Ruth Feb. 16

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Feb. 16

Beginning with question #7

Summarize the way that Ruth proposed marriage to Boaz.

Was it scandalous for her to lay at his feet?  From our research we didn’t find answers, but she did place his covering over her.  That may have represented his care for her.  

The women understood the law that they had a right to the protector, the kinsman redeemer.  Tamar forced the issue, and in a sense Ruth did the same.  This kinsman redeemer was an ancient custom that they all understood.

Sometimes we get so shy in our submission, but God has given us rights.  God will honor what we may have to do, as long as we are walking in his will and following.

The story of Tamar is found in Genesis 38 and follows at the end of this blog

Both women (Tamar and Ruth) in their circumstances stepped up to the need, trusting God to lead them.  They did what they needed to do, in submission.  Husbands need to know that they are needed and we as wives need to be submissive to follow them.

Naomi is a good example of what a mother-in-law should be.  Can you imagine setting up your daughter-in-law with a new husband; it is a self-less act.  In the end she would not only have a grandson, but an heir. 

Bible Connections

Question 1

Ruth 1:15- In what way might Naomi have been testing the faith of Ruth pointing out how Orpah had returned to her Moabite gods? 

There was a difference in their reactions, Ruth clung to her mother-in-law, but Orpah kissed her and returned to her family.  Naomi was at a point that she knew she could not return to her people with a Moabite girl, and a girl that might bring her gods with her.   She wanted to be sure that Ruth would surrender her life fully to God, like Naomi.  As Shera stated, “What sack full of stumbling blocks was she bringing along with her?”

Naomi wanted Ruth to think about all that was ahead of her.  There may not be enough food for them, being that they were both widowed and without provision. There may have been adversity against them because of Ruth’s heritage.  There would be rough roads ahead.

Naomi has been where Ruth would be, the craziness of being in it and not a part of it.  Naomi wanted her to make a full commitment.  The confession was what they all needed to hear Naomi and Ruth. God saw the surrendered heart.

God tells us to leave the idols behind, he asked Abraham to leave them too.  We need to do the same, surrendering our own “gods” to the Almighty God, that we must rid our lives of the idols we carry with us.  Through the women’s actions they were doing what Josiah had done, destroying the idols in their lives.  It is so important for us to be obedient to following God and his commandments, being courageous in their steps of faith.

God directs us in our choices for him.  Psalm 125:5

Psalm 125:5

⁵ But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.

Naomi would have been accountable for the actions of Ruth and she was aware that Ruth would be a part of her household.

Question #2 

Ruth 1:20-21 – Naomi was not suggesting that she was a bitter person, but instead of complaining she was admitting to God’s sovereignty and that he was taking her through a hard time in her life.  It is ok to ask God to help you to understand and to lead us in the ways he wants.  Sometimes God takes us through difficult times, trials and suffering.   Like Job and what he went through.   But we need to praise God for all our circumstances.

James 1:2

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

His plan is bigger than our scars.

Providence of God includes not only the sun but the rain, the fruit and the drought.

We looked at the names of God in Ruth

The Almighty, the Lord

We need to walk away recognizing the name of God, all the way through Ruth the Lord is used – Jehovah

When you use the word Jehovah, it means you have a close personal relationship with your God. It is a personal thing.  When people just use the word god, it can mean many different things to different people. It can be capitalized to mean the God almighty, or lower case, the god of anything.  But Lord, is very personal.

Almighty God is also the God of judgment and control.  Shera suggested that we go home this week and think about the words of Naomi and her profession of her belief in God.  As God inspired the words of Ruth to be written, no one from her town called her bitter, they knew that her faith was strong and she was honored for her faith.   The first time the name of Almighty God was used was when God came to Abraham and made his promises to him.

In Exodus 6:2

2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord; 3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned.

When so many do what is right in their own eyes, we see Naomi in realization and submission to God.  She is turning back to him.  When do we see God as the Almighty and when do we finally meet him as our Lord.

Hebrews 12 speaks about our trials in line with this question.

In chapter 4 of Ruth, Naomi is being congratulated for her new grandson. In verse 14-15 they speak of God’s provision and blessing upon her life, how he has worked out his plan in her life.

