99 cent Kindle Sale of “Choices of the Heart”–a Bible study on women of the Bible

99cents KINDLