok I've done everything I was supposed to do- now I just

have to sit and wait in faith that we will be saved." She did that day

whatever it took to save her family and what she was left with was her

strong faith.

Often, we have come to the point where we have done everything

we know to do. We have obeyed God, shown kindness and love to

others, done the right things and all we're left with is our faith. Faith

that sometimes is only as a thread hanging out there for all to see. God

promises to each of us that He is faithful to those who believe and trust

in Him.

All God requires of us is to love Him with all that we are, love one

another in action and in deed, be obedient to Him all things, and have

faith. Sometimes we just have to sit and wait, knowing our help is on

the way because God truly is who He says He is and will never let us

down. Rahab's family was spared from death because of her obedience,

willingness to do the right thing, and faith. She took a risk in doing the

right thing and having faith and yet God richly rewarded her.

Just as those men were able to see her cord of scarlet thread

hanging from her window, know that God sees your faith. He sees you

"letting it all hang out" so to speak. Trust in Him that He has made a

way for you and your family in whatever situation you are facing.

Continue in faith and obedience and watch how God shows up for you

and your family.

From Gardens of Splendor by Gina Burns