"And she [Rahab] said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 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." Joshua 2:9-11
All the people of Jericho had heard about the parting of the Red Sea and the defeat of the two kings just across the river. And as soon as they heard it, their hearts melted with fear. They all knew that Israel's God was the true God of heaven and earth because of His great works that they had heard about (not seen, but heard about). Yet Rahab is the only one who identifies herself with God's people and asks for mercy. Later in the Scripture, we find that Rahab's faith saved her and her family from destruction in the battle of Jericho.
All the people of Jericho had heard about the parting of the Red Sea and the defeat of the two kings just across the river. And as soon as they heard it, their hearts melted with fear. They all knew that Israel's God was the true God of heaven and earth because of His great works that they had heard about (not seen, but heard about). Yet Rahab is the only one who identifies herself with God's people and asks for mercy. Later in the Scripture, we find that Rahab's faith saved her and her family from destruction in the battle of Jericho.
It's strange that the other inhabitants had the same information as Rahab, but didn't ask for mercy. Why didn't they ask for mercy? Because they refused to acknowledge God as their God. They understood from the evidence they heard that God is THE God, but they were unwilling to acknowledge God as THEIR God. Big difference.
What about us? Like the inhabitants of Jericho, we have heard about the great works of God - they are recorded in the Bible. We have even more information than Rahab and the inhabitants of Jericho. We certainly have sufficient evidence to understand that the God of Israel is indeed THE God - the true God of heaven and of earth. But not all are willing to acknowledge God as THEIR God.
Like the people of Jericho, the people on our planet today are not condemned for lack of evidence or lack of knowledge of God. They are condemned because of their refusal to accept God as THEIR God. Why do they refuse? This passage in John 3 answers that question.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:16-21
It's not the absence of light (knowledge, evidence) that condemns men - it's a love for the darkness that condemns men.
What about us? Like the inhabitants of Jericho, we have heard about the great works of God - they are recorded in the Bible. We have even more information than Rahab and the inhabitants of Jericho. We certainly have sufficient evidence to understand that the God of Israel is indeed THE God - the true God of heaven and of earth. But not all are willing to acknowledge God as THEIR God.
Like the people of Jericho, the people on our planet today are not condemned for lack of evidence or lack of knowledge of God. They are condemned because of their refusal to accept God as THEIR God. Why do they refuse? This passage in John 3 answers that question.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:16-21
It's not the absence of light (knowledge, evidence) that condemns men - it's a love for the darkness that condemns men.
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