WE need to ask ourselves, Just who are we holding on to?

She could have shut the door–said the words–I’m tired. Go away. I can’t do this anymore. Not today.

But Rahab the Harlot, a woman included in Jesus’ family tree, she didn’t close the door. She did the opposite–she opened it wide.

What if Rahab had specifically prayed these words–God, please send the kindness of two godly men to my door. Make them different, so I will know they have been sent by you. Rescue me Lord, out of this wicked city—out of my personal darkness. Rescue my mother, my father, my family. Protect my family God, like you did the children of Israel.

Consider this–what if Rahab had prayed day and night this prayer long before the soldiers knocked on her door? Her prayers may have included the asking of the desires of her heart–be a mama–a wife–to be loved.

She knew of His power. She knew of His strength. She knew of His wrath. And she knew of His protection and rescue for the children of Israel.

God’s messengers, they came. And Rahab, she hid the spies and because of her kindness, her belief–her holding on–she and the soldiers made a covenant.

Joshua 2:11-13–And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Joshua 2:18–Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.

Joshua 2:21– And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

And she waited for their return. And it wasn’t just a few hours she waited. It was days–maybe even weeks.

And God through the obedience of Joshua–this time when the soldiers came knocking on Rahab’s door, it wasn’t just two men God sent. The Bible says, “about forty-thousand”. Forty-thousand!!

Can you imagine the heartbeat of Rahab when she saw the forty-thousand coming toward Jericho–hearing the marching of their footsteps? Their voices silent.

Joshua 4:13–About forty-thousand prepared for war passed over before the Lord unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.

Joshua 6:17–And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers we sent.

Joshua 6:26–And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day: because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

There are days when we ask ourselves, can we make it another day? And why, why are we holding on? What will tomorrow look like? Will tomorrow even come? Riots, disrespect of leaders and law enforcement, the lack of kindness–the lack of unity, the hurting of children, women, men, financial problems, cancer, the Covid virus, death……

When our lives feel like a tornado spinning, taking us down into a deep, dark hole….when we can’t take another tragedy…another senseless death…another breaking news report….when troubles seem to overwhelm our hearts, cloud our minds—

We need to ask ourselves, just who are we holding on to?

Are we placing our confidence and hope in elected officials more than God?

Rahab’s assurance in her family’s safety–her rescue, it was not determined by her faith in the red rope that swayed outside her window, nor in the messengers’ promises or even in God’s servant, Joshua. She held on to her only hope, the one the blood red rope represented, and that was God.

Titus 2:13—Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