Sheepspeak: sermons, articles, and papers: October 2016

Showing posts with label October 2016. Show all posts

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Joshua 2: Redeemed!

Presented to Alberni Valley Ministries, 13 January 2018 by Captain Michael Ramsay

Over the next few weeks we are looking at Joshua. Last week Tim gave us a brief overview of the book and gave us an introduction to Joshua himself I believe. Today, we are going to look a little bit at the conquest of Jericho and specifically Rahab (Joshua 2&6, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25).

First, what do we know about Jericho? Jericho was this great fortified city. It was near the Jordan River. There was wonderful farmland all around. Its population was giants! It must have had some special significance for Joshua too. This isn’t the first time that Joshua had been over the Jordan River. Do we remember Joshua’s first encounter with the Promised Land? Remember that Joshua was one of the 12 spies Moses sent to check out Jericho 40 years before and at first how all of them except Caleb came back afraid to claim their inheritance. Joshua then quickly took Caleb’s perspective but the rest of that generation were afraid to enter the Promised Land before it was too late and so God in essence said ‘fine’ and the Hebrews wandered around the desert until everyone in that generation – except Caleb and Joshua - died.

Now in our text today the Hebrews have returned to Jericho and the Promised Land and Joshua is sending out the spies. He picks 2 young men and he sends them out just like Moses had sent him out 40 years before. These two young guys are on their first assignment in all probability and their first time away from their family Israel and their first time in the big city. So these two teenage boys or young twenty-somethings, where do they go when they get to the city? They go see the local prostitute! (Now we don’t know if they went there to give her some business or if they just thought that this would be a good place to blend in while they were spying on the town. We don’t know whether it was their idea or Joshua’s idea that they wind up at the home/business of Rahab the prostitute but here they are at Rahab’s house.

What do we know about Rahab? Every September the Salvation Army highlights those who are trafficked. Many of the people trafficked today in Canada are prostituted. While there is no evidence that Rahab was trafficked: her family was close to her; they lived in the same town as her (Jericho) and she went out of her way to save their lives when the opportunity arose (Joshua 2:12-13, 18; 6:23);[2] she was a prostitute [3] and though Shrine/religious prostitution was not uncommon in that area, we know, because of the specific language used to describe her work, Rahab was not a shrine prostitute. She was a secular prostitute not unlike those in our own time in this country.[4] And prostitutes then, like prostituted peoples today, were often outcasts from society.

It is significant that she is often referred to by her profession but another significant thing about Rahab of course was that she repented of her allegiances - when these young spies showed up at her door she, a probably young, marginalized prostitute was smart enough to see what was happening and she changed to support God (Joshua 2,6) and she was redeemed - James recognizes her for both her faith and her works (James 2:24-26). Rahab was saved and the author of Hebrews even records her as one of the heroes (heroines) of the faith. Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” Rahab, the prostitute, was saved.

Now today when we hear the name Rahab, we often think of this lady whom the LORD used to save the spies and deliver Jericho into the Hebrews’ hands. Does anyone know what the name ‘Rahab’ literally means? It - translated from Hebrew- means ‘fat’, ‘broad’, or ‘large’ and in common usage it refers to ‘fierceness’, ‘insolence’, and ‘pride’.[5] In the Bible, the country of Egypt is sometimes derogatorily referred to as a Rahab. Rahab is an insult word used of one of the Hebrews’ off again / on again enemies, the Egyptians.[6] Egypt - according to Isaiah and according to the Psalms – Egypt is a fat, insolent, Rahab (Psalm 89:10, Isaiah 51:9; cf. Psalm 87:4, Isaiah 30:7). Rahab in our story today was a prostitute. But Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed.

Many of you know some of our own personal history. Susan, the girls and I were soldiers with 614 in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside prior to being commissioned as Officers in The Salvation Army. And since then we have served the LORD and the Army in Saskatchewan, in Winnipeg downtown and at Stoney Mountain Penitentiary. And of course we spent the previous few years in downtown Toronto. We made more than a few friends in these environments who –like Rahab- were relegated to the margins of society by circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. We had friends in our Bible studies, church services, and/or staying in our very home (we ran a transition residence in Vancouver) who were prostituted peoples, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and suffering everything else common to those environments.

We have had more than one friend, for whom our hearts still break, overdose, convicted of murder, and other such things – some even since knowing the Lord. Sometimes we fall back but even still I have seen God transform many lives: sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes thrice, or even more as need be. There are many more people still relegated to the margins of our society even here in our community - they (we) are not unredeemable; they (we) are as ready for redemption as anyone. During the many years we lived and worked in Saskatchewan between Nipawin, Tisdale, Carrot River, Maple Creek and Swift Current, I spent many hours sitting with my friends in the courts, speaking with our friends in the courts, speaking on behalf of friends in the courts, praying with friends in the courts. There are many people we knew there and in Toronto and Vancouver and that we are getting to know even here who wind up on the margins of our society by either circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. They can be redeemed. We can be redeemed.

There are many of us in The Salvation Army who at one time or another have found ourselves outcast like Rahab. Rahab in our story today, Rahab was a prostitute. Rahab was a Canaanite. Rahab was marginalized. Rahab was an outcast. And Rahab is saved! And Rahab is redeemed! We can be saved! We can be redeemed!

I have been involved with AA at various times in my life and ministry and at AA we speak about a how a higher power, God, can deliver us. And God can redeem us and God can save us. And God offers salvation not only from alcohol; not only from addiction; not only from a horrible, storied past of abuse and other things; but from all else as well. There is one name by which we all can be saved not only for the here and the now but forever (Acts 4:12). That Name, that One is Jesus. Jesus has died and he rose again from the grave so that we don’t need to be trapped in our addictions; we don’t need to be trapped by our prejudices; we don’t need to be trapped in our sins; we don’t need to be trapped in our struggles. Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin and death so that even those of us most caught by sin and by circumstance can be saved. Rahab was prostituted in a doomed pagan city. Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed. We, no matter who we are and what we have had done to us what we have done, we can be saved. We can be redeemed (TSA docs. 6&10).

