Thursday, April 16, 2015

SOAP 04/16/2015; Joshua 2:10-11

Today's reading: Joshua 2

S) "10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath."


Joshua 2:10-11  (NASB)

O) Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho, just as the Israelites were crossing the Jordan approaching the city. Two spies had come into the city to discover what they could, before Joshua and their forces sieged the city. When Rahab took them in, almost immediately the king of the city had sent search parties out to find and kill the spies. So, what we learn from the above verses, is that it seems the whole city has heard of the power of the LORD, and His favor toward His people. From the greatest (the king) to the least (a prostitute), the glory of God has been made plain. Fear had apparently gripped the people, but this chapter shows us two very different reactions. The king, in his power and strength, is threatened by this undeniable force that is coming. He does not want to acknowledge it for the truth that it is: God is sovereign and this king is not. So, his reaction to what is truly fear, is to fight back against the thing that should rightly have humbled him. On the other hand, Rahab recognized this power as her salvation. This was an opportunity for her to be saved. This was an opportunity for change in her life. This power that was coming was not a threat to her, but an entreaty to her. She was indeed changed, it seems, as she became the great-grandmother to King David.

A) Experiencing the power of God, perceiving a glimpse of His glory, is truly unavoidable. The first chapter of Romans teaches as much. But then, the real question isn't whether or not there is a God, but what I choose to do about it. By extension, it begs to wonder, why others have such different reactions to seeing the same evidence of Him. The verses above really shed light on that. Every day I am confronted with the power of God at work in the world. Every day He reveals some part of His glory. The important thing then becomes whether I react like the king of Jericho, or like Rahab. It will all come down to my view of myself. If I am trying to be king, then I will react to God's power in rebellion, seeing Him as a threat to what I want to accomplish for myself. If I am humbling myself, realizing that I am much closer to destitute than I am to sovereign, realizing that I have a history of spiritual prostitution (selling myself to spiritual things that are not God, to whom I truly belong) and I have no means by which to set myself free, then I will see His power as my salvation.

P) Father God, You are sovereign. When You set Yourself against a man, how can he stand? When You set Yourself against a nation, its people melt with fear. Lord, for a long time I tried to live a sovereign life. I tried to live in a walled city, intolerant of any threat to my perceived dominion. I was trapped in those walls, unfit to rule, incapable of life. Then You came to conquer me, Lord. You came to tear down my walls and overwhelm me. I submit to Your power, Lord. I submit to Your authority, sovereignty, and any terms that You present in order to live at peace with You. Forgive me when I still harbor rebellious thoughts or feelings, selfishly trying to hold on to some form of dominion in my life. You are all powerful, and the only One worthy to rule. Your wisdom is perfect, Your love is perfect. You are great in lovingkindness and slow to anger and willing to forgive. May I forever be humbled by Your power, and never threatened by it. Let Your will be done, alone. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

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