Matthew 17:14-20 ~ Lord have mercy

 

The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Here is an idea for this Passage. It's like verse 20 says, a little weak in faith. However, Jesus said to deal gently with the newbies. Or the different idea than yourself. To be an encourager, like Paul said in the Holy Spirit. And! The Spirit of God can move us as the Word is Living and Active.

In the Spiritual bottom line: Jesus knew He was dealing with a spiritual force created from exile in God's Kingdom. A vast and powerful God knows of what He is speaking. God is God.

I've heard a Sermon on using the brain Father God has gifted us with. Seeing great Holy Spirit works with practicality to understand at the level we can see with our physical eyes. And I had a conversation with a loved on on reaching faith through practicality. We can look at this verse with the brain and eyes God has given us to see a practical level that is much smaller, yet still part of our lives - daily.

Seeing this passage as: The situations in our life troubling us.

We can allow ourselves to fall into the fire of being overwhelmed with life. Or we can ignore our real difficulties and drown them with water like selfishness, alcohol or substance, video games and emotions. Allowing ourselves to be the victim and love our troubles for defining us. Not allowing ourselves to see real oppression and not grasping God to hold us to His path.

The task it to be like Joshua centered on Jesus to be our Savior.

My New Year Resolution is to acknowledge my difficulties. To express them. To gather Pray in myself and from trusted Christians. To cast my opportunities for a solution UP to Jesus, Who Cares for me. And to see with expectation what God will do. And release my worries knowing that He will not shun a worrier. Our Father God is Love.

Joshua 1:7

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Father God, we pray for One Mission during January to be pleasing to You. We ask You in this new year all our resolutions and to give our worries to  Your guidance, Love, mercy and direction. Letting You, Jesus, to to be what centers us and leads us in our lives. Keep us in You, always. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 9:1-13 ~ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Sukkot Festival of Booths

 Mark 9:1-13

And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.”

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.

11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Psalm 126
A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.

6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy!
Carrying sheaves with them!

Acts 16

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.

9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

So Jesus took Peter, James and John and they saw Moses and Elijah. Jesus asked them not to speak of this meeting as the meeting closed.The same promise for both men - Peter felt it was to be shared. John felt it was a solid promise and created the most amazing description of Jesus Christ ever written in John 1. God honored both men reacting to Jesus.

How did they know this was Moses and Elijah? The photo at the top has some interesting imagery from the Sukkot Festival of Booths. This might have been achieved by video projection on to the vapor. God tells us He is God of the Living. So the seeing Moses and Elijah - they were indeed quite solid in form. Like the Road to Emmaus. How do we know? God tells us He is God of the Living. I can't  think of one instance in the Bible where a vapor was acknowledged. The Holy Spirit is acknowledged to be Fire. God likes to tell of His plan and rely upon faith.

Mark 12:27
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

And we see in Acts 16 Paul has a vision during the night. This could have been 9 p.m. or possibly 1 a.m. however God is clear that a vision is far clearer than a dream. God directs people by dream, but when I feel that I've had an important dream sometimes it's as clear as a vision. God would certainly have to use a way to convey to someone what is an idea of the mind - a dream. And the other would be something important enough to change direction or even lives.

One other thing about God and visions. Frequently, He gives direction and then asks the person to go forward with faith. He seems to not be present and yet, He is. Error occurs when people assume God would give direction and quit. People are more apt to quit and sin than God give up.  A mistake repeated in the Bible many times. Let's learn.

There never is an exact phrase in the Bible of God closes a door or opens a window. That seems so .... vapor-ish. And God says when we do His Will He will provide good things for us. Here the people who love God were going to do what they thought best. God stopped them and sent them in a new direction. This is - God closes a door and makes a new path.

God gives mankind work to believe God. Psalm 126 in Joy of the Victory - God is still saying life requires spreading the Good News.

Father God, in this New Year we are continuing to pray with One Mission.  This community is choosing a means of fasting for 21 days of January. (Like Clark gives up certain entertaining TV shows like Law and Order.) 30 Christian Churches clergy and congregations of vast denominations pray over our community here in The Woodlands, Tomball, Magnolia, Conroe and Houston, Texas. That the Light continues to Shine and the darkness vanishes. Renewal of Hope, Faith and Love!

For our loved ones in  family, friends, Churches, neighborhood, coworkers and communities to be strong lending to the strength of the Nation and the vast World saved by Jesus Christ. We rejoice in 92% of our Congress professes Jesus as Lord.  We are always privileged to pray in the name of God's Son, our Savior, the Highest Name of all - Jesus. Knowing we are indeed covered by God's Love. Amen. 

P.S. We had the worst fire in recorded history in our tri-counties of Texas the Year One Mission began. Father God, You have told us in plain language we would have trouble in this world. Our communities saw fire fighters arrive from all across our Continent and even to Alaska. The Facebook pages created for immediate news release of the moving rescue centers, due to vast fires, reported again and again of houses spared and winds changing to spare the dwellings.  This was the first year and we thank God for prayer for our communities that very year. We count our blessings. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Mark 9:14-29 ~ Said Jesus, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:14-29

14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 

15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

1 Corinthians 9

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 

22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.


23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Jesus met quit a few people who have said this over the millenniums:

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe;

 help me overcome my unbelief!”

And you know, Jesus dealt with this Much more Kindly than -

Luke 1:19
19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."…

And again I must say - "Jesus is my Savior and my Hero." 
No wonder! King David said to the prophet Gad - "Let me fall into the hands of God where I will look for His Mercy!!!"

Jesus said look to Him and see our Father God.

How did Jesus deal with weakness?

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

The last blind man I met was an Anglican Priest who said he prayed and begged and pleaded for God to heal for almost twenty years. And in his sightlessness, he suddenly understood that he was missing God's willingness to bless for not allowing the Hope of God to flow like living water from the cross. God is willing! Why would we see Him as stingy - an unwilling Father. He has a vast Ministry  in healing now!

The Blind Healer Paperback – January 9, 2012
by Mike Endicott (Author)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Blind-Healer-Mike-Endicott/dp/0857210548

A perfect example of the blind SEE. Just as Rev. Francis MacNutt quotes Jesus took our sins and healed our weaknesses. Just as Bishop Clark at HopePointe saw God grow the leg of a two year old boy. The people of that Catholic Church all tremendously wanted the little boy to have two legs to walk on. Changing Clark's life forever, as he decided only to serve Father God.

God is working in ways we have to See. With Faith.

Zacchaeus was lame. His life felt in need of something. Zacchaeus was willing to put down some of his pride and climb a tree and Call Out to Jesus. Jesus healed that lameness.

Luke 19
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”






And Poor?  We have all failed God. 
And been 'Nicodemus' coming at night to God with our concerns - first, first, first and always our concerns. Like Nicodemus we treat Jesus as Saint Nick.

Jesus has dealt with weakness.

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, 

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him!”

And did Jesus give Nicodemus us-Santa-seekers the bums rush? Yes!
Jesus spoke the Truth with such tenderness ~
Nicodemus was a follower of Jesus the rest of his life.


John 3 - Jesus told Nicodemus

9 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

What was this verdict that caused Nicodemus to change in his heart?
Jesus spoke plainly and with tenderness of Overwhelming Love.

John 3
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Nicodemus was blessed, blessed are the eyes of Nicodemus, because they saw; and Nicodemus ears, because they heard. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what Nicodemus saw, and did not see it, and to hear what Nicodemus heard, and did not hear it.

Nicodemus changed because he knew God and God Loved Nicodemus. Nicodemus knew Good News.



Father God, in You, Patricia can see. Her cataracts were healed and the blood vessels to her eyes the size of human hair became normal again. In You, a blind priest with two decades of pleading for Your mercies suddenly could see Your Willingness to let prayers be answered in faith. The Blind see in Jesus.

Let us not be deaf to Him.

The lame are strengthened!!! We are Going Forth. And the poor have the Goodness of God's Good News. Test God in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." We are willing Lord Father God! Open our eyes to our blessings. Our ears to hear Your Love. To put forward and lift our drooping hands and strengthen our weak knees. Our yield will be peace, Love and Joy. We live with Hope and Love.

Father God let us renew our wonder. Seeing Your blessing. People love us. People depend on us. We encourage others. We Love.

God is pouring forth a blessing - See the Blessing! Amen, we pray with Joy in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 107 ~ Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 107

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.

17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.

23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.

33 He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.

39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42 The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.

43 Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

Matthew 22
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

Let us reason together about the loving deeds of the Lord God, our Father, who has given us Jesus.





Jesus is the Word of God made manifest. He told us we just look at His actions and Words and we have seen our Father. Romans 1 goes on to tell us that we know the Truth.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:28 God has given us His Word for the purpose of understanding God's Nature and His help in life. To know the Scriptures with understanding is to know what God's Plan is. God is Love and He does not plan our eternity without telling us what He intends.

The Loving Deeds of the Lord begin with God's Word made manifest and the Scriptures.

Luke 20 continues the parable of Matthew 22
35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sonsg of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

Jesus is telling us what life is - our choices are making us be considered worthy to attain to the age of the resurrection.

However - other than fruit of our lives - no one is told to tell God who will be considered worthy. Thank God He loves prayer!

Solomon, in the Power of the Holy Spirit declares as he dedicated God's Temple :

1 Kings 8:39
For You, You only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind.

Jesus said the same.

John 2:25
He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Acts 1:24
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart."

God, Father of Creation, is God.

Is God's love without condition?

Scripture clearly teaches God's love (phileo, agape, aheb, ahabah, beloved , dearly love, friend , friends, love, loved, loves, loving, show your love, shows love.) is unfailing, undeserved, and unilateral (completely one-sided in initiation). But is God's love without condition--I.E.: UN-conditional?

God's love is truly amazing... God's love is unilateral: He loves the unlovable and gives His glory to them. God's love is completely undeserved. God's love is unfailing for those in whom He delights: who respond to Him and receive His Son. But, God's love is clearly not "unconditional"

Jeremiah 5:12-13
They have lied about the Lord; they said, 'He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.' The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them..."