After Rahab’s faith and deeds were used by God to save the Hebrew spies and deliver Jericho over to the LORD, do you know how the Lord transformed her life? According to Jewish tradition, she became the ancestor of eight priests (Tal Megillah 14b). She is listed as one of four women of surpassing beauty (Tal Megillah 15a; the others were Sarah, Abigail, and Esther).[7] Rahab may mean ‘broad’ but this Rahab is a beauty. The Bible tells us Rahab married Salmon, one of the princes of Judah (Ruth 4:21, 1 Chronicles 2:11, Matthew 1:5). We remember too the wealthy landowner, Boaz, who married the Moabite Ruth of the book of Ruth; this rich, prominent Boaz was Rahab the Canaanite’s son. Ruth was Rahab’s daughter-in-law. Ruth and Boaz had a child, Obed, Rahab’s grandson. His son, Rahab’s great grandson was Jesse and his son, Rahab’s great great grandson... do we know who that was? Who was Jesse’s most famous son? He was King David from whose line is God’s promised Salvation; A Dominion to be established for ever! (Matthew 1:5-6; cf. 2 Samuel 7). This Dominion is of course accomplished through another descendant of Rahab the redeemed prostituted Canaanite – that is Jesus, the Redeemer himself, the Messiah! (cf. Matthew 1:16).

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” – and God chose to send His only begotten son through the ancestral line of the redeemed life of Rahab.

Scholar Richard Hess tells us that, “the story of Rahab confirms God’s welcome to all people, whatever their condition. Christ died for all the world and the opportunity is available for all to come to him through faith, even the chief of sinners [like you and like me] (1 Timothy 1:15)...Rahab exhibits faith and understanding of the God who saves her. She becomes part of the family line that leads to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and [she is] a model of faith for all Christians” (Hebrews 11:31).[8]

Rahab, who was once a prostituted Canaanite on the margins of society now stands redeemed, saved, holy, cleansed, and as one of the heroes of the faith. You and I here today, no matter what we done, no matter who we have been, no matter what has happened to us, we too can be saved from it all. Jesus died on the cross so that we could die to our sins and He rose from the grave so that we can live out a holy, redeemed life (cf. Romans 10:9-13). It is my prayer that today each of us would - like righteous Rahab - take God up on His offer of His Salvation and of His Redemption.

Let us pray.

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Friday, November 4, 2016

Devotion 2.27/79: 1 Samuel 28: Ghostly

Presented to River Street Cafe, 28 October 2016

1 Samuel 28:3-25:

Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.

The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and set up camp at Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a witch, a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said.

So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”

But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.”

Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?”

“Bring up Samuel,” he said.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”

The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

“What does he look like?” he asked.

“An old man wearing a robe is coming up,” she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”

Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

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What has happened in this story? Saul who was the King of Israel, his job then just like our Queen’s job today was to be Defender of the Faith. He was supposed to be a King who worked for God. But he abandoned God and went to a witch, a medium, to consult the dead for help instead. Saul left God and so in his darkest hour ahead, God was not with him. And it ended badly. He and his sons the very next day joined the ranks of the dead.

But it didn’t need to be that way. As the Bible tells us in John 3:16, ‘for God so loved the whole world that whosoever believeth in shall not perish but have everlasting life.’ If, instead of like King Saul here, like others we turn to God in our times of trouble He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us. As we persevere in our faith, God promises that He will see us through. And He will. We can trust Him who is faithful and He will give us the strength to keep keeping on.

Devotion 2.26/78: 3 John 11: Imitation

Presented to Riverside Cafe, 21 October 2016

Read 3 John 11

Late one night, a burglar breaks into a house that he thinks is empty. He tiptoes through the living room but suddenly freezes in his tracks when he hears a voice say: “Jesus is watching you!”

When it becomes quiet again, the burglar creeps forward. And again the voice says, “Jesus is watching you.”

The burglar stops dead in his tracks. He is frightened. Frantically, he looks all around. In a dark corner, he spots a… birdcage and in the cage is… a parrot.

Gathering his senses, he asks the parrot: “Was it you all this time who said, ‘Jesus is watching me?’”

“Yes”, said the parrot.

The burglar breathes a sigh of relief, then gaining some confidence he asks the parrot: “What’s your name?”

“Clarence,” says the bird.

“That's a dumb name for a parrot,” sneers the now confident burglar. “What kind of a silly person would name a bird, ‘Clarence?’”

The parrot replies, “The same person who would call his attack dog ‘Jesus’… Jesus is watching you.”

Parrots are good imitators and our verse today is exhorting us to be good imitators, it says, 3 John 11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”

Pertaining to this imitation: I think that we have all heard the analogy at one time or another in a sermon about counterfeiting counter-measures and how the authorities spot counterfeit currency. What they don’t do to learn how to identify counterfeit money is study counterfeit money. Instead what they do do is study real money. When they can identify the real thing then they know that all else is not the real thing. It is the same with us as it is only when we spend more time focusing on Christ, in prayer, worship, and Bible study, and less time on ourselves indulging in the selfish values of the world that we recognize what is good and what is evil. And also as we spend more of the currency of our time with God we will obviously become more like Him; however, there are those who will choose instead to use their time spending the counterfeit currencies of the world doing what is selfish and what is evil. 3 John tells us these people have not even seen God. We need to spend time with God to see Him and we need to spend time imitating what is good to build up for ourselves the real treasures that are in heaven (Matthew 6:19-24).

3 John 11: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Genesis 17:15-18:15: Laughter (Nothing is too difficult for God)

Presented to Corps 614 Regent Park and The Warehouse Mission, 30 October 2016 by Captain Michael Ramsay

We have a couple of significant days coming up this week. Do we know what they are? What’s Monday? (Hallow e'en) And what’s Tuesday? (All Saints Day). We will look at both of these in the context of our scripture today (Genesis 17-18) but first I have some October 31 Trivia questions for us. Let’s see how we do?[1]

What happened on October 31, 1517?
Name one witch in the Bible?
Who famously survived a diet of worms?
Which of the following is not in the Bible (ghost, vampire, one raised from the dead)?
What was Luther protesting on October 31, 1517?
T or F: Jesus tells a parable of a haunted house.
Which King of Israel consulted a medium to contact the dead?

This Monday is not only Hallow e'en, it is also Reformation Day. We mentioned October 31, 1517, was the date Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church. Do we know to what his 95 Theses primarily referred? It is actually quite long and complicated and some of his 95 points make more sense than others but the main gist of it has to do with Papal Indulgences; do we know what Papal Indulgences were and thus what Martin Luther was protesting?

