The Example of Rahab

Recently I have been reading about Rahab in Joshua 2:1-21, how she hid the spies, and later became an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5). She showed remarkable knowledge of the history of Israel. She was a woman of courage, and had the ability to face danger without fear.

One of the unpleasant human emotions is fear, that familiar feeling of terror or panic. We experience it when we face persecution for standing up for what we believe, or when we confront disease or death. But Rahab was a strong woman, a woman of spiritual insight. She made her decision to hide the spies and never turned back. She says, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. At dusk when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them” (Joshua 2:4,5). Siding with the Israelites was treason punishable by death, not only for her but all her family.

In verse 12 we read that she asked the men to swear to her by the Lord that they would show her and her family kindness, because she had shown them kindness.

Kindness is connected with love and compassion: treating others in a considerate, hospitable manner, helping then in their needs, being faithful to them. This is what Rahab did. Unlike the chief cupbearer in Egypt who never showed kindness to Joseph when he had interpreted the dream. “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness. Mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison” (Genesis 40:14). When the chief cupbearer was restored to his position, he did not remember Joseph but he forgot him.

Kindness is expected of us as one of the aspects of the fruit of the spirit: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22). We are to imitate God’s kindness in the way we treat our brothers and sisters, our family members, our friends.

Sometimes we might face opposition to what we believe from our friends and family, but that cannot stop us showing them kindness. God shows kindness to humanity by giving us the gift of life, by extending His general goodness to us, by giving us many things that we do not deserve. “But when the kindness and love of God our saviour appeared, He saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:4,5).

Let us all be like Rahab who was spared her life and her family because of her kindness

Sis Margaret Nyoni (Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe)