Titus

I have always heard about Titus 2 women:

"Bid the older women likewise to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink;p they are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be sensible, chaste, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be discredited." - Titus 2:3-5

Titus 2 women are the women that keep God's word alive and show us from experience how to live a God-like life. I want to take this time to thank all of the Titus 2 women in my life (some are younger, but most are older than me). I'm sorry if I forget any. If you know any of these women on the list, I urge to get to know them better and learn from them. Each holds a piece of God's word in her heart: Carolyn Estepa (my mom), Zelda Hill (my grandma), Cherie Trottier (my mother-in-law), Linda Reese, Dege Leedy, Beth McDaniel, Anna-Lisa Madiera, Keri Wilhite, Sally Kennedy, Laurie Hill, Sam Lambert, Shannon Clarkin, Heather Walker, Kristin McLendon. Thank you, women. Continue your hard work for the Lord.

However, my blog does not end there. Titus 1 speaks to the men. I always focused on Titus 2, but today the Lord made me focus on Titus 1.

For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it. - Titus 1:7-9

Blameless was defined in an earlier verse as a husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of being profligate or insubordinate. I'm blessed to have Titus 1 men in my life as well. These men, like the women mentioned above, are essential to my growth in Christ. Thank you to the following men: Larry Estepa (my daddy), Jimmy Hill (my grand-daddy), Andy Trottier (my father-in-law), Kyle (my husband), Brian Kennedy, Father Charlie, Father Winchel, Pastor Madiera, Paul Lambert, Terry Leedy, Shane Gray, Father Ross, Father John, Phil Reese, Jason Walker.

Thank you, God. You have provided wonderful role models in my life. I hope to someday be a Titus 2 woman and to help raise Titus 1 men.

Hannah

I have been avoiding Hannah for the last few days because she is so close to my heart. Many of you know that Kyle and I decided to try to start a family this past fall. My heart was aching for a child and working with children was becoming increasingly difficult. That's when I re-discovered Hannah and her prayer in 1 Samuel. I prayed as Hannah prayed. The next day I found out that I was pregnant. I was overjoyed!! Kyle and I began dreaming and praying and planning. I found out that I was already 4 1/2 weeks along and quickly figured out the due date of June 3, 2010. However, God had other plans. Two weeks before Thanksgiving, during our second ultrasound, we discovered that the baby stopped developing. This ordeal has rocked me to the core in many areas of my life and soul. I now have another prayer - for my child in Heaven. However, Hannah has remained close to my heart. I keep telling myself what Hannah's husband asked of her in verse 8, "Don't I mean more to you than 10 sons?" Hannah is an inspiration to me and I hope she is an inspiration to you.

Here is a quote from the book Life Principles From The Women Of The Bible, to set-up the time in which Hannah was living:

The events in the life of Hannah, recorded in 1 Samuel, occurred... close to the period of the judges, just prior to the period of the monarchy beginning with the choice of Saul as king (1051 BC). It was a period of spiritual decline and corruption. Israel was marked by a wandering heart. The final verse of Judges summarizes it well, "In those days there was no king of Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). It is during this time that we are introduced to the family of Hannah.

Scriptures:

1 Samuel 1:2-8

He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. And because the LORD had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Elkanah her husband would say to her, "Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"

1 Samuel 1:10-11,13-16

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief."

1 Samuel 1:18-20

She said, "May your servant find favor in your eyes." Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah lay with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, "Because I asked the LORD for him."

Hannah's husband, Elkanah, was from the tribe of Levi. In verses 3-5 we are able to see that they are a devout family. In a time when Israel was going their own way and falling away from God, this family continued to go sacrifice to God.

Peninnah used Hannah's bareness as a way to provoke Hannah. Year after year Hannah not only faced Peninnah and her children, but had to endure Peninnah's mean words. Peninnah provoked her until she "wept and would not eat." It is interesting to me that Hannah never lashed back. That is something that I need to learn. Although she was hurt she never said nasty words back to Peninnah. Instead, she turned to God and prayed. She prayed so hard that it appeared as if she was drunk. Instead she said, "I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." It was after praying that she "ate something and her face was no longer downcast." Prayer does that for me. When I'm sad or troubled and I pray, I no longer feel sad or troubled. The world looks a bit brighter.