To draw an analogy from last century: Do you remember the televangelists from the 20th century… like the Jimmy and Tammy Faye Baker and Oral Roberts in the 1980s? They were getting rich peddling Christian-themed items and such. The Bakers even started an entire Christian amusement park and Roberts went so far as to lock himself in a tower and said that unless people gave him eight million dollars God would ‘call him home’. These people used or abused their authority and reputation to make money.

Way back in Luther’s time, something similar was occurring. A theological position had previously developed and was becoming quite prevalent that people would go to a place called purgatory after they died and purgatory was not a great place. Purgatory was a place of torment, where people would be purified of their sins by being tortured until they were made holy. Powerful people in the church were telling others that if they wanted to get their departed loved ones out of this spiritual Guantanamo Bay, all they had to do was pay some money and they would pray them out of Purgatory or give them time off for good behaviour or something like that. This –buying your friends and family out of purgatory - was called buying Papal Indulgences. The monk, Martin Luther, like so many other churchmen of his day had a real problem with powerful people exploiting others and this complaint was the main thrust of Luther’s 95 Theses. So on every October 31^st we are invited to remember that Salvation is due to the grace of God, not actions like by paying money or doing other things. And salvation can’t be bestowed or prevented by clergy or other church, political, family, civic, or other leaders. Holiness and Salvation come from Christ alone and Christ says we can all be holy. We’ll come back to this in a bit but first let’s look at Isaac and his mom and dad.

Do we know who Isaac’s mom and dad were? Isaac’s mom was Rebecca and Isaac’s dad was Abraham. And Isaac, he was born when his dad was 100 years-old and his mom was ninety.

Now Heather was born when I was in my forties and I certainly don't have the same energy I did when my older two girls were her age. Even my children’s grandparents are nowhere near the 100 years-old that Abraham was when Isaac was born and they definitely are a little slower keeping up with their grand-kids than they were with their own children. I can’t imagine what it would be like raising a child at 100.

Every month Susan and some others go to the Arthur Meighen Centre to lead a service for the seniors. They are great folks; many of them have age-related challenges and most of them are not 100 or even 90 years-old. Can you imagine if we went to a service at the old age home next week and one of the seniors gave birth? I can't imagine raising my own child at 90 years-old, let alone being a woman and giving birth in my 90s. This is the miracle of Isaac's birth. Nothing is too difficult for God.

Now Isaac is a nice name. His name means laughter. Does anyone here know what their names mean? My name means ‘Servant of God’, Rebecca’s name means ‘Covenant’, Sarah-Grace means ‘Princess-Gift of God’ and Heather is a beautiful flower. Do you know why Isaac is called ‘Laughter’?[2]

It comes back to this story in Genesis - an angel of the Lord tells Abraham that his 90 something year-old wife will give birth.[3] Sarah hears this and she laughs out loud. The Angel calls her on it, saying, ‘why did you laugh when I said you were going to have a baby’? To which Sarah replies, ‘I didn't laugh’; The Angel says, ‘yes you did’; so God and the Angel call her child ‘Laughter’ to remind her and us not to doubt the power and the providence of God. Nothing is too difficult for God. There is nothing God cannot do. Do we know this? Do we believe this?[4]

This relates back to Reformation Day and Martin Luther a little bit. Remember one of the things that he was protesting was people thinking that they could pay or earn their way to God; that they could somehow merit or someone else could impede their eternal relationship with God.

Abraham and Sarah each laughed when they heard that God was going to give them a child. They didn’t believe that God would take care of them in this way; they didn’t know God can do anything. Do we? Do we believe that? Do we know that? Do we believe that whatever is wrong in our lives, God can take care of us? Every time Abraham and Sarah would be tempted to doubt that in the future they simply had to laugh or recall their son Isaac’s name, ‘Laughter’ and they would be reminded of his miraculous birth and that nothing is too difficult for God (Matthew 19:26, Luke 18:27).

This relates a little bit to All Saints Day which is coming up this week as well. Do we know what a saint is in the Bible? ‘Saint’ is actually the Bible`s word for a Christian. ‘Saint’ is one of those words I think that is left over from the King James translation that we should update so people know what we`re talking about because a lot of people only think of saints as dead people. The Bible says that if you are a Christian you are a saint. And more than that: If we were to name attributes of a saint, what might they be? (Good, nice, holy). Did you know that the word for saint in Greek is from exactly the same word as holy?[5] So the Bible says – especially in 1 Peter – that we who are Christians are holy. It is the same word.[6] The Bible says that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) but it does not say that we all sin all the time. We are no longer sinners; we are now holy saints, because God says so and God makes it so.[7] 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 tells as that as we serve God, He will transform our lives from sin to salvation. He will do it. He loves us. He makes us holy.[8] He makes us saints.

This is important. Whenever someone tells you that you are a failure, you can say ‘No, I’m a saint – the Bible says so’. It really does. Whenever someone tells you, you are no good, you can say, ‘No, I’m a saint.’ Whenever someone tells us we are worthless, what can we say? (No, I’m a saint). Whenever someone tells us we are evil what can we say? (No, I’m a saint). Whenever someone tells us we are less than in any way what can we say? (No, I’m a saint).

The God who transforms people in the Bible can transform you and He can transform me. The God who saves people in the Bible can save you and He can save me. The God in the Bible who loves people – the whole world’s worth (John 3:16) – He loves you and He loves me. God made us to be holy as He is holy – like the Bible from 1 Peter all the way back to Leviticus records – God has transformed us who love Him into saints. So next time you hear your Christian friend here saying ‘I’m not a saint,’ encourage and correct them, because they are a saint and so are you. God has declared us such: even me. Nothing is too difficult for God. So let’s praise Him for that today and on Tuesday which is our day – All Saints Day.

This is important. Nothing is too difficult for God. Sarah and Abraham had some really difficult challenges in their lives but nothing is too difficult for God. Twice Sarah said that she was Abraham`s sister instead of his wife so people wouldn’t kill her husband and take her away. And even though Abraham and Sarah messed things up by trying to solve the problem on their own, God took care of them. Nothing is too difficult for God.

Having a child was seen as being blessed by God; someone who did not have a child was thought to be cursed. This troubled Sarah and Abraham greatly. And even though Sarah messed things up a bit, God took care of them. He gave her a child and named him ‘Laughter’ to remind them that even though they laughed at the prospect of having this child, here he is because nothing is too difficult for God.

