Som
eone cleverly came up with the poster that reads: Be Patient; God Isn’t Finished with Me Yet! Oftentimes that saying is used for children who are still learning the ropes of growing up, but it could be used for most Christians as well. There are many Bible examples of people who were rough diamonds at first, yet who later rose to prominence as great people of God. In their younger years, one might have questioned if there was any hope for them. Many of them pushed God’s line as far as it would stretch.
At times God has reached down into the darkest pit and pulled out a saint. There were disappointing liars like Jacob, Abraham, and Isaac. There were disgusting adulterers like David. There were those who tried everything in their power to destroy God’s people like Paul. There were cheaters like Matthew and Zacchaeus. And there were even those guilty of murder like the young Moses. Was there ever any hope of them doing great things in God’s kingdom? But God wasn’t finished with them yet!
Such was also the case of a young woman who lived the tough life of a prostitute in Jericho. Her name was Rahab, and her reputation was well known. She lived with her parents and her brothers and sisters in an apartment high atop the city wall. Her years were spent in sin and fornication as she practiced her trade with the city residents as well as passersby. Yet a knock on her door late one night by two Hebrew spies took her life in a different direction.
The spies needed information about Jericho. Joshua, leader of the Israelite army, wanted to know how fortified the city was. This was to be the first major city in the land of Canaan that they hoped to conquer.
Rahab faithfully hid the spies and later helped them escape. She told them that “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (2:11). All she asked was that special kindness would be shown to her family so they might be spared from the battle.
God did destroy that wicked city. The destruction was so complete that even the walls were not left standing, but Rahab and her family were rescued. (Later we learn that they were openly accepted into the Israelite community.)
The story of course does not end there. Eventually Rahab married Salmon, a Jewish prince. She gave birth to a son named Boaz, who became husband to Ruth and grandfather of the great King David. In the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1:5, we see Rahab’s name listed. Although her reputation never left her, she became a new person in the Lord. She began as a prostitute, but when God had finished, she was a privileged ancestor of the Savior.
Rahab was again honored in the great faith chapter of Hebrews 11, where it is mentioned that “by faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).
The bricks that build God’s church are from many backgrounds. There are liars, thieves, murderers, cheats, gossipers, and prostitutes. Jesus came to save all sinners. So if we’ve ever wondered if God would accept people like us, just look back to Scripture and review the list of sinners God started with. Then thank the Lord for taking the effort to work faith in us as well. Isn’t that the beauty of grace? God’s grace assures us that someday we will all proudly proclaim: “Now God is finally finished with me!”
Prayer thought: Thank Jesus for covering you with his blood that we might be accepted before God as redeemed children and heirs of eternal life.
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