After she poured out her soul to the Lord and "was no longer downcast" that the Lord remembered her and she conceived a son. When Samuel was old enough to be weened she gave him over to the priest. She dedicated him to God. In her faithfulness she conceived more children as well.

We are all, at times, in a state of barrenness (no husband/wife, no job, no children, no friends, etc). Are you resentful or are you simply burdened down with the weight of circumstances you never dreamed you would face? If so, I urge you to turn to God in prayer. I have had to do that a lot these last few weeks.

Hannah had a heart of worship - gratefully receiving the life God gives and, in turn, wholeheartedly giving that life back to Him. When we surrender to the Lord and His will, we will truly be satisfied from the inside Hannah. That is what we see in Hannah. Another great verse that fits here is Romans 5:3-5.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that You care for me just like You cared for Hannah. Thank You for the humbling circumstances You have either allowed or authored in my life. I admit many of them have hurt me. I can see some of the good that has come from the, but I admit I don't see all the good yet. I thank You for what I can see, and I choose to trust You for what I can't see. What is most important is that You see. That's what matters. I thank You that You see me - my circumstances, my "barrenness," my relationships, and my longings. Teach me to pray, to surrender, and to live in the blessing You give. I pray this int he name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Luke 2:52

Merry Christmas (a day late)!!! I have one simple verse that really spoke to me yesterday (I haven't done my quiet time yet... that is next on my agenda). Hopefully this blog will be shorter for you.

Luke 2:52

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

This verse was sited while I was studying Proverbs 31 (the virtuous woman). It gave me such hope. This verse, though small, is packed with ideas. First, "Jesus grew" shows that he was developing in certain areas (there will be four). This means that although He was perfect throughout His life, He was still learning and developing and didn't have it all from infancy. The four areas are:

1. Intellectual - "Jesus grew in wisdom" He had to learn things just like other children would. This shows his fully human side. He was a carpenter by trade - a trade he had to LEARN.
2. Physical - "Jesus grew in ... stature" He, being fully human, had to grow from infancy to an adult. (This could also be a reminder to adults who are no longer growing taller to make sure to take care of our bodies)
3. Spiritual - "Jesus grew... in favor with God" Although Jesus is part of trinity of God, He still GREW in favor with God. He had to continually work on His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is a great example of a person devoted to prayer. A person who was able to do the great and wonderful things because of His relationship with God the Father.
4. Social - "Jesus grew... in favor with... men" Jesus was certainly loved, but also hated, by many. He had to work on human relationships too.

Those 4 areas seem to be the same 4 areas that are in each of our lives. Luke 2:52 could easily be used as a measuring stick for us... let me change the wording a bit...

"And Hilary, what are you doing to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men?"

Learning from Jesus

I'm not neglecting the study of Biblical women. However, considering it is Christmas Eve, I decided to shift focus for a moment. Fr. John (here in Los Alamos, NM) recently spoke about the fact that the Advent season and the Christmas season is all about what God has done for us. In that light, I studied two chapters this morning learning from Jesus through Luke's gospel. He has given us many blessings - one of the biggest and most significant being HIS word.

Luke 13 & 14 are packed full of great teachings. I could spend hours relaying all that I learned today alone. However, I'm going to try to keep this blog short (that's always my goal and I always end up long-winded or long-typed). Therefore, I'm going to focus on two sets of verses.

Luke 13:19, 21:

" 'It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his garden; and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.' "

" 'It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.' "

These verses are talking about very small items - mustard seeds and leaven (I'm assuming is yeast). Jesus is showing us that we only need a small amount of faith. A small amount of faith in God can produce BIG results. It's not about what we can do. It's all about what God can do with what we can offer Him. What a blessing that HE has done for us.

