Faith life 65 (Faith that transforms)

 FAITH THAT TRANSFORMS

By Ayoola Fakeye (PAF)

 “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.” Hebrews 11:31‬ 

Hebrew chapter 11 popularly refers to the faith Chapter, featuring decent and great men of God. Most of their names are what we bear today, such as Abel, Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and men who made their mark in Biblical History. And to my surprise, the last person, the apostle would call out is a harlot. Great! The Apostle chose to speak about this woman to show us that the faith of Christ is available to everyone, irrespective of the past life. So, you need not shy back again because of your background or past life; take the bold step of Faith this woman took.

The faith of Christ is available for everyone. To enjoy it does not depend on your past. It depends solely on acknowledging and believing the Saviour, Christ. For Rahab, she was an alien to the commonwealth of Israel and then a harlot. But because she believes in the God of Israel, she did not perish as the other Canaanites. She did not perish because she believed what others didn’t believe. The question is, “what was it that others didn’t believe, but she believed?”

Exodus two gives the account of the spies from the Israelite camp that went ahead to view the land of Jericho. However, there is no way you could enter the city without encountering this harlot, Rahab since she lives on top of the city gate. Eventually, these spies from Israel met the woman, but because she believed in the God of Israel she heard of, it transformed her and saved her and her family eventually.

In Verse ten of Exodus two, Rahab confessed what they heard of the mighty act of God among His people Israel. She said, “We have heard…”(Joshua 2:10). That implies everyone in the city heard already of what God has done from Egypt all through the wilderness until they got to Jericho. But she chose to submit to God and believe in Him for salvation, but others rescinded to submit to God and eventually were destroyed by their ego.

The testimony Rahab heard mixed with faith, and so she was saved. It is not enough to hear about the word of Christ and the victory He won on the cross. We need to go further to submit ourselves to it. It is in submission that faith is born. You need to come to the end of yourself to enter into God.

“I know the Lord has given you this city…” (Joshua 2:8) That was another confession of Faith from Rahab to those spies. At some point, I wonder why others didn’t come to this point that the Lord would give the Israelites the land because “the signs were written boldly in the stars.” But those men decided to ignore the indication but trusted in their fortification to save them. They must have relied on their impenetrable wall. Beloved, quit struggling. Jesus has won the battle! We already have victory in Him. Acknowledge and submit to it, just as this woman did.

Even though all the people of Canaanites knew what happened in Egypt: how God delivered Israel with His mighty hand and made way for them in the wilderness. They knew all these but failed to believe and put their trust in the mighty hand of God to save them. Rahab was the only one that had believed and declared, “I know the Lord has given you the land…” She knew that the power of God would take the land for the children of Israel. Alas! She didn't perish.

What do you know about God? Do you believe that His power is effectual over your life? For instance, you know He is the healer. But do you believe the provision is for you as well? Many people know that God can do all things, but in their personal lives, they find it difficult to submit to the truth that He will do the same in their lives.

How do you believe in God?

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