Sometimes we think…
When this hurricane passes—then I’ll rest in God.
When I’m out of debt—then I’ll trust Him.
When I have more knowledge and experience—then I’ll live my faith.
Of course, we know when/then faith is not faith at all. Putting conditions on trusting God keeps us in turmoil. It deprives us of the peace and joy that come from experiencing God—and it’s disobedient.
Waiting for an Experience?
Does the parting of the Red Sea count as a faith-building experience? Israel stood hemmed in between Pharaoh’s approaching army and the Red Sea. Had God brought these unarmed slaves out of Egypt to destroy them?
The angel of God, who’d been going before them, moved behind them. The pillar of cloud also circled behind them and stood between Israel and Pharaoh’s chariots. A strong east wind whipped through their camp and created a dry path right through the middle of the sea. Israel padded across in between heaped walls of water.
Israel emerged on the other side and turned to look back. Cold fear zipped down their spines. Pharaoh’s chariots feverishly pursued them using the path God had created through the sea!
Israel watched the chariots reach the middle and stall. The dry land seemed to have turned into flypaper. As the chariots struggled to get free, the walls of water clapped together over Israel’s enemy. Israel was free.
Would such an experience boost your faith? Yet, Israel, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, shrank back when God told them to enter the Promised Land. They compared themselves with their enemy and felt like grasshoppers. They should have compared their enemy with God.
In contrast to Israel, Rahab only heard about God parting the Red Sea. Instead of God promising her people a land flowing with milk and honey, God promised to overthrow them.
Who had more reason to trust God? Israel or Rahab? Yet, with little knowledge and no experience, Rahab put everything she knew into action.
“ In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:25-26 NIV).
Rahab hid the two Hebrews and asked them to spare her family’s lives. They agreed under the condition she stayed put in her house. The spies didn’t know God planned to crumble the wall Rahab’s house was built into.
Rahab obeyed and stood on God’s promise—
Even when her house shook and dust stung her eyes…
Even when screams pierced her ears and her family wanted to bolt.
God saved Rahab, her relatives, and all she had. Four New Testament books remember her. Two hold her up as an example of faith.
Hundreds of thousands of fighting-aged adults crossed the Red Sea, but only Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land. More knowledge and more experience don’t make great faith. Israel focused on the size of their problem and died in the wilderness. Rahab focused on the size of God and became part of God’s people and Christ’s genealogy.
Are hurricanes, illnesses, or human errors bigger than your God? The crashing of Jericho’s walls felt like Rahab’s destruction, but they signaled her deliverance.
Will you choose to focus on the size of your God instead of the size of your problem? Share on XClick here to comment.
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Blessings,
Debbie W. Wilson
Resources
Learn more about Rahab and unshakable faith with Little Women, Big God.
Storm Photo by NASA on Unsplash
Sometimes I link up with these great sites:
#Wedded Wednesday, #Writer’s Wednesday #HeartEncouragement, #LivefreeThursday, #Grace and Truth, #Dance with Jesus, #Fresh Market Friday,
Very timely with the hurricanes and issues with N. Korea – that question is one we all need to not only ask ourselves but settle once and for all: Do we focus on the size of our God or the size of our problem? Wonderful post, Debbie, as always.
Thank you, Ann. You’re so right we settle it once and for all and renew it every day!
So right on time with this post, Debbie! I love when you march through scripture and point out the many evidences of God’s faithfulness. I sometimes wonder if the challenge mankind has with faith sometimes relates to the doubt that was seemingly sewn into our DNA at the fall in Eden. Doubt is the enemy of faith and yet Satan’s most potent enemy. Perhaps that is why it can haunt us. Thanks for consistent pointing back to God’s Word.
Pam, you said it well, doubts have been out downfall since the beginning! Thanks for adding your thoughts.
So good, Debbie! We fix our eyes on Jesus. He, Himself, is our Peace. The minute I look
away & focus on me & circumstances, I feel
overwhelmed. But the minute I
return to Him, He calms my mind & heart & reassures me that He’s got this. What a Savior!
Isn’t it the truth, Marilyn. What we focus on changes everything. Blessings to you and Doug!
Yes, I choose to focus on my God. Thank you, Lord, for delivering us from our enemy. I stand together with you, Debbie, knowing our God is mighty to save.
Let’s encourage each other, Brenda!
Great message for these turbulent times! Thank you, Debbie
Thank you, Lucille!
only path across abyss of impending death is god’s outstretched hand
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/09/your-dying-spouse-361-my-final-prayer.html
Well said, Andrew! Blessings to you.
Thanks for this great re-telling of Rahab’s story!
Thank you, Michele!
This is awesome! Just another reminder in all that is going on in my madness to hold on to God’s hand. He’s got me with or without me being able to see Him work.
Yes! Brittany, don’t you love the Bible stories that show God’s hand to us that was hidden at the time from them.
You raise thought-provoking questions today, Debbie (not that you don’t every time I visit!). I just want to ponder the way that these remarkable people stood firm in their faith while others faltered. It’s an important focus to grapple with, especially since I’m flagging in my faith in a certain area. You’ve encouraged me, my friend!
Beth, it is remarkable. May God grant us the grace to follow Rahab, Joshua, and Celeb’s example. Blessing to you!
Powerful truths Debbie!
Big God
The rest of the story is dependent upon us believing He is bigger than anything we face, isn’t it?!
Neighbor at Suzie Eller’s today.
Yes, Susan. How sobering to think what lack of faith can keep us from.
“Physical senses are unreliable indicators of spiritual reality.” I love this truth. How quickly we can forget how big God is in comparison to our problems. Thank you so much for the renewed perspective.
Valerie, it is staggering how quickly we forget. Thanks so much.
What wonderful insight on the life of Rahab. I am truly challenged and reminded that faith in God is a decision. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Miriam. Rahab is a real inspiration to me!
Oh my I have never heard when/ then faith is not faith at all. I love how you worded that. I tend to truly embrace the trials because it is only then that we find out what we believe. There is no way to test our faith without a test or trial. Great post. Stopping by from Grace and Truth link up.
Timberley, I like how you pointed out, “There is no way to test our faith without a test or trial.” Thanks so much.
We need to focus on the size of God not the size of our problems. I have been learning and leaning on that these past few weeks. He is big enough to handle the storms we face.
Yes, Rachel! If He is for us who can be against us!