Before that Sarah even went so far as to force her slave girl to have relations with her husband so that she could have her child. And even though Abraham and Sarah messed things up by trying to do things without Him, God took care of them.[9] He gave them this child and another child, who was begotten of them both named ‘Laughter’ to remind them that nothing is too difficult for God.

Every time after that someone laughed or every time after that they heard their son’s name, I’m sure they could laugh assuredly in the providence of God. Many times in her life and their life Sarah and Abraham messed up but God took care of them; nothing is too difficult for God.

Many times in my life I have messed up, made serious mistakes, done bad things, but God takes care of me. He calls me ‘holy’. I am a saint. You are a saint if you love God. Nothing is too difficult for God. God has been with me through my darkest hours, just like he was with Abraham and Sarah and later Isaac and his sons and their sons. We spoke about Judah the other week, Sarah’s great grandson and Isaac’s grandson. He messed up a lot but God took care of him. His brother spent years in slavery and in prison and during that time the Bible tells us he prospered and how did he prosper? He prospered because God took care of him. Nothing is too difficult for God. God took care of him. And they could all look back on the naming of Isaac, their relative, laugh and remember that nothing is too difficult for God.

Today, I know there are many people here who are in the midst of so much. There is illness all around. I honestly can`t believe the number of people with cancer these days. There is addiction here and there and everywhere struggling with many of us as well. There are mental health issues. People in our family and our community are struggling with so much. There are broken relationships; Struggles around parents, children, jobs, finances, food, housing, and security. So much happens here in our world, our community, our family right here but you know what? Even in our darkest hour God will take care of us. Nothing is too difficult for God.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] 1) Martin Luther presented his 95 Theses 2) The Witch of Endor 3) Martin Luther 4) Vampire 5) Papal Indulgences 6) True 7) King Saul

[2] Cf John H. Sailhamer, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM: Genesis/Exposition of Genesis/II. Abraham 11:27-25:10 [11])/D. The Lot Narratives (13:5-19:38)/5. Abraham, Sarah, and Ishmael (17:1-27), Book Version: 4.0.2

[3] Cf. Terence E. Fretheim, The Book of Genesis, (NIB I: Abingdon Press: Nashville, 1994), 463. One might see how this news would be surprising as the passage is clear (Genesis 18:11) that Sarah has stopped menstruating.

[4] Cf. Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation: Genesis, (John Knox Press: Atlanta, Georgia, 1982), 159. This is actually the primary focus of the text.

[5] Cf. Paul Minear, Interpretation 37 no 1 Jan 1983, p. 22: In his death and resurrection, Jesus' holiness or sanctification became the measure and standard of all holiness, whether of places, times, things, or persons. (Key passages which reflect this are John 10:36; 17:17-19; I Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 2:11; 10:10; 12:14-24; 13:12-14.)

[6] John D.W. Watts. 'Holy.' In Holman Bible Dictionary, general editor Trent C. Butler. Nashville, Tennessee: Holman Bible Publishers, 1991), 660. W.E. Vine. 'Holiness, Holy, Holily.' In Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word. (Nashville, Tennessee: Royal Publishers Inc., 1939), 555.

[7] N.T. Wright , Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision. (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2009), 142

[8] W.E. Vine. . 'Holiness, Holy, Holily.' In Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word. (Nashville, Tennessee: Royal Publishers Inc., 1939), 556.

[9] Cf. John H. Walton, ‘Genesis’ in NIVAC Bundle 1: Penteteuch. (Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA: Zondervan, 2001), Loc 9574, re. Noble intent gone awry.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Devotion 2.25/77: James 2:25: Redeemed

Presented to Riverside Cafe, 14 October 2016

Read James 2:24-25

Today when we hear the name Rahab, we often think of this lady whom the LORD used to save the spies and deliver Jericho into the Hebrews’ hands. Did you know the name ‘Rahab’ translated from Hebrew means ‘broad’ or ‘fat’ and in common usage it refers to ‘fierceness’, ‘insolence’, and ‘pride.’ In the Bible, the word ‘Rahab’ is used commonly as an insult for the country of Egypt. Rahab, the lady in this passage, was a marginalized, prostituted Canaanite. But Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed!

We remember the wealthy landowner, Boaz, who married the Mobitess Ruth; Boaz was Rahab the Canaanite’s son. Ruth was Rahab’s daughter-in-law. Ruth and Boaz had a child, Obed, who was Rahab’s grandson. His son, Rahab’s great grandson was Jesse and his son, Rahab’s great great grandson was King David from whose line God promised Salvation and Dominion for ever! (Mt 1:5-6; cf. 2 Sam 7). This salvation was of course accomplished through another descendant of Rahab the redeemed Canaanite – that is Jesus, the Redeemer himself! (cf. Mt 1:16).

God chose to do this through, to send His only begotten son through the ancestral line of the redeemed life of Rahab. Scholar Richard Hess tells us, “the story of Rahab confirms God’s welcome to all people, whatever their condition. Christ died for all the world and the opportunity is available for all to come to him through faith, even the chief of sinners [like you and like me] (1 Tim 1:15)...Rahab exhibits faith and understanding of the God who saves her. She becomes part of the family line that leads to the birth of Jesus (Mt 1:5) and [she is] a model of faith for all Christians” (Hb 11:31).

Rahab, who was once a prostituted Canaanite on the margins of society stands redeemed, saved, holy, cleansed, and as one of the heroes of the faith. You and I here today, no matter what we done, no matter who we have been, no matter what has happened to us, we too can be saved, we too can be redeemed. Jesus died on the cross so that we could die to our sins and He rose from the grave so that we could live out a holy, redeemed life (cf. Romans 10:9-13)!

As such, it is my prayer that today each of us would - like righteous Rahab - take God up on His offer of His Salvation and of His Redemption.

