Messianic Jews 11:29-31
Letter to the Messianic Jews
In my last post, we examined the Trust of Moshe the Deliverer in Messianic Jews 11:23-28. In this post, we move on to explore the Trust of the Israelites and Rachav in Messianic Jews 11:29-31.
“29 By trusting, they walked through the Red Sea as through dry land; when the Egyptians tried to do it, the sea swallowed them up. 30 By trusting, the walls of Yericho fell down — after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31 By trusting, Rachav, the prostitute welcomed the spies and therefore did not die along with those who were disobedient.” ~ Messianic Jews 11:29-31 (CJB)
By trusting, they walked through the Red Sea recalls the familiar story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in Exodus 14:1-15:21.
The author to the Messianic Jews has been citing as examples of trust the great figures of the time before Israel entered into the Promised Land. Now he takes two people from the period of struggle when the children of Israel were winning a place for themselves within the Promised Land.
The first is the story of the fall of Jericho. That strange old story is told in Y’hoshua 6:1-20. Jericho was a fortified city, barred and fortified. To take it seemed impossible. It was God’s commandment that once a day for six days and in silence the people should march around it, led by seven priests marching in front of the ark and bearing shofars. On the seventh day, the priests were to blow upon their shofars after the city had been encircled seven times. So the people shouted, with the shofars blowing. When the people heard the sound of the shofars, the people let out a great shout; and the wall fell down flat; so that the people went up into the city, each one straight ahead of him; and they captured the city. Y’hoshua 6:20 (CJB)
The second story is that of Rachav. It is told in Y’hoshua 2:1-21 and finds its sequel in Y’hoshua 6:25. When Y’hoshua sent out spies to Jericho, they found a lodging in the house of Rachav, a prostitute. She protected them and enabled them to make their escape; and in return, when Jericho was taken, she and her family were saved from the general slaughter. It is extraordinary how Rachav became imprinted on the memory of Israel. James (James 2:25) quotes her as a great example of the good works which demonstrate faith. The Rabbis were proud to trace their descent to her. And, amazingly, she is one of the names which appear in the genealogy of Yeshua (Matthew 1:5).
When the author of the Messianic Jews cites her, the point he desires to make is this ~ Rachav faced the facts and believed in the God of Israel. Rachav believed and staked her whole future on the belief that God would make the impossible possible. When common sense pronounced the situation hopeless, she had the uncommon incite to see beyond the situation. The real faith and the real courage are those who can take God’s side when it seems doomed to defeat.
In my next post, we will continue on our topic of the Definition and Illustration of Trusting by moving on to explore the Trust of Judges and Prophets in Messianic Jews 11:32-40.
My Heart is for Israel 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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The account of Rahab reminds me that we Gentiles were always included in God’s plan. We come the same way as the Jews, by faith.
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