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Judah and Tamar Genesis 38

38 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. 2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; 3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. 4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. 5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.

13 When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”

“And what will you give me to sleep with you?” she asked

17 “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked.

18 He said,“What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.

20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said.

22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.

Judah said,“Bring her out and have her burned to death!”

25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.”

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.

Ruth- Feb. 2

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Feb. 2

In Exodus God provides manna for the people of Egypt on a daily basis.  People are very poor.

Law of building the tabernacle, in Leviticus 19:1.  Leave gleanings for needy and strangers.  There is a trust in the Lord to provide on the 7^th day.  Duet. 24, remember you were a slave in Egypt, leave the remainings for the alien, orphan and widow.  Duet. 15, lend money to the poor and forgive their debts in the 7^th year.  Remember what God has done and always and give generously.  (Thank you Tricia for this commentary)

Question #5 –In what ways did Boaz show special kindness to Ruth as she gleaned.  Boaz blessed Naomi, may God reward you for your hard work. 

In what ways did Ruth gain even greater affection and assistance from Boaz.  He let her eat with the reapers.   Boaz gave her protection from other people so that she may gather food.

In what ways is Boaz like the Lord in His provision for us as we work in His fields.  Ruth became his bride, we are Christ’s bride.  He is Ruth’s protector and exclusive protection, and her redeemer.  

Why have you found favor in me a stranger in the land?  I have heard of your kindness to your mother-in-law. 

Goel  translated to “one of our close relatives.”   A person that has the right, the power and the will to redeem.  Someone who redeems when there is no other possibility

Ruth Continues

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Jan. 19

Question #3- Describe Naomi’s life during the time she decided to return to Israel from Moab

 She felt that God was against her, her husband and sons had died and there is no mention of other relatives.  She most likely did not have a choice in the decision to go to Moab, but she was a woman of strength, courage, and faith, definitely a life of turmoil and testing.  Through all her trials and tribulations she kept her focus on God.  She most likely was left without funds or means to survive.   She understood how God could judge their decisions.  She had to assume the responsibility of the family.  She may have understood the failure of her family to trust God through the famine.

James 1:2

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

This is the practical application of how Naomi looked at her trials.

What he has told you in the light, don’t forget when it is dark.

Ruth 1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.

Naomi was caught in the state of sadness about the loss of her family, it brought about an action of change.  She focused on returning to her home, but she could not take a pagan back to her home land without repercussions.  Naomi must have heard the stories of Rahab and knew that God could change the heart.

She was totally accepted in her return to Israel and God blessed her.

Question #4 – Compare the responses of Orpah and Ruth encouraged them to return to their families rather than follow her to Israel

Naomi may have thought about the fact that her daughter-in-laws were Moabites and she may have been concerned about how they would be received.  Both girls had family and they could return to their families.   She forced them to look at their choices, their lives and their God.

Ruth 1:15

¹⁵ And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

She knew that Orpah would return to her families beliefs, but Ruth made a vow to Naomi.

 

^{Ruth 1:16} But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
¹⁷ Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

She stated this poem in Hebrew poetry style, which implies that she had fully changed her beliefs. One chose God and the other turned away.

It is often easy to stick with what is known to us, but God often draws his own to step out into the unknown.  God leads and guides us into the paths that he has prepared for us.

Question#5 In what ways did Boaz show special kindness to Ruth as she gleaned?

God set it up as a provision for the poor of the land.

The Study of Ruth Begins

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Jan. 5

We began by reading the book of Ruth in entirety.  We then spoke about the land of Israel, how the land was divided in that time.  It probably took 3-5 days to make the journey from Bethlehem to Moab or back.  They may have traveled with a trade caravan.  This all took place as the period of the Judges governed in the land. 

Joshua 24: 31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.

32 The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.

33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.

So the generation that had traversed the land during the Exodus and those that traveled into the Promised Land have passed on.

Judges 2: 7-15

7 So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.[c] 14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. 18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” 23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

The time of the judges spans about 300 years.  It is difficult to date the time of Ruth, but it was possibly around 220 years into the judges.  MacArthur made an estimate to place it in the time of Jair.