Devotion 2.24/76: Psalm 100:4: Canadian Thanksgiving

Presented to Riverside Cafe 07 October 2016

Read Psalm 100

There is a children`s book, Thanksgiving Day in Canada - I hope to remember to bring it Sunday. I have quoted it quite often for many years when speaking about Thanksgiving in Canada – my children all know the book very well too. This year I found out something very interesting. You know that Susan and I are responsible for The Salvation Army`s Warehouse Mission now as well as 614 here. With Thanksgiving coming up I happened to be speaking with the worship leader, Krys Lewicki, there about the book and it turns out that he wrote that book (it was promoted by CBC as part of Canada`s 125 anniversary). Krys also wrote a Thanksgiving song that is in that book that we will hear on Sunday as he will be helping lead us in worship here. From the book:

The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving are more closely connected to the traditions of Europe than of the United States. Long before Europeans settled in North America, festivals of thanks and celebrations of harvest took place in Europe in the month of October. The very first Thanksgiving celebration in North America took place in Canada when Martin Frobisher, an explorer from England, arrived in Newfoundland in 1578. He wanted to give thanks for his safe arrival to the New World. That means the first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated 43 years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts!

For a few hundred years, Thanksgiving was celebrated in either late October or early November, before it was declared a national holiday in 1879. It was then, that November 6th was set aside as the official Thanksgiving holiday. But then on January 31, 1957, Canadian Parliament announced that on the second Monday in October, Thanksgiving would be "a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed."

Thanksgiving was moved to the second Monday in October because after the World Wars, Remembrance Day (November 11th) and Thanksgiving kept falling in the same week. Another reason for Canadian Thanksgiving arriving earlier than its American counterpart is that Canada is geographically further north than the United States, causing the Canadian harvest season to arrive earlier than the American harvest season. And since Thanksgiving for Canadians is more about giving thanks to the Lord for the harvest season than the arrival of pilgrims, it makes sense to celebrate the holiday in October.

In this day and age of the Holy being replaced by the secular so much in our society, it is good to remember that Parliament itself has declared this upcoming Thanksgiving as "a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed."

Please this weekend let us remember not only to be thankful but to be thankful to God; and with all else that we are indeed thankful for let us not neglect our gratitude for the harvest that the farmers have reaped this year and all those who the Lord will and does provide for through that.

This weekend and this day let us remember to offer thanksgiving to almighty God for all else and for the bountiful harvest with which we have been blessed.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Genesis 38&49: Judah's Family

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 13 Oct. 2013
Presented to 614 & Warehouse in Toronto, 16 Oct. 2016

Presented to Alberni Valley Ministries 04 October 2020

By Captain Michael Ramsay

This is the 2016 version. The original is available on-line here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2013/10/thanksgiving-at-judahs-house.html

To view the Alberni Valley 2020 version, click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2020/10/reading-genesis-38-on-mmiw-day.html

We just had Thanksgiving. This often a time for families to get together. In most homes in this country they had a Thanksgiving turkey. Now, everyone in my house is a vegetarian but even so I tell you I probably was blessed to have had as much turkey as anyone this past Thanksgiving. First we had turkey at the Argos dinner at Harbour Light then we had turkey at the great combined service between Warehouse and 614. This past week we had another great Turkey meal in the café. And on Thanksgiving Monday, Susan made me a Turkey to go along with the girls’ vegetarian dishes. It was great. Thanksgiving is often a time for families to gather together over turkey, so today we are going to look a family of turkeys or people who are seemingly acting like turkeys.

Today we are looking at Judah and Tamar. Does anyone know who are Judah and Tamar? First, who is Judah?Who was Judah’s father? (Jacob). God changed Jacob’s name; to what did He change his name? (Israel). All of the tribes of Israel are descended from and named after the sons of Israel. Judah is the ancestor of one whole tribe of Israel.

The tribe of Judah even becomes the dominant tribe of all the tribes of Israel and long after Israel ceases to exist as a country, the Kingdom of Judah remains. This is interesting. All of this happens with Judah becoming the dominant tribe because Judah in our text is the person to receive the blessing of the birthright.

Who in theory is supposed to receive a birthright; which child? Who is the heir? The oldest son, right? The interesting part here is that not only is Judah not the oldest son, Judah is not even the second oldest son. Now, not only is Judah not the even second oldest son but Judah is also not even the third oldest son. On Thanksgiving Day, if they had Thanksgiving Day then and there, Judah could have been very thankful for his birthright because Judah receives the birthright usually received for the oldest brother and he is the fourth oldest brother. He has three older brothers who had to be disqualified for him to receive the birthright and that blessing. Let’s look at that - how his older brothers disqualified themselves from the birthright and then let’s look a little more into who exactly is this person Judah.

Genesis 49 gives us a bit of an insight into what is going on in Judah’s family. This portion of scripture records Jacob blessing his sons before he dies. These are Israel’s famous last words to his sons. Genesis 49:1-4 tells us a little bit about Ruben, Judah’s oldest brother and why he doesn’t receive the blessing of the birthright:

49:1 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;

listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,

my might, the first sign of my strength,

excelling in honour, excelling in power.

4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,

for you went up onto your father’s bed,

onto my couch and defiled it.

Jacob, says to his oldest son, who is the naturally expected heir to this birthright; Jacob says, Verse 4, “You will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.” Do you know that story? (Israel’s is an interesting family.) Genesis 35:22 records that Reuben lay with Bilhah. Bilhah is his father’s concubine; Bilhah is not only his father’s concubine, Bilhah is his brothers’ mother. Reuben has sexual relations with his brothers’ - Dan and Naphtali - mom. For this his birthright understandably passes down to the second oldest son: Simeon. But Simeon and Levi (the 3^rd eldest) are just as much turkeys as their older brother; these next two sons also disqualify themselves from the blessing of the birthright. Gen 49:5-7:

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers—

their swords are weapons of violence.

6 Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly,

for they have killed men in their anger

and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.

7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel!

I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

This ‘blessing’ upon Simeon and Levi - when their dad is on his deathbed – this blessing where their father declares, “let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly for they have killed men in anger” is rather sharp, to say the least! Do you know what this is about? Genesis 34 records that their sister by the same mom is raped. The man who rapes her, Shechem, repentant, comes afterwards with his dad and asks to have her hand in marriage. Israel agrees but his sons say that all the men of Shechem’s people must be circumcised for this to happen. They agreed and they all become circumcised. Then, while they were all at the height of their pain from being circumcised, Simeon and Levi – these two older brothers - sneak into their camp and kill all the men and take all the women and all their children and more as plunder. As a result of this, Simeon and Levi lose their claim to the birthright and their descendants - the whole tribe of Levi is not given any territory (other than Levite cities) and the whole tribe of Simeon is swallowed up in the tribe of Judah.