Luke 14:15-24 (selected verses from the bigger passage. For whole passage follow this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2014:15-24&version=NIV)

¹⁵When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." ¹⁶Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁸"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' ²⁰"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' ²¹"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' ²⁴I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

Upon reading this I thought, "why wouldn't they go to a feast?" Then I remembered all the times that God was waiting for me to spend time with Him, which would bless me more than a feast, but instead I did other things. Instead I tended to work needs (like the man with the field) or I chose to spend time with someone else or I chose to sleep or I chose to watch TV. The key phrase is that "I chose" to do other things. When God calls us (like the man who called many to a feast) we should GO. Do not make excuses. You will be blessed more if you simply GO. Sometimes that is hard because you don't understand why God wants you to do the thing you feel called to do. However, going back to the previous verses, simply have little faith and God will give you great reward (maybe not Earthly reward, but certainly Heavenly reward, which is far greater).

Merry Christmas Eve!

Ruth

I'm sure most of you have either studied the book of Ruth, read her story, or at least heard of her. She is a wonderful role model for women. My good friend, Heather Walker, asked me once, "spiritually speaking, would you be Ruth or Orpah?" Ponder that as we study Ruth and I'll give my answer at the end.

Ruth was a Moabitess (a woman from Moab). Therefore, she was not an Israelite and did not grow up following God. She too lived in the time of the Judges in Israel's history. Her husband's family was from Bethlehem, but was forced to leave during a famine and move to Moab. She and her husband were married for 10 years before he, his brother, and father died. This left Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth's sister-in-law Orpah (another Moabitess), and Ruth alone.

Scriptures

Ruth 1:7-10

With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband."
Then she kissed them and they wept aloud and said to her, "We will go back with you to your people."

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

As you can already see, Ruth is devoted to Naomi (her mother-in-law) and devoted to the God that Naomi worships. Previously, as a Moabitess, she would have worshipped idols. Moabites were descendants of the incestuous union of Lot and his oldest daughter after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Her faith will bring blessings to her and Naomi.

Scriptures (cont)

Ruth 2:1-2

"Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a man of wealth of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi ,'Let me go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.' And she said to her, 'Go, my daughter.'"

Ruth 2:7-9

She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."

So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled."

Ruth 2:11-12

Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

Ruth 3:1-5

One day Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."

"I will do whatever you say," Ruth answered.

Ruth 4:13

"So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception and she bore a son."

Ruth 4:18-22

"Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab or Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David."

Phew... did you make it through all those verses? Let's discuss...

Upon their arrival into Bethlehem, Naomi turns to Ruth and tells her that there is a field of a family member of whom they can glean. Ruth faithfully goes to the field and gleans the wheat after the workers have collected their share. Ruth is rewarded for not only her faith in God, that God would provide. However, she is also rewarded for her willingness to work in order to provide food for Naomi. Boaz instructs his workers to leave more grain than normal to help Ruth and Naomi.

The true test comes when Naomi tells to Ruth to lay at Boaz's feet. She goes so willingly! She recognizes that Naomi has her best interest at heart. Ruth also realizes that Naomi follows a God that always provides and always loves. Ruth, in turn, goes to Boaz's feet as she was instructed. Boaz goes through the proper proceedings to make sure there is not a closer kinsman who would want Ruth as a wife (Ruth 4: 1-12). Boaz and Ruth were able to be married. God not only provided a husband (thus, providing an income), but he also provided a child. Ruth had been married for 10 years without conceiving a child. As we see in verses 4:18-22, Ruth becomes an integral part of the line of Jesus. Ruth bore Obed, whose son was Jesse, whose son was David. We know that Jesus came from the house of David.

How amazing is that? Ruth was willing to follow God and thus she was blessed many times over: she was blessed with a mother-in-law who cared for her, she was blessed with a husband who desired her and fought to take her as his own, she was blessed with a son, she was blessed to be a part of our Savior!

