Unlikely Heroes

Daily Old Testament Reading: Joshua 2-4

Daily Focus Passage: Joshua 2

The book of Joshua opens as the children of Israel march toward the Promised Land. This approach to the land will differ from the previous approach because now the people will follow the Lord and conquer the land. In Joshua 2, an unlikely hero appears on the scene. This hero is a gentile prostitute named Rahab who dwells in Jericho. She hid the spies of the children of Israel as they prepared to attack Jericho. Rahab's service to the Lord comes with the reward of rescue as the city falls. Rahab teaches us some truths about unlikely heroes.

UNLIKELY HEROES DO NOT MATCH THE IDEA OF HUMANITY

When we think of a hero, we imagine a superhero. A superhero fights for justice and typically holds a superpower that gives them an advantage. At the same time, we often consider a hero one who performs a saving task and, as a result, becomes worthy of much praise and adoration. In Joshua 2, the Lord used a Gentile prostitute, not a superpowerful individual. The Lord's hero does not match humanity's ideas; instead, the Lord looks at the heart of the one who serves him.  

UNLIKELY HEROES HAVE HEARD OF THE GREATNESS OF GOD AND RESPOND

Rahab's career marked her as an outcast in society. The people would have known her by her trade and probably did not know her as a person. The Lord saw something different. Rahab had heard the stories of the Lord and his work and provision in Israel. She knew the Lord was with them and would bring victory to them. This knowledge led her to the place of confession about the Lord. This confession changed her from a zero to a hero because it linked her identity to the Lord and no longer who she was. She responded in trust and faith as she heard of the Lord's greatness. This response enabled her to be available to be used by the Lord readily.  

UNLIKELY, HEROES SEEK TO PLEASE THE LORD AND NOT HUMANITY

Rahab did not desire to follow the desires of earthly rulers; instead, she sought to fulfill the desires of the Lord. As she hid the spies, this hero did not follow the commands of the rulers of this earth but instead followed the Creator of the world. Genuine heroes seek to please the Lord in their life and all they do. They reject obedience to earthly rulers that neglect and deny the Lord. A genuine hero pledges their allegiance to the Lord and no one else. Rahab chose the Lord over rulers and lived as a true hero.  

UNLIKELY, HEROES BELIEVE IN THE LORD COMPLETELY

Rahab did not waver in her belief in the Lord. She trusted him and believed he would rescue her and her family from the coming destruction. Her complete trust rested in the Lord's nature and character. She believed that the Lord would keep his promises and provide an avenue to live through destruction. Her faith remained unwavering as she continued in life. She becomes a hero of the faith because of her action with the spies and her presence in the lineage of Christ.

You can be a hero. You do not need a superpower and need to carry out a special task. What you do need is faithfulness. A true hero hears from the Lord and chooses to live out faith no matter what. When you consider your life, how are you hearing from the Lord? Are you following in faithfulness? Are you a spiritual superhero?