The rest of Chapter 49 speaks about the rest of Judah’s brothers. He has quite a large family, probably as many as gathered around Thanksgiving tables this past week across our country. Judah has 11 brothers and an unknown number of sisters and nephews and nieces.

One of Judah’s youngest brothers we know fairly well. Do we know who was Judah’s second youngest brother? His father’s favourite son? (Joseph). We remember the stories of Joseph from the Bible (Gen 37-50). How highly did Judah and the rest of Joseph’s brothers think of Joseph growing up? (Not very!) Remember Joseph has all these dreams about his brothers bowing down to him? (Gen 37:5-11) Remember that his dad flaunts his favouritism and even buys him that coat of many colours and remember how Joseph’s brothers respond to all of this (Gen 37:1-36). They take him and throw him into a well and then at Judah’s recommendation, they sell Joseph as a slave. It is Judah’s idea to sell his little brother into slavery (Gen 37:26-27). That act itself might make one wonder why Judah doesn’t lose his birthright like his older brothers. But he doesn’t

Judah later does redeem himself. Do we remember the end of the Joseph story? The years pass and Joseph is now the one with all the power; he rises to second in command of the regional superpower (Gen 41:37ff.). Joseph is a ruler of Egypt. Joseph then has one of his brothers – Simeon, who comes to him looking for food – put in prison for an indefinite period of time (Gen 42:24). The other brothers later return and Joseph frames one of them for a crime he didn’t commit and is about to throw him in jail, when Judah steps up (Gen 44:18ff.). His brothers can be thankful for Judah. Judah is the one who negotiates freedom for his brothers and Judah is the one God uses to tip Joseph’s hand into revealing his identity and forgiving and providing for his brothers and their families for generations to come. Judah shows here that he is the leader among his brothers. Judah shows that he is a solid choice to inherit the birthright. This brings us back to our story today.

Thanksgiving often sees family gathering from all over the country and here we have an interesting tale about Judah travelling and getting together with his daughter-in-law, Tamar. Tamar isn’t probably an Israelite. Tamar is probably a Canaanite, like Rahab whom we met a couple of weeks ago.[1] We remember from the story of Noah that the Canaanites are cursed for generations for the sins of their father, Ham (Gen 9:25-29). Judah’s son then marries a cursed Canaanite woman – which is later prohibited - and then he dies before he has any children.[2]

Do we understand what is going on in this story with the brothers? In Israel in those days, territorial inheritance was very important and so was having a son to inherit that property. Because of this they had a rule that if a son died without an heir then his younger brother was supposed to have relations with his widow and then the child that results from that would be the heir for his brother. That way the older brother would have an heir and his descendants would not lose their claim to a part of Israel. Judah cooperates with this rule and Judah gives his second son to Tamar, the widow of his first son. Judah’s second son however stands to inherit all of his brother’s inheritance if he doesn’t produce an heir; so instead of impregnating Tamar, he uses ‘protection’ of sorts. He doesn’t complete the job. This makes God mad because Onan was not only hurting Er, his deceased brother, but he was also hurting Tamar, his brother’s widow, and he was hurting Judah, his father, and he was hurting his whole family’s inheritance.[3] God takes Onan’s life. So now Judah has lost his two oldest sons and his eldest son’s widow Tamar is still without an heir for the family.

In that place and at that time there was probably not a more vulnerable person in society than a childless widow – especially since she was a foreigner. A widow without a child has no one to care for her and Judah, while Tamar is in this state, Judah sends his daughter-in-law away. He says that his youngest son is far too young for her and he sends Tamar away without providing the heir that he must provide. Judah puts himself before the command to provide an heir for his son and Judah puts himself before the command to look after the widow in his own household.

Judah sends her away. He doesn’t seem to concern himself with her again. His youngest child grows up and he never fulfils the obligation to give him to Tamar or to invite Tamar back into his clan where she belongs.

Tamar, who is being the good widow at this point, even though she has been sent away, she has still been faithfully living in seclusion while wearing her widow’s clothing. She then hears that her father-in-law is coming to town so she puts on some nice clothes and goes to meet him. Judah sees her and he mistakes her for a prostitute. Here is an opportunity that appears. Judah owes her a son and Judah thinks she’s a prostitute. Judah decides that he wants to use her services but he doesn’t have any money; so Tamar – thinking on her feet - asks for his signet and cord. A signet is like a signature - it is unique to the individual - so one can see how Tamar is taking advantage of this God-given opportunity.[4] Tamar does become pregnant. Some people find out about this and tell Judah that his daughter-in-law (who is supposed to be celibate) is pregnant. The law says that she should be put to death, especially as this happened, so rumour has it, as a result of prostitution. It is at this point that she lets Judah know that he is the father. Judah then admits his sin, what he has done to her and to his family. She gives birth to twins. Judah takes responsibility for his children, one of whom is the direct ancestor of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Judah even admits that Tamar is more righteous than is he. Tamar is not a prostitute; she merely conceives the child promised to her.[5]

So why is this story in the Bible? It is important. The fact that a child of this encounter is an ancestor of both King David and Jesus Christ, is mentioned more than once, by more than one author, writing at more than one distinct era in history (cf Ruth 4:18-23, Mt 1:3). Matthew, in the New Testament makes a point of mentioning that it is Judah’s son by Tamar who is in Jesus’ line and Matthew and Ruth even tell us which one of the twins he is: Perez. This story is very important in the history of Israel. This story is very important in the ancestry of King David and this story is very important in the ancestry Christ Jesus, so why is it important to us? And what does it mean to us today?

