RAHAB: WOMAN OF HOPE (Read Joshua 2:1-19)
In our last Blog about Rahab, we see that not only was she saved, she was also delivered from the curse.
A curse is a spoken judgement over a place, person or thing. Built into the curse is the appropriate punishment relative to the judgement.
In Jericho’s case, the punishment of the curse was death to all the people in the city. Only Rahab escaped.
Josh 6:17 The city and everything in it is under a holy curse and offered up to God. “Except for Rahab the harlot — she is to live, she and everyone in her house with her. (THE MESSAGE)
Josh 6:20-21 When the people heard the blast of the trumpets, they gave a thunderclap shout. The wall fell at once. The people rushed straight into the city and took it. They put everything in the city under the holy curse, killing man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey. (THE MESSAGE)
When God introduced the law, there were blessings for those who kept it and curses for those who broke it.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (KJV)
Because of sin, the whole of mankind is under the curse of the broken law and it’s punishment: death! But when Jesus died on the cross, because He was a perfect man, He fulfilled the law on our behalf. He also became the curse of the broken law for us, took our punishment upon Himself and died in our place.
In this story, Rahab is a type (prophetic picture) of the Church, the body of Christ. Hence all Christians are in Christ and as such He has fulfilled the law on our behalf and we have been delivered from the curse and punishment of sin and it’s effects.
Matt 5:17 Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. (AMP)
Gal 3:13,14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (KJV)
Not only have we been delivered from the curse, we now live under the cloud of the blessing of God! Hence whenever we read about the curses and blessings found in the Scriptures, the Christian can legally reject all the curses and receive all the blessings.
But you ask, what happens if the curse is seemingly still working in our life. Eg: A barren womb, sickness in our body or lack of prosperity.
Our response is to realize by faith, that we are no longer under the curse of the broken law, we are under the blessing of God. Therefore we are to take the promises of God relative to our condition and claim the blessing of that promise. Eg:
Deut 28:11 The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity — in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground — in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you. (NIV)
Matt 8:16-17 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” (NKJV)
We are not to look at our circumstances but to the promises of the word of God. As we confess the promises over our circumstances and put our faith and trust in Christ – eventually the blessings of the promises will manifest in our life.
Meditation Point: Jesus has fulfilled the law on our behalf. Jesus has become a curse for us and taken the punishment of the broken law. Jesus has freed us from all sin that we may claim the blessings of God’s promises.
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