God is clear. There is Heaven and hell with the second death in Revelation 20:14. Jesus says Heaven has no death. Jesus tells us Himself in the Gospels. God is the God of the Living.

God says the work He gives to us all is to believe Him.
And in faith - in Jesus Christ - we are saved.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

We arrive at this -

John 3:18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

John 6:40
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Ok. So... why do we not all confess Jesus is Lord and run on in our own merry way?
Well, Psalm Two tells us. We want to take God's plan seriously and with joy.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

When we are enlightened to God's Love we embrace God's plan. We want others in Heaven with us. We want them to know God is Love.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Spread the Good News!

Ephesians 3 states families live together on earth and Heaven. Jesus told us of His Father's house with many rooms. 2 Corinthians 12:2 tells us Heaven has levels.

Psalms 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

Luke 22:32
I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Who else told us?

The Answer is Always Jesus.

Mark 16:15
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."


Father God, You are not a God to spring out with surprises. In Your Loving Heart, You proclaim Your greatness in Scripture. You tell us of the marvelous promises You have freely given us. 

You not only gave us Your Son Jesus, but we see Your willingness in all the Gospels of Jesus. We have seen You, Father. in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Psalm 89 ~ I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever

Jericho looking southward

Jericho, once a “Biblical problem” a seeming disagreement between archaeology and the Bible. However, now we know the archaeological evidence supports the historical accuracy of the Biblical account in every detail.

Rahab, 3rd great grandmother of David. As the Children of Israel left Egypt and wandered for 40 years, soon they would need help. More than the help of one person. God would have to act.

The Children of Israel did not have lives that pleased them in Egypt and God hears them. Then 40 years later, they finally enter into the Promised Land because they didn't follow the advice of God, but their own fears. So they enter Jericho first. Jericho is the land flowing with milk and honey. It is fabulous, a gorgeous land. They are told how Jericho will fall. It seems absurd and hopeless. And today we see, the Bible has once again, told the Truth.

It seems absurd they would leave Jericho to only guess what was ahead, but faith compelled them to keep going after Promises were fulfilled.

[ According to Bryant G. Wood PhD 

Excavations at the outer (lower) fortification wall by the three major expeditions to Jericho. At the north end (numbers 1–5), a portion of the mud brick wall (shaded) atop the stone retaining wall survived, demonstrating that the city wall did not fall in this area. Nothing remains of the mud brick city wall at other points investigated, showing that it had collapsed everywhere else (numbers 6–13). Remnants of the collapsed city wall (shaded) were actually found still in place in three places at Jericho: number 11 (German excavation), number 12 (Kenyon’s excavation), and the 1997 Italian-Palestinian excavation extending Kenyon’s south trench at number 8.

***According to the Bible, 
Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Jos 2:15). If the walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family into her house and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos 6:17, 22–23). 

At the north end of the tell of Jericho, archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab.

The German excavation of 1907-1909 found that on the north a short stretch of the lower city wall did not fall as everywhere else. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of 8 ft (Sellin and Watzinger 1973: 58)

What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was located.]

Psalm 89 says Rahab was crushed.
This Psalm was published, verified, sung by her 4th great grandson (Solomon) in the Temple. Written by one of his wisest councilors. Truth being told in the LORD'S TEMPLE and trying to honor a story working for the LORD. If you wanted to honor your heroic great, great, great, great grandmother in the Temple of the LORD - how would you delicately refer to her profession and her salvation? Perhaps to point out God is greater and to say she was crushed in her life...

Psalm 89 

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings[b] is like the Lord,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
and awesome above all who are around him?
8 O Lord God of hosts,
who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

Rahab is told about in Joshua 6

Rahab was a prostitute. God has moved Rahab's life along like Job.

Job 9

10 who does great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back?
Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!


Rahab might have failed to perceive God. 
Except God was giving her life direction and motivation to want to work God's plan for her life and it fit into His Plan. Who were the helpers of Rahab who made God so angry? Perhaps it is the clientele. God wouldn't have been angry with the two men from Joshua. We see in the passage, Rahab stood over the hidden men of God hidden under the flax of her roof.


Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him

Rahab's actions were that of Joshua. Being brave and courageous. Rahab appears in the second chapter of Joshua. Joshua has just been commissioned by God to do HIS work

Joshua 1:7-8
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Perhaps. Perhaps because Rahab is listed in Matthew 1:4-6...........

and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah

..........we can say Rahab was one of the people who longed to see Jesus and hear Jesus.

Matthew 13:17
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.


We are telling God's story. We can draw from Job, Joshua, Solomon, Solomon's advisors, David, Rahab, Isaiah and we are telling of flawed people. Doing what they can. Abiding in God, seeing like Paul.

...Philippians 2:19-24 ~ how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord.


Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

You have to be what God wants you to be. Believing what He wants is important. Teaching those around you with genuine care. Being flawed, but going forward in the LIGHT.

Give justice with mercy. Walk humbly with the LORD.

Father God each day draw us more near to you, in Jesus. Let us have your help in going down our path with wisdom, verve and in faith. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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