The Word of the Lord

The Word of the Lord

"Fulfilling the Hope of Your Calling" by Ruth Upchurch

Ephesians 1:18 says "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." (American Standard Version)

God has a special plan for your life, but that plan doesn’t automatically happen. We can make choices that detain or even end that plan. Also, Satan is always trying to stop God’s plan, and if we believe his lies about our past or that we aren’t good enough he will succeed.

Looking at the life of Rahab in Joshua 2 gives a wonderful example of how God can work in a life to bring it to fulfillment. We see in this chapter that Joshua sent two spies to view Jericho, and when they came to the house of Rahab, a harlot, they lodged there. It was told to the King of Jericho, and he sent word to Rahab to bring out the men, but she hid the spies and said that they had left. Rahab faced great danger, probably death if the spies had been found in her house. What gave her this courage? Joshua 2:9-11 gives us the answer. She said to the spies that she knew that the Lord is God in heaven and on earth. Rahab became a believer and knew God. We have to know God intimately and His ways to have the courage and confidence like Rahab.

Rahab then asked the spies to spare her household. Her household would be spared if she followed two conditions. She tied a scarlet cord from her window to identify her house to the invading Israelites. That cord represents the blood of Jesus, and as believers, we also have an identity in Christ that marks us as belonging to Him and under His protection. The cord provided a way of escape for the spies just as in 1 Corinthians 10:13 God will make a way of escape for us through temptations and trials when we are looking to Him. The other condition Rahab had to follow was to keep quiet. She could have destroyed the destiny God had for her by talking. How many times we have foiled what God had planned for us because we open our mouth and said things we shouldn’t. James 3:6 states that the tongue can set on fire the course of our life. When in doubt keep quiet--speak God’s Word.

Rahab and her household were saved, but the story doesn’t end there. A harlot was looked down upon by Israelites. The punishment was severe when enforced--death by stoning or burning, but Rahab found what were the riches of the glory of God’s inheritance. Jewish tradition has held her in high honor, she was the mother of Boaz, great grandmother of King David, and her family tree continues to Jesus Christ. Despite obstacles, her past, facing fear and death, Rahab fulfilled her destiny.

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