I think the key point here lies in who is Tamar: Tamar is a Canaanite. The Canaanites are the cursed descendants of Ham. She is cursed; she is a woman; she is a widow; she is a cursed, abused widow who has been even further marginalized and further taken advantage of by privileged Israelites and she, Tamar, is an ancestor of Christ. You couldn’t be much more on the margins of society than is Tamar and Tamar is the ancestor of Jesus.[6]

Jesus in his ministry is always helping the poor, the widow, and the immigrant. Tamar is just that and Tamar is Jesus’ ancestor. God used Tamar – and Judah - to save the whole world in that her actions led to Christ.[7] So as God can use Tamar, who was abused and marginalized to extremes that some of us can only imagine, so too can he use us and that is something for which we can all be thankful. No matter who we are in this life, if we are marginalized and sometimes think ourselves to be nothing, maybe like Tamar; or if we make serious mistakes and commit abusive egregious sins even like Judah; no matter who we are God loves us, He can change us, He can save us and God can use even you and I to point others to His Salvation both now and forever. Let us pray

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] But cf. John H. Sailhamer, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, PradisCD-ROM:Genesis/Exposition of Genesis/VI. The Account of Jacob (37:1-49:33)/D. Judah and Tamar (38:1-30), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2] Cf. Thomas W, Mann, The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch, (Louisville, Kentucky: John Knox Press, 1988), 66-68.

[3] Derek Kidner, Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1967 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 1), S. 199: The fact that a single Hebrew word suffices for the phrase perform the duty of a brother-in-law (rsv) would confirm that this was a standard practice, even if there were no record of the law in Deuteronomy 25:5ff. Each of the three Old Testament references to this regulation (cf. Ruth 4:5f.) shows that it could be most unwelcome, chiefly through the very fact that the donor himself set great store on family inheritance—but his own. The enormity of Onan’s sin is in its studied outrage against the family, against his brother’s widow and against his own body. The standard English versions fail to make clear that this was his persistent practice. When (9) should be translated ‘whenever’

[4] Cf. Terence E. Fretheim, The Book of Genesis, (NIB I: Abingdon Press: Nashville, 1994), 606.

[5] Cf. Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation: Genesis, (John Knox Press: Atlanta, Georgia, 1982), 311.

[6] Cf. Dorothy Jean Weaver, “‘Wherever This Good News Is Proclaimed”: Women and God in the Gospel of Matthew’, in Interpretation 64, no. 4, (October, 2010) 394-395

[7] Cf. Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation: Genesis, (John Knox Press: Atlanta, Georgia, 1982), 311.

Friday, September 30, 2016

Rahab the Redeemed, 2016 (Jos 2&6, Heb 11:31, Jas 2:25)

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 25 September 2011, the Weekend of Prayer to Stop Human Trafficking and 20 October 2013. Presented on the same same occasion 25 September 2016 at Warehouse Mission in Toronto. Presented also on the 15^th Anniversary of Corps 614 Regent Park in Toronto, 01 October 2016. And to Alberni Valley Ministries on 13 January 2018

This is the 01 October 2016, Corps 614 version. To view the original, click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2011/09/rahab-redeemed-joshua-2-hebrews-1131.html

To view the January 2018 version, click here: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2019/01/joshua-2-redeemed.html

A distinguished, prominent big city pastor cruised through a small town. As he did his eyes fell upon a child not more than two feet tall at the door of one of the houses. The boy was on tiptoes valiantly attempting to reach the doorbell. Amused and wanting to help, the pastor parked his car and went over to assist the boy. He reached up and pushed his finger onto the button and the chimes rang inside. Satisfied that he had done his good deed for the day, the pastor turned to the child, “Okay, what happens next?”

With a smile the child replied, “Now we run!”

Another story: This lady goes to the doctor. She has been in serious pain for quite a while. The doctor asks her where it hurts and what is the matter. To which she replies, “It hurts when I touch my temple; it hurts when I touch my side; it hurts when I touch my arm; it even hurts when I touch my nose.”

“I think I know what the problem is”, the doctor says, “your finger is broken.”

Now, of course, last week we spoke about the real pain associated with Human Trafficking. Susan spoke about Hagar. Today I thought we would chat about the story of a prostituted Canaanite lady, Rahab (Joshua 2&6, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25). While there is no direct evidence that Rahab was trafficked to various locations: her family lived in the same town as she did (Jericho) and by all accounts she had a strong positive relationship with her family (Joshua 2:12-13, 18; 6:23).[2] However, many of the people trafficked today in Canada are prostituted in a way similar to the way Rahab was a prostitute:[3] though Shrine prostitution was not uncommon among the pagan peoples in Canaan, Rahab was not a shrine prostitute: the language used of Rahab’s activity refers to her strictly as a secular prostitute not unlike some in our own time, in our own country.[4]

Prostitutes then, like prostituted people today, were often on the margins of society. Today we are marking the 15^th anniversary of our corps and many of us who are or have been part of 614, at some time, for some reason, have also been marginalized. Such was Rahab. The significant thing about Rahab, of course, was that she was redeemed – even as she was marginalized God redeemed her. She turned from her life in Jericho to a life in God (Joshua 2, 6); she was redeemed - James recognizes her for both her faith and her works (James 2:24-26). Rahab was redeemed and the author of the sermon (or letter) to the Hebrews even records her as one of the heroes (heroines) of the faith. Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” Rahab, the prostitute, was saved. Rahab was redeemed.

Now today when we hear the name Rahab, we often think of this lady whom the LORD used to save the spies and deliver Jericho into the Hebrews’ hands. Does anyone know what the name ‘Rahab’ actually means? It -literally translated from Hebrew- means ‘broad’, ‘fat’, or ‘large’ and in common usage it refers to ‘fierceness’, ‘insolence’, and ‘pride’.[5] In the Bible, the country of Egypt is sometimes derogatorily referred to as a Rahab. Rahab is an insult used of one of the Hebrews’ off again / on again enemies, the Egyptians.[6] Egypt - according to Isaiah and according to the Psalms – Egypt is a fat, insolent, Rahab (Psalm 89:10, Isaiah 51:9; cf. Psalm 87:4, Isaiah 30:7). Rahab in our story today was a prostituted Canaanite. But Rahab is saved! and Rahab is redeemed!

Now many of you know some of our own personal history. Susan, the girls (the oldest 2 anyway), and I served with 614 Vancouver in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside many years ago. And before we were appointed to serve the LORD and the Army in Toronto here, we served in Downtown Winnipeg and Winnipeg’s North End; I also served in Stoney Mountain Penitentiary and Saskatchewan. We made more than a few friends in these environments who –like Rahab- were relegated to the margins of society by either circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. We had friends in our cell groups, Bible studies, knee drills, church services, and/or staying in our very home (we ran a transition residence in Vancouver) who were prostituted peoples, addicted to drugs and alcohol, reliant on theft and deception, and we have friends whom the Lord redeemed and transformed as –among other things- we read the Bible in community.

