By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

I think of the worst or toughest things I have done in my life. Now I think of the best thing I have done. And in both cases, God’s righteous requirement by the law is perfection — perfect motives, perfect thoughts, perfect attitudes, and perfect actions. It is possible that I have done some things perfectly, though the older I get the more I see how twisted my sinful motives can be. But now think about having to measure up to this perfection standard over and over again … for a lifetime. Not just not doing the wrong things, but also perfectly loving, perfectly compassionate, perfectly patient, etc.

Now the Jews had the law and it could be harsh in its consequences for breaking it. They showed compassion and grace here to Rahab, who became a central figure in the lineage of Jesus. She hid them and saved them. A foreigner who was a prostitute — in the line of the Son of God? Yes! And Rahab represents each of us who sin. Many times our sins are hidden, but her sin was right out front. But she trusted God and she was grafted into his people and into the lineage of his Son. Quite the foreshadowing of how Jesus would give us grace after a life of sin, through his death and resurrection.

I also like the reference of the walls falling down. A broader read of this story shows that it was a result of praise and shouts to God as they marched. This praise is the ultimate form of belief. It is a praise that is brazen and fears not the criticism of man or any reprisals. It is an act that believes, when no logical theory for it working exists. Praise and the walls will fall down, really? But fall they did. And God was demonstrating his might and power in response to the obedience of his people!

What illogical thing is God asking of me that is a trust test? What can I praise him about to show him I honor him in all situations?

Lord, thank you for Rahab the prostitute. She is a model for the faith you seek from us. She was a sinner saved by your grace. Thank you also for breaking down the walls around my heart by a devotion to obey you and praise you in all things. You are the ultimate wall-breaker. Keep breaking, Father, in my life and the lives of those around me.