Now, back to the question. Would I be Ruth - who followed her mother-in-law and left her family? Or would I be Orpah - who returned to her family and probably to worshipping idols as was the custom. I am blessed with a family who praises God. Therefore, I would never have to face this kind of situation. However, could I following my mother-in-law, Cherie, spiritually? Yes. In fact, I do. I have been blessed with a mother-in-law who is in love with Jesus and His word. I have learned a lot from our conversations. I am also blessed with a mother and father who equally love Jesus and His word. Therefore, I have had a wonderful upbringing with Church and the Bible and God.

One thing to consider. The book that I have been using as a study guide brings up an interesting point. Boaz, in verse 2:12, "May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth was seeking refuge from God, not from any other place. My book stops at this point to ask the following:

Where are you seeking refuge? In a bank account? In a job or career? In sports? In your intellectual abilities? In your talents? In your social position? In amassing material goods In popularity? There are many false roads to take to find security and protection. The Lord is our refuge. He can cover us with His wings so that we are truly protected forever.

The hand of God in her life as well as the life of Boaz and Naomi gives testimony to the grace, mercy, and love of God in using very ordinary people to fulfill His extraordinary purposes. That is the kind of Kinsman-Redeemer that God is for us.

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that You never change. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Your hand is ever working, fulfilling Your purposes. Thank You that You have included me in those purposes. Thank You that Your hand is at work, and that You are fitting together all the things in my life, even though I sometimes fail to see your hand working in my life. I thank You for the lean times as well as the times of plenty. Thank You that You have a redeeming, loving heart and that I can find rest in You. May I learn to trust You in all the circumstances of my life and await on You as You fulfill Your purposes and lead me in the security of Your redemption. Amen.

Deborah

Deborah arises in the time of the Judges. It was a period in Israel's history in which they would turn from God, God would give them a wise "Judge", they would turn back to Him for a time, the Judge would die, and then they would return to worshipping idols (Judges 2:11-23). In Judges 2:14, it says that God's wrath or anger was kindled toward the Israelites. I thought it was interested that His anger each time they turned from Him was kindled and not re-kindled. It is showing that He had chosen to forgive and FORGET their last mistakes. What a way for us to live.

Judges 5:6-8 describes what life was like when Deborah was alive. The roads were abandoned because the Canaanites controlled the roads, the roads were dangerous, the areas where the Israelites lived were dangerous, and the Israelites were defenseless.

Scriptures:

Judges 4:4-8

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: 'Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.' " Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go."

Judges 4:14

Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men.

In the first verse that we read, we learn that Deborah is a prophetess. A prophetess is a woman through whom God could speak; one who could never add any words to what God had sad, whatever God revealed. Reading that makes the role of a prophet (or prophetess, in this case) even more difficult. I guess I always had a more simplistic view of a prophet. Deborah was someone from whom the Israelites would seek out to have her judge their disputes. She was a woman after God's own heart. She knew that her life was His and not her own.

Deborah called Barak and told him a special message from God. Let's put this in perspective. Barak was to bring 10,000 men with him. However, those men did not have any weapons. Remember that Israel was defenseless. Sisera, on the other hand, had an army of 100,000 troops and 900 iron chariots. But God said that He would draw Sisera out (his city was a walled city like most in those days) and and give Sisera into Barak's hands.

It is interesting to note that Barak requested that Deborah accompany him in verse 8. Barak knew that Deborah was a woman of God. He knew that God would reveal the plan to Deborah. Thus, Barak needed his "strategist" with him. Deborah had the plan, but couldn't fight. Barak didn't know the plan, but could fight. Together they made the team God called together.

You can read Judges 4 for the whole story of the events (it's a pretty cool story). But let's focus on Deborah for a moment. Deborah grew up and lived in a time when the Israelites were worshipping other gods. Deborah didn't go along with the rest of her country. Instead, she knew God intimately and she showed others the way to Him. She was completely open to God's word. She made herself available to Him. How many times do we do that? Sundays? Deborah was open to God's word and His plan for her life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It was because of her faithfulness and openness that the Israelites were able to defeat Sisera's army. Wow! That is something to strive to attain.

