Joshua
sent two spies to look over Jericho's strengths and weaknesses. It is
good to do research in an area into which God is calling you. Lots of
info can be found online but the real stories come from the people
living in the neighborhood. Joshua, himself had been one of the 12
spies sent by Moses and knew the importance of gathering good, up to
date information.
In Luke
10, Jesus sends out 72 of his followers in pairs to every town and
place he would be visiting. They were to look for the person of
peace; someone who was ready to receive the gospel. Jesus said, “The
harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the
harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
(Luke 10:2)
In each
town they would find a person of peace who would become a worker in
the harvest field. Paul discovered such a person when he arrived in
Philippi to preach the gospel. He did not have any local contacts,
not even a synagogue. He went to the river, where a group of women
gathered for prayer. It would not have been his first choice but here
he met Lydia. She became a follower of Jesus and led her household to
Christ, starting a church in her house. The Holy Spirit goes before
us preparing people's hearts.
Joshua's
spies went to Rahab's place where they could keep a low-profile and
pick up some news. The King of Jericho found out and sent some guards
to apprehend them but Rahab (who had hidden the spies) tells them
they’d already left.
The
spies were hoping to find an informant but they found an ally; a
person of peace who provided provided protection, hospitality, and
guidance. She told
them of the fear that gripped the city when they learned of God's
power. She confessed her faith and asked that she and her household
be spared.
As
a pagan and owner of shady business, Rahab was an unlikely ally but
hidden behind the imposing walls of Jericho was a woman who carried
the Divine Seed. Rahab
was rescued and would become the mother of Boaz, who married
Ruth, a Moabite widow, ancestress of David and Jesus
Christ.
God
uses unlikely people like Moses
a murderer (morally unqualified) who did not speak well (physically
unqualified) and David did not look like a king (boyish) nor act as a
king (mishandled family matters.) In fact, Jesus was a friend of
sinners! God
uses the foolish to confound the wise.
At
the same time, God has His people everywhere. Remember the men who
had a donkey that Jesus was to ride into Jerusalem? The disciples
didn't know them but they were ready and knew what to do. How about
the man carrying water who knew the secret location to the upper room
where Jesus would spend his last hours of freedom?
Knowing
that God has people everywhere and that we might not recognize them,
we must be ready for divine appointments.
Do
not forget to show hospitality to strangers,
for
by so doing some people have shown
hospitality
to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews
13:2
No comments:
Post a Comment