Because a woman’s vocal cords are shorter than a man’s she can actually speak with less effort than he can. Shorter vocal cords not only cause a woman’s voice to be more highly pitched, but also require less air to become agitated, making it possible for her to talk more with less energy.
God has definitely made women unique in so many more ways than just this. In reality, women are a courageous group. The courage to endure things that would make men faint. The Bible and it’s inspired writers get a bad rap today for chauvinism and even misogyny. There have been and always will be in this planet some who do this. They are wrong! God exemplifies women and places them in special roles and places throughout the Bible. Did you know there are several prophetess in the scripture? Did you also know that men are to “cherish” their wives? Husbands, you are to love them sacrificially as Jesus did the church. The stories of women, some barely explained, in the Bible are plentiful. One in particular sticks out in my mind more than most. Not much mentioned about her on the surface, but dig a little deeper and you will find there is an enormous story that follows her.
Do you remember Joshua and the battle of Jericho? God brought a great victory! The story of God’s victory through Joshua and the people of Israel is found in Joshua 6.20-21. This was all possible because they had sent a clandestine team to spy out the city. Their espionage was obviously successful, but not because of them. These two men were housed (hidden) by Rahab, a known harlot. What a perfect place to hide.
In Joshua 2.1-25 we find the entire build up of this event. In 2.1-7 we have our background story. In 2.8-14 Rahab gives her testimony of faith, specifically in verse 11. In 2.15-21 her faith was put into action. Sounds like every story of every saved person there is. They have a back story, they encounter God’s people and grace. Then they put their faith into action, expecting God to give even more grace. This is provable in Rahab’s life through James 2.25— “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” She heard the truth; believed the truth; accepted the truth; then acted upon the truth, which was her “work”. She proved her faith by her works! God gave her the grace to be able to show that level of courage.
But that’s not all. She also went on to win her family to the faith (2.13; 6.17,22-23,25). Yes, they were all saved, physically and spiritually. Isn’t that the way faith should go? Shouldn’t we in-turn, show the same faith to those we love and know? Shouldn’t we want them to be saved also? It takes a courageous grace to do that. Courage, but not from man, from God. It is a courage that is given by God’s grace.
Grace Is Bigger Than You Think. Hebrews 11.31 says— “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” She believed in who God was and what God had said… that is faith. She lived her faith to the point she risked her own life… that is belief. She was used by God… that is grace!
Notice that she asked for the safety of her family specifically. The spies replied that anyone who came in her house was safe in the day of battle. This may explain the 6 days of loud trumpets and shouts… God has no need in theatrics by the way. It may be that He was giving the inhabitants of Jericho time to think about turning to God; ample amount of opportunity to turn to Him. That is even more grace!
Grace changes you. In Joshua 6.25 it states— “and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day.” Don’t fly by that. Not only was she spared from judgement, but also became part of the nation of Israel. Being a prostitute: she would have normally been stoned to death by the law that was just delivered by Moses, but now she is an accepted member of the community of the redeemed. What is that? Grace! She accepted God’s gracious offer of mercy and forgiveness. She became an adopted daughter. What a beautiful story.
But that’s not all. Grace goes further than you expect. In Matthew 1.5 we read— “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse.” Once sin-stained you would think she would be a second class citizen; instead this young man Salmon saw her as a changed creature. She marries him and gives birth to Boaz. Later Boaz, probably challenged by his own parents story of courageous grace, marries a refugee widow from Moab named Ruth. Ruth and Boaz become the great-grandparents of King David. A pagan harlot comes to faith and all because of God’s Grace. She becomes part of the lineage grandparents of Jesus Christ. That is what grace can do! How could she know that 49 generations later God would bring the King of Kings through her offspring?! That is Amazing Grace!
In the end, Rahab received far more than she originally surrendered. She received grace heaped upon grace, and divine favor beyond her wildest imagination. Once a prostitute, now married into the lineage of Jesus. Do you still think God can’t use you?
But that’s not all. Grace is for everyone. She wasn’t the only one. God has a habit of taking the outcast and downtrodden and flooding their life with life changing grace. Look again at Matthew’s lineage of Jesus in chapter 1. Most Jewish lineages do not include women, so the 4 women in this list jumps off the page to me. Not so chauvinist anymore, uh? We see these: Tamar (Matthew 1.3) who posed as a prostitute who seduced Judah; Rahab (Matthew 1.5) a gentile and a prostitute; Ruth (Matthew 1.5) a moabite pagan worshipper; Bathsheba (Matthew 1.6) committed adultery with King David. Uh, wow. God can and will use just about anyone to fulfill His overall purposes.
Before Israel showed up outside those walls, Rahab wore a label. Her neighbors knew her as “Rahab the Harlot” Now she is known as “Rahab the mother of Kings”. The labels of your past are not an obstacle for God’s Grace. There are folks in this culture wearing and throwing labels. His deliverance brings about new labels. Labels of Grace like: Forgiven, Redeemed, Accepted, Freed, Loved. I believe God would save them and send them back into their culture with His courageous grace, if they would let Him. Will you let Him?
In this trying time we are to minister, I believe God wants to demonstrate His grace through us. He will change lives unique to this culture. We must live out courageous grace to others. We must demonstrate a life of real faith. Let God use you this week.