The woman was a prostitute. She didn’t have good values. When the men wanted accommodation with benefits, her place was the right one, a place where they could have fun.

Her business was not always above board. She hid things from the government and when they questioned her about it, she lied. One could say that she was part of the underworld of that time.

One day, the stones of the city walls started falling down one by one, until not even one part of the wall remained upright, the part where her house was, remained standing.

God did that.

This is the story of Rahab. Sy was a woman with immoral values, but somewhere along the way, she saw the error of her ways. ³¹By an act of faith, Rahab, the Jericho harlot, welcomed the spies and escaped the destruction that came on those who refused to trust God.

First, the author of Hebrews used the great champions from the Old Testament as examples. Abel, Henoch, Noah and, obviously, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob too. He also used the road that the Israelites had travelled to get to the promised land to show that faith is the key to success.

Now, he changes the thread of his story a little bit by using an ordinary person, or rather an ordinary, sinful person, as an example of what faith can achieve. God uses ordinary people to carry out His plans here on earth.

When God threw down the walls of Jericho, only that part where Rahab’s house was, remained standing. Why? Because she believed in God and because she faithfully carried out the command she was given to hide the Israelite spies. She could also give them the information that all of the city’s inhabitants were afraid of the Israelites invading the city.

God has many plans for our world today. However, many of these plans remain plans on paper, because the ordinary people who have to carry them out are missing in action. Many think they have too many sins. Many think they are not good enough to do anything for God.

Those are lies. God can use anybody. It doesn’t matter what your past looks like. It doesn’t matter how you see yourself. It doesn’t matter what you have done before. God can use you. Even if it takes a miracle by God to keep you upright.

God wants to use you right there where you are. You just have to believe it.

I was having breakfast with a friend who presents courses. He said he was struggling with the f-word. It just slips out. He also said how he would pray right after the introduction of the course. And how people would follow him to the toilet to thank him for that, saying how much it meant to them.

God wants to use you right where you are. You have to believe it.

Scripture
Hebrews 11:20-31

Reflection
Do you believe that God wants to use you?
What is stopping you?
How strong is your faith?

Prayer
Lord, it’s hard for me to believe that You want to use me. I know You have deleted what I did in the past and that I don’t have to pay for those things anymore. Please help me to believe that You want to use me, right here where I am. Let your Spirit show me how. Amen.