The Power of Unexpected Faith
An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on January 19, 2025, in the Joshua series. Watch the sermon video here.
Have you ever felt like you weren't good enough for God? Like your past mistakes or current struggles might disqualify you from being part of His plan? The story of Rahab from Joshua chapter 2 shows us something amazing: God can use anyone who puts their trust in Him – even those we least expect.
Setting the Scene
Picture this: The Israelites are finally ready to enter the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering in the desert. Joshua sends two spies to check out Jericho, their first major obstacle. These spies end up finding help in the most unexpected place – the house of Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute and pagan.
An Unexpected Act of Faith
But here's where it gets interesting. Rahab, despite being an outsider and someone society – and especially the Israelites – might look down on, shows incredible faith. She had heard stories about Israel's God – how He parted the Red Sea and helped His people defeat powerful armies. Instead of staying loyal to her own city, she makes a bold choice. She hides the spies and declares her faith in Israel's God, saying, "The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below." This beautiful and unexpected statement of faith encourages the spies to go back to their people and tell them that God is delivering on his promise to deliver the Promised Land into their hands.
Three Life-Changing Truths
Why does this matter to us today? Because Rahab's story teaches us three powerful truths:
1. God's Answers Come in Unexpected Ways
When we pray, we often have a specific idea of how God should answer. But sometimes, God's best answers come through unlikely people or situations we never saw coming. Just like the spies probably never expected their crucial information would come through a pagan woman who was a prostitute, God is working in unexpected ways in our own lives.
2. God's Grace Has No Limits
Rahab wasn't just an outsider – she was someone from a culture that opposed everything God's people stood for. Yet when she put her faith in God, He not only saved her but gave her an amazing place in history. She later became part of Jesus' own family line! This shows us that no one is too far from God's grace. Your past doesn't determine your future with God.
3. God's Plan Can't Be Stopped
The bigger picture in this story is fascinating. Remember that terrifying moment when the Israelites first tried to enter the Promised Land 40 years earlier? They were too scared to go in. But during those 40 years of wandering, God was actually working behind the scenes. By the time they returned, the people of Jericho were terrified of them – exactly as God had promised would happen!
Making It Personal: Your Journey with God
Maybe you're reading this and feeling like Rahab – an outsider looking in. Maybe you think your mistakes are too big, your past too messy, or your doubts too strong. Rahab's story is for you. It shows us that God's grace is bigger than our past and that faith – even just a starting point of faith – is what matters to God.
Conclusion: Your Part in God's Story
The amazing thing about Rahab's story is that it's not just about one person's faith journey. It's about how God weaves our stories into His bigger plan. Rahab didn't know she would become part of Jesus' family line. She just took one step of faith, trusting that the God of Israel was the true God.
That's all any of us need to do – take that first step of faith, trusting that God's grace is big enough for us too.
Your Next Step
Are you ready? Ready to discover more about God and the Bible? Ready to connect with others in meaningful relationships? Ready to serve God and share the love of Jesus with others? No matter what your next step looks like, we’d be honored to be a part of it. We encourage you to get plugged in at a good, Bible-teaching church like ours. Plan a visit today.