We have had more than one friend, for whom our hearts still break, overdose, convicted of murder, and other such things – some even since knowing the Lord. Sometimes we fall back but even still I have seen God transform many lives: sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes thrice, or even more as need be. There are many more people still relegated to the margins of our society even here - they (we) are not unredeemable; they (we) are as ready for redemption as anyone. During the many years we lived and worked in Saskatchewan between Nipawin, Tisdale, Carrot River, and Swift Current, I have spent many hours sitting with my friends in the courts, speaking with our friends in the courts, speaking on behalf of friends in the courts, praying with friends in the courts. There are many people we knew there and we know here who wind up on the margins of our society by either circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. They can be redeemed. We can be redeemed.

The weekend between the garage sale, church service and everything else we have been marking our 15^th anniversary as a corps and many of us at one time or another have found ourselves outcast like Rahab. Rahab in our story today, Rahab was a prostitute. Rahab was a Canaanite. Rahab was marginalized. Rahab was an outcast. And Rahab is saved! And Rahab is redeemed! We can be saved! We can be redeemed!

I have been involved with AA at times in my life and at AA we speak about a higher power. Step 1 in AA: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.” Step 2: We “came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity” and Step 3: We “made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood God.”

And God is great and God can redeem us and God can save us. And God offers salvation not only from alcohol; not only from addiction; not only from a horrible, storied past of abuse and other things; but from all else as well. There is one name by which we all can be saved not only for the here and the now but forever (Acts 4:12). That Name, that One is Jesus. Jesus has died and he rose again from the grave so that we don’t need to be trapped in our addictions; we don’t need to be trapped in our sins; we don’t need to be trapped in our struggles. Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin and death so that even those of us most caught by sin and by circumstance can be saved. Rahab was prostituted in a doomed pagan city. Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed. We, no matter who we are and what we have had done to us what we have done, we can be saved. We can be redeemed (TSA docs. 6&10).

After Rahab’s faith and deeds were used by God to save the Hebrew spies and deliver Jericho over to the LORD, do you know how the Lord transformed her life? According to Jewish tradition, she became the ancestor of eight priests (Tal Megillah 14b). She is listed as one of four women of surpassing beauty (Tal Megillah 15a; the others were Sarah, Abigail, and Esther).[7] Rahab may mean ‘broad’ but this Rahab is nonetheless a beauty. She is – as Reba said last week – she is not a back of the store lady; she is a front of the store lady! Like we all can be front of the store people! The Bible tells us Rahab married Salmon, one of the princes of Judah (Ruth 4:21, 1 Chronicles 2:11, Matthew 1:5). We remember too the wealthy landowner, Boaz, who married the Moabite Ruth of the book of Ruth; this prominent Boaz was Rahab the Canaanite’s son. Ruth was Rahab’s daughter-in-law. Ruth and Boaz had a child, Obed, who was Rahab’s grandson. His son, Rahab’s great grandson was Jesse and his son, Rahab’s great great grandson... do we know who that was? Who was Jesse’s most famous son? He was King David from whose line God promised Salvation and to establish His Dominion for ever! (Matthew 1:5-6; cf. 2 Samuel 7). This was of course accomplished through another descendant of Rahab the redeemed prostituted Canaanite – that is Jesus, the Redeemer himself, the Messiah! (cf. Matthew 1:16).

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” – and God chose to do this through, to send His only begotton son through the ancestral line of the redeemed life of Rahab.

Scholar Richard Hess tells us that, “the story of Rahab confirms God’s welcome to all people, whatever their condition. Christ died for all the world and the opportunity is available for all to come to him through faith, even the chief of sinners [like you and like me] (1 Timothy 1:15)...Rahab exhibits faith and understanding of the God who saves her. She becomes part of the family line that leads to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and [she is] a model of faith for all Christians” (Hebrews 11:31).[8]

Rahab, who was once a prostituted Canaanite on the margins of society now stands redeemed, saved, holy, cleansed, and as one of the heroes of the faith. You and I here today, no matter what we done, no matter who we have been, no matter what has happened to us, we too can be saved. Jesus died on the cross so that we could die to our sins and He rose from the grave so that we could live out a holy, redeemed life (cf. Romans 10:9-13). It is my prayer that today each of us would - like righteous Rahab - take God up on His offer of His Salvation and of His Redemption.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

[1] Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, Genesis 50:15-21: Regarding Forgiveness: Do not be afraid, for are we in the place of God? Presented to the Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 07 August 2011. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/08/genesis-5015-21-regarding-forgiveness.html And Captain Michael Ramsay, Genesis 39:2a: The Lord was with Joseph and He Prospered. Presented to the Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 10 July 2011. Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/07/genesis-392a-lord-was-with-joseph-and.html

[2] Cf. Robert B. Coote, The Book of Joshua, (NIB II: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1998), 592.

[3] Cf. RCMP Criminal Intelligence. Project SECLUSION: Human Trafficking in Canada (Ottawa: 2010).

[4] Leon Morris, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Hebrews/Exposition of Hebrews/VIII. Faith (11:1-40)/F. The Faith of the Exodus Generation (11:29-31), Book Version: 4.0.2

[5] ‘Rahab’ in Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary. Cited from Biblegateway.com. Available on-line: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=1&wid=T0003054

[6] ‘Rahab’ in Smith’s Bible Names Dictionary. Cited from Biblegateway.com. Available on-line: http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=3&wid=S10094

[7] Leon Morris, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Hebrews/Exposition of Hebrews/VIII. Faith (11:1-40)/F. The Faith of the Exodus Generation (11:29-31), Book Version: 4.0.2

[8] Richard S. Hess, Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1996 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 6), S. 89

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Sunday, January 13, 2019

Joshua 2: Redeemed!

Friday, November 4, 2016

Devotion 2.27/79: 1 Samuel 28: Ghostly

Devotion 2.26/78: 3 John 11: Imitation

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Genesis 17:15-18:15: Laughter (Nothing is too difficult for God)

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Devotion 2.25/77: James 2:25: Redeemed

Devotion 2.24/76: Psalm 100:4: Canadian Thanksgiving

Friday, October 14, 2016

Genesis 38&49: Judah's Family

Friday, September 30, 2016

Rahab the Redeemed, 2016 (Jos 2&6, Heb 11:31, Jas 2:25)

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