When I was in third grade, my class ended the year with a pizza party. This probably doesn’t sound very strange. Many classes often celebrated the end of the year with pizza parties, but this party was not just a celebration of the end of the year. The pizza party was only earned after a sticker chart was filled up with gold stars that were given out to reward good behavior in the class.
Again, this doesn’t sound so strange, but each of these gold stars was given to the same student, just one. After having a rough first half of the year behavior-wise, the student was given a new incentive. Each time he listened to the teacher, worked diligently at his desk, showed kindness to other classmates, or lined up quietly for library time, he earned a gold sticker to be added to a chart. If his sticker chart was full at the end of the year, everyone in the class earned a pizza party.
Now I’m not writing to weigh in on the pros and cons of reward charts or how classroom discipline is handled. I’m simply remembering how I felt as a third grader who earned a pizza party because of my classmate’s obedience, not my own. I remember how excited we were each time a new gold star appeared on that chart. We were reaping the rewards of his good obedience.
Rahab’s Faith Blesses Her Family
I wonder a little if that’s how Rahab’s family felt as they watched the city of Jericho burn. They had been saved from the destruction that fell upon their neighbors, not because of their own faith and obedience, but because of Rahab’s. Surely they too would have been counted amongst the disobedient had Rahab not helped the spies escape, tied the scarlet cord through her window, and invited them into her home during the siege.
We see here how inseparable faith and obedience are. Rahab didn’t obey out of obligation. She obeyed out of faith (Hebrews 11:31). She had heard what God had been doing for His people, and she believed in His power and authority. This is what motivated her to help the spies and remain in the city protected only by a scarlet cord tied in her window.
Faithful, steadfast obedience in the face of challenges can only come from true faith.
Rahab’s Obedience Leads to the Coming Savior
We often hear about how our disobedience, our lack of faith and trust in God’s good plan and sovereignty, can have far-reaching consequences not just for us but for those around us. It’s easy to see how an unkind word, a destructive lie, or selfishly putting ourselves first can hurt others. But in today’s story, we see how obedience has far-reaching blessings not just for us but for those around us, too.
God rewarded Rahab’s obedience by saving her family. Not only did He save her immediate family, but Rahab’s descendents would play a big part in God’s grand plan of salvation. Flip forward a bit in your Bible and look for Rahab’s name in the genealogy listed in Matthew 1.
Rahab marries an Israelite named Salmon and has a son named Boaz. I imagine Boaz must have been deeply impacted by his mother’s obedient example. He, too, steps out in faith when he marries a poor widow named Ruth. Together, they are the great grandparents of a little boy named David. Yes, that David – King David – slayer of giants and protector of sheep and a man after God’s own heart. I’m sure you can see where this is going.
Because of her obedience and faith, God used Rahab to continue the line of Judah, the line from which His own Son would be born, eventually bringing salvation to the nations.
God’s Obedience Shines Throughout Scripture
It’s important to remember, however, that God’s will is not dependent on our obedience. God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). What God says will happen you can believe will come true, no matter our obedience or disobedience.
What I find so beautiful is despite the fact that God doesn’t need our obedience, He still chooses to use it to bless both us and others. We’ve seen Him do it many times before in amazing ways. The entire nation of Egypt and Jacob’s family was saved from famine because of Joseph’s steadfast faith and refusal to turn away from the Lord even in prison. Israel was rescued from slavery because Moses obeyed God’s directive to go to Pharoah and demand his people’s release. During the days of the early church, many were healed because of the Apostles’ faithful obedience to go and preach the good news (Acts 3:1-10; 9:33-35). And perhaps the best example is that of Christ, through whose obedience many will be made righteous (Romans 5:19).
Our Obedience Can Bless Others Today
Rahab’s story is a powerful reminder to us of how God uses our faith and obedience to carry out His plan to bless the whole world. God calls us to obedience today, not just for our own sake but for the blessing of others too.
When we choose to trust in God’s plan for our lives, to respond in obedience, we are shining the light of God to the world around us. We are boldly proclaiming that our God is worthy of our faith and obedience. When others outside our Christian communities see our obedience to God, we are pointing them back to the only One they can assuredly put their confidence in to save them from their sins. And when fellow believers see our obedience, they are encouraged to remember that Jesus is their Good Shepherd. He alone leads them in paths of righteousness.
We can trust that Jesus is leading us to green pastures and quiet waters through our obedience, and they can trust that, too.
Friends, I encourage you today to spend a few minutes thanking God for the examples of obedience you’ve seen from believers around you and how their obedience has encouraged your own walk with Christ. If someone comes to mind, drop them a quick note of gratitude! And then ask God to show you if there is an obedient step He is asking you to take today, knowing that He will use this obedience for His glory and as a blessing to you and others.