"Victory is not my overcoming sin, or the devil, or the world. True, lasting victory is only found when Jesus overcomes me."

- Life Principles From the Women of the Bible

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me for those times when I have forsaken You for other gods, the god of money, the god of pleasure, or the god of self. Make me sensitive to Your chastening hand. Help me run to You in my troubles and not from You. Thank You for loving me too much to let me stray. Help me to be quick to cry out to You. Most of all, thank You for the grace and mercy You show. Take Your place on the throne of my heart and show Your power through me. Empower me to be faithful and obedient. Amen.

Rahab

Father John spoke last night at Mass about how this season is not about what we do for Christmas (buying presents, cooking a meal, traveling, etc), but what Christ has done for us. What a wake up call. I began thinking about all the things that Christ has done for me this year and my list is long.

On to Rahab...

How many of us know someone who was never introduced to Christ? However, when he/she was introduced held fast to those truths? In our RCIA class at St. James, a Jewish woman going through RCIA for conversion to Christianity and the church explained that the first time Jesus was shown to her was the first time she felt peace about her mother's death. She said that it was the first time that she felt love from scripture. How cool is that??? Rahab teaches us that it is NEVER too late to begin following God (or begin again).

Scriptures:

Joshua 2:1-6

"And Joshua, the son of Nun, sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went, and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, "Behold, certain men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring forth the men that have come to you, who entered your house; for they have come to search out all the land.." But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them; and she said, "True, men came to me, but I did not know where they came from; and when the gate was to be closed at dark, the men wen out; where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly for you will overtake them."

Joshua 2:8-13

"Before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihoh and Og whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any man, because of you; for the Lord your God is He who is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now then, swear to me by the Lord that as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house and give me a sure sign, and save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them and deliver our lives from death."

Joshua 2:15

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she dwelt in the wall."

Rahab was a harlot (or prostitute) and some historians believe that she was also an inn keeper. It would be a way for her to earn extra money. We can assume that since harlotry was an abomination to Israelites, that the spies were there strictly for a room and not for her other services. We also see in verse 15 that her house was built into the city wall. Therefore, it would have been a good place to escape from if the authorities came to look for them, which they did.

It has been approximately 40 years since the parting of the Red Sea and yet Rahab reveals that the stories are still being told and she had heard of them. We can see her faith in verses 8-13. Rahab was certain that God will deliver the land to the Israelites and thus she asked for their protection.

Rahab made a courageous decision. She believed in God and put her trust in Him. She lied to the king about the spies' whereabouts. If she was found to be lying, no telling what would have been done to her and her family.

Because of her faith, she and her family was saved when God gave the city to the Israelites. What an incredible act of faith!

But what happened to Rahab and her family? Joshua 6:25 explains: "But Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho." Rahab lived with the Israelites. It seems that her faith did not end when the city was handed over to the Israelites and she was saved. Her faith continued and she lived among the Israelites. I can only hope that she dropped the harlotry too. God heals and so I have faith that she too was healed from that lifestyle.

Many see in Rahab a beautiful picture of the church. Rescued form out of the sin-stained world, with a compassion to bring others with her, she would eventually enjoy full status in the family of God alongside Israel.

Today I read this verse that reminds me a lot of this story:

"For in everything, O Lord thou hast exalted and glorified thy people; and thou has not neglected to help them at all times and in all places."

God certainly helped and did not neglect Rahab, His daughter.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for revealing Yourself to me. I know that I did not seek You out I only responded to what You revealed. Help me to see all the things for which you have forgiven me. Give me a grateful heart for my forgiveness, and guard me from judging the mistakes of others. I take my own sinful past and place it on the altar in surrender to you. Take it and turn it into something You can use. Send people my way that will give me the opportunity to express my faith. Thank You for the new life You give me in Christ. Never let me take it for granted. Amen.