I hadn't planned on posting today, but sometimes things God reveals are too amazing and exciting to keep to yourself! I am always delighted to discover new things in what was familiar like when Jesus spoke from the cross, "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?" and I learned He was reciting the first line of Psalm 22. Realising Psalm 22 was connected to Jesus the Messiah who suffered on Calvary deepened my understanding of the pointed statement Jesus made to orthodox Jews which was previously lost on me. He spoke in the hearing of people who fulfilled the word verbatim written by David a thousand years before in their accusations against Him.
After God brought the children out of Egypt with mighty wonders, at His command Moses sent one ruler of each tribe into Canaan to spy out the land God had given them. After surveying the land for 40 days, taking stock of strongholds, fortifications, and the people, the spies brought back ripe fruit of the land. Numbers 13:23-24 says, "Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there." The 12 spies returned with good fruit of the land but 10 of them gave a bad report because they were afraid of the mighty people who dwelt there. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes, exhorting the people to trust God and enter in. Tragically unbelief prevailed and God swore that generation would not enter in.
Fast forward 40 years later after the death of the high priest Aaron, Moses the servant of God, and the entire generation which did not believe. Joshua sent two spies to spy out the land--especially Jericho. These spies went to the house of a harlot named Rahab, a residence where the coming and going of men was like clockwork. The king was alerted to the presence of these foreigners and he commanded Rahab produce the men. It turned out Rahab was an unexpected ally despite being an alien of the commonwealth of Israel and a harlot: she protected the men and hid them because she feared God, convinced the God of the Hebrews was the only God and would overthrow Jericho. After sending the king's men on a merry chase in the wrong direction, she said in Joshua 2:16: "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way."
Before she let the spies down through the window by a scarlet cord to escape, Rahab begged she and her family would be spared when the Hebrews stormed the city. The safety of Rabah and her family was agreed upon by the spies on three conditions: she was not to discuss the business of the spies, was to continue to hang the scarlet rope from her window, and all who would be saved needed to remain in her home. If these conditions were broken so the spies would be free of their promise to save her and her family. Joshua 2:22-24 says, "They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."
Joshua 6 tells of the fall of the accursed city Jericho and how Rahab and her entire family was indeed spared. What we are not told in Joshua is the woman who was once a harlot and without child in Jericho later married a man of Judah named Salmon and gave birth to a son. We read in the New Testament of the lineage of Jesus Christ Matthew 1:5 says: "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse..." Not only was the life of Rahab spared but she joined together with the Jewish people in the fear of God and was the great-great-grandmother of King David. Can you fathom the depths of God's grace, to reward faith in Him with such fruitfulness?
Moses sent 12 spies and they brought back the fruit of the land: only two brought a favourable report. Joshua sent two spies and they brought back word of good fruit of another and more enduring kind. In an accursed place fit for destruction they discovered a harlot who heard of God's mighty works and believed Him--unlike the 10 faithless spies who refused to enter in. A Gentile woman exhibited faith in God, protected them, and begged for salvation. It is no coincidence they were told to wait in a mountain three days, even as Jesus after His crucifixion and death remained buried in a tomb and rose on the third day, bringing life and salvation to all who trust in Him. Do you see it? Better than the grapes of Eshcol was the report of the faith of Rahab and the gracious God who is victorious and able to save those under the curse of sin and death.
The grapes of Eshcol were bountiful and refreshing, but infinitely more fruitful is faith which moves us to love and obey God. Those who ate of the grapes were soon hungry and thirsty for more, but those who abide in the Vine Jesus Christ bear much lasting fruit for the kingdom of God. The life of Rahab is a testimony of the overcoming victory of our faith through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." Those who receive the Prince of Peace Jesus will not perish but have eternal life--life that can be retained and passed on to others by the power of the Gospel. Like Rahab our sins have been many, and we who have been forgiven much ought to love God much.
After God brought the children out of Egypt with mighty wonders, at His command Moses sent one ruler of each tribe into Canaan to spy out the land God had given them. After surveying the land for 40 days, taking stock of strongholds, fortifications, and the people, the spies brought back ripe fruit of the land. Numbers 13:23-24 says, "Then they came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs. 24 The place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the men of Israel cut down there." The 12 spies returned with good fruit of the land but 10 of them gave a bad report because they were afraid of the mighty people who dwelt there. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes, exhorting the people to trust God and enter in. Tragically unbelief prevailed and God swore that generation would not enter in.
Fast forward 40 years later after the death of the high priest Aaron, Moses the servant of God, and the entire generation which did not believe. Joshua sent two spies to spy out the land--especially Jericho. These spies went to the house of a harlot named Rahab, a residence where the coming and going of men was like clockwork. The king was alerted to the presence of these foreigners and he commanded Rahab produce the men. It turned out Rahab was an unexpected ally despite being an alien of the commonwealth of Israel and a harlot: she protected the men and hid them because she feared God, convinced the God of the Hebrews was the only God and would overthrow Jericho. After sending the king's men on a merry chase in the wrong direction, she said in Joshua 2:16: "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way."
Before she let the spies down through the window by a scarlet cord to escape, Rahab begged she and her family would be spared when the Hebrews stormed the city. The safety of Rabah and her family was agreed upon by the spies on three conditions: she was not to discuss the business of the spies, was to continue to hang the scarlet rope from her window, and all who would be saved needed to remain in her home. If these conditions were broken so the spies would be free of their promise to save her and her family. Joshua 2:22-24 says, "They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."
Joshua 6 tells of the fall of the accursed city Jericho and how Rahab and her entire family was indeed spared. What we are not told in Joshua is the woman who was once a harlot and without child in Jericho later married a man of Judah named Salmon and gave birth to a son. We read in the New Testament of the lineage of Jesus Christ Matthew 1:5 says: "Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse..." Not only was the life of Rahab spared but she joined together with the Jewish people in the fear of God and was the great-great-grandmother of King David. Can you fathom the depths of God's grace, to reward faith in Him with such fruitfulness?
Moses sent 12 spies and they brought back the fruit of the land: only two brought a favourable report. Joshua sent two spies and they brought back word of good fruit of another and more enduring kind. In an accursed place fit for destruction they discovered a harlot who heard of God's mighty works and believed Him--unlike the 10 faithless spies who refused to enter in. A Gentile woman exhibited faith in God, protected them, and begged for salvation. It is no coincidence they were told to wait in a mountain three days, even as Jesus after His crucifixion and death remained buried in a tomb and rose on the third day, bringing life and salvation to all who trust in Him. Do you see it? Better than the grapes of Eshcol was the report of the faith of Rahab and the gracious God who is victorious and able to save those under the curse of sin and death.
The grapes of Eshcol were bountiful and refreshing, but infinitely more fruitful is faith which moves us to love and obey God. Those who ate of the grapes were soon hungry and thirsty for more, but those who abide in the Vine Jesus Christ bear much lasting fruit for the kingdom of God. The life of Rahab is a testimony of the overcoming victory of our faith through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." Those who receive the Prince of Peace Jesus will not perish but have eternal life--life that can be retained and passed on to others by the power of the Gospel. Like Rahab our sins have been many, and we who have been forgiven much ought to love God much.
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