Judges 10:3-5

³ After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. ⁴ Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. ⁵ And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

Ruth was born around 1150bc.  The first mention of Bethlehem is in Genesis 35

Genesis 35: ¹⁶Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. ¹⁷ Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” ¹⁸ And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni;^[c] but his father called him Benjamin.^{[d] 19} So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). ²⁰ And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

Micah 5:2

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”

The Moabites were from the lineage of Lot.

Deut. 2:9;16

⁹ Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’”

¹⁶ “So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, ¹⁷ that the Lord spoke to me, saying: ¹⁸ ‘This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab. ¹⁹ And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’”

The first question of our study – How is Ruth a fitting picture of every sinner?

She came from a family that worshiped other gods; she is in poverty, an outcast, destitute.  She came from a family of idol worshippers.   Her story is a picture of us needing to be redeemed and that she couldn’t do it.  She could not have moved beyond gleaning in the fields of others without the redemption from another.  Sin has mortgaged our lives and without a redeemer we are in debt to our sin.  Naomi looked at Ruth’s life and was concerned about her future.  Ruth may not have planned for the future, but her mother-in-law was looking out for her.   Ruth’s redemption by God persuaded her to return with Naomi, since she could not return to the life that she had known.  

2. As a Moabite woman, how would Ruth be perceived by the Israelite family of Elimelech and Naomi?

They probably saw her as an unclean woman, a dog, a gentile, an idol worshipper.   It would have been difficult to accept her into their home.   She married after the father had died and had been introduced into a family that followed God.  Naomi must have been a wonderful witness to her new daughter-in-law.   Naomi was strong to be able to release her daughter-in-laws to go back to their own homes in her time of distress. The strength of Ruth was demonstrated as she saw the rough road that Naomi was walking and determining to follow Naomi back to her land.

 

 

 

Rahab - Dec. 15

Women of Courage : Ladies Bible Study- Rahab- Dec. 15

The Fear of God and Faith –seems to be the focus of this lesson. 

Joshua 1:9   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Tim 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Rahab seeming to have no redeeming qualities up to this point, but God chose her.  And Mary also, with no known redeeming qualities was selected and chosen by God to restore and redeem her and to bear His son.  

Could Rahab lived a different life? She still would have been a sinner in need of redemption.  The would have been condemned for her sins no matter what.  To what extent are women today responsible for their sin, Romans 1 tells us we are all without excuse!

Ecc. 12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Confluent- the flowing together of forces, we live our lives knowing that there are forces that weave into our lives and we know that God is directing our footsteps day by day.  Many people use the situation that happened in Connecticut as a proclamation that there is no God. But we know that God is very active and his plans are before us. 

Ezek 36:20-

20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.

22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”

33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”

37 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’”

Psalm 119:133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23   O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

So what is God trying to tell us?  How can we be separate from the sins of our nation?

How have we profaned the name of the Lord or allowed God’s name to be profaned by others? We hear of the shootings here in this land, and the stabbing of children in China, and the many other things that are happening in our world.  They are spiritually dead, influenced by forces within spiritual wickedness. We need to stay away from the world, its’ influences and the evil around us. Any time we profess to be a Christian and don’t behave like one, anytime we don’t speak up for God. Pray that God changes our hearts of stone. We need to be strong in the Lord, living in his word, drawing closer daily to our Lord.  Be a part of the two and not of the ten! Be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might, walking in faith, walking the narrow road.

Let us pray for God to reveal our “idols” so that we no longer profane God’s name. Let us speak God’s word in truth and love to others. Praise God for his word, the fact we have access to it and He can guide us as we learn daily to walk closer to him.  

 

Post Script: The Jesus Film app is available to all; it is free to send to others.

Also mentioned it the beginnings of a mobile medical unit for pregnant women in need locally.  They are working to prepare the motorhome to get everything ready to go.

Rahab

Ladies Bible Study- Rahab - Nov. 17

We began by speaking about faith:

Thinking about faith, Rahab was all about faith. Her heart had been so prepared by God, even living in an entirely pagan world, her faith was strong. She knew what God could do. She had great fear, knowing what God had done in the lives of the Hebrews. She knew about what had happened in Egypt and how the Israelites had conquered the kings from other countries. They had also heard of the recent crossing over the Jordon and the water parting. They knew that God was still with them.

Unlike the “demons who believe in God and tremble”, she did have fear, but she also had trust, trusting their God to have mercy upon her and her family. Through her trust came her obedience.

