Testing

The testing point of every fruit of the spirit:

Love
Patience
Peace
...



[Mat 1:1-6 ESV] 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

Recognize Rahab - She is listed among the genealogy of Christ. His familial history is not clean and pure.

 - Tamar - Tricked Judah into sleeping with her as a prostitute and she has a child.
 - Ruth - The Moabite - Came from Lot's daughter.
 - David - Father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah whom he murdered.

Scripture does not hide or cover up people's brokenness.

We are so fractured beyond fixing, that we truly need God to fix us.

Jesus discussed this about Martha as she wept at his feet. He shared the story of the forgiven debtors - the one who has been forgiven much, loves much. The point isn't who has more sin, but who has more gratitude for the love God has poured out on us.

[Jos 1:9 ESV] 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

----

[Jos 2:1-24 ESV] 1 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 prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them." 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 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. 10 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please 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 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." 14 And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you." 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, "Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way." 17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear." 21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."

Rahab - She has some integrity to the glory of God. We know that she is a prostitute. We know that the whole of Jericho is fearful of the Israelites. Jericho has heard of the things that Israel has experienced since they left Egypt. Rahab's life is a life of hopelessness and desperation. She fears for her life; however, it is a wonder why she is chosen to be a part of the story.

[Heb 11:31 ESV] 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Why did Rahab welcome the spies? Why didn't anyone else welcome them? Why didn't the king try to negotiate with the spies?

Joshua 2:11 - Rahab declares that the God of Israel is the God of the universe and recognizes him. Rahab treats the spies kindly and lies for them. Why is this OK?? There is a greater grace in the midst of this situation, where they must be protected. Faith is expressed in works.

Rahab is humble, she prepares the way for the Lord's coming. Rahab is one among many who are broken people who are included in the Faithful hall of fame in Hebrews 11.

We should follow Rahab's example and walk in the fear of the Lord. Appreciating His greatness and power by submitting to Him. Loving your neighbor as yourself -

Jesus highlights two gentiles Naaman, and Ruth who were blessed by God.

Once we walk in the place of humble obedience, we will see evidence of grace. We will be able to see the work of God in those around us, despite their flaws and sins. We need to take everyone out of the box we have put them in. Stop looking at the people around you in regard to their circumstance and look at them in regard to what God is doing in them or will do in them.