The Israelites had experienced the fear of God as they went through the wrath against their disobedience at Ai. They understood the price of sin, but they also learned of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Like them, Rahab, she had fear, but was learning about God’s mercy and forgiveness. Even in her ignorance she acted in trust.

Prov. 8:13

¹³ “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.

Faith in evidence- seeing the things that God does. Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them. 3 Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonders to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever. 6 He has made known to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of His hands are truth and justice; All His precepts are sure. 8 They are upheld forever and ever; They are performed in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Rahab had this assurance in her heart. She knew that God would be with her.

Question 1:

Deut. 18:9-12; 20:17-18; 1 Kings 17-29 What is your response to the order of God to the Israelites to “utterly destroy” people such as the Amorites?

God has a perfect plan, even when we don’t understand it. God was protecting his chosen people.

Am I willing to examine myself as an idolater, worshipping anything other than God, we are as guilty as the people of these lands.  

The word “learn” in Duet. 18- is like the word “goad”, we are being prodded to move forward to follow God and away from the world.

So what are the abominations that God hates: Prov. 6:16-19

¹⁶ There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

We discussed at length each of these and how they reflect in our own lives.

Rahab Nov. 3

The bible study started with prayer.

Continuing with the story of Rahab.

Question:  what would have happened if someone had made a sound (talking) while the men were walking around Jericho?  It’s hard to know what would have happened since it was not discussed in the bible, but when one of the Israelites took some items from the city of Ai there were severe consequences.  You cannot doubt the sovereignty of God.

Back to the discussion of who married Rahab.  The lineage of Salmon goes back to Amminadab of Judah, a very trusted person to Moses.  Nashon was son to Amminadab.  Both were considered to be Princes.  Salmon was son of Nashon.  Rahab ended up marrying a respected leader, Salmon, of a respected family. 

It was amazing what the people of Jericho witnessed before the city was destroyed.  The people of Jericho saw the dust of 3 million people moving to Mt. Nebo.  The Israelites probably had their banners flying.  The fear of what was ahead must have been something to behold.

 When the Israelite army started their journey from Mt Sinai, the Ark of the Covenant left first, then Judah was the first tribe out which provided the protection for the ark and everyone else.  Judah was the front army.  Judah was the favored tribe because Jesus came from their lineage.  This time in history established the importance of the tribe of Judah.

What was the deal that Rahab struck the Israelite spies?  “Our lives for your lives”  It was interesting that Rahab struck in the deal to also save her family and not just herself.  It showed a depth of feeling for her family and showed a prepared heart. 

Between the time the spies returned to Joshua and approached Jericho, they crossed the Jordan and the men were circumcised the other side – so time elapsed before the Israelites started the attack.  Rahab had to be patient and keep her mouth closed.

There is a mutual oath between the spies and Rahab.  She will not tell of what the spies were doing “our lives for your live”.  The spies will show kindness to Rahab and her family.  Hebrew kindness is frequently translated to love or unfailing love.  A demonstration of the covenant God had with the Israelites, which shows his unfailing love.

Size of the city of Jericho, is about 10 acres and held approximately 2,000 people.  It puts perspective on what the walking was like for the soldiers.

Shera handed out a handout evaluating the term FAITH and how it related to other terms.  This is something we can work on before the next session.  What is the evidence of faith and assurance?  One of the reasons the story of Rahab is in the bible is to show God’s sovereignty and the faith of Rahab.  Whatever sadness or shame or guilt we have in our lives can be overcome by the grace of God and his enduring love. 

What was the significance of Rahab’s hanging a scarlet cord in her window?  The color red often denotes offense, sin, immoral or promiscuous, from the dictionary.   Biblically, scarlet is a color from the blood of the Passover lamb when the Lord struck down the first born of Egypt. 

While looking at the Faith handout look at Psalms 111, Job 19:25, the book of Joshua.   Joshua was never weak in his faith.  Joshua 1:9, 23:10-14, 3:10-13.  Duet 3:21-22 (Moses speaking to Joshua), Ecclesiastes 8:12.  Book of James.   Hebrews 11:1 – what does it really mean?  Faith is the hope and the assurance that what God says will occur. 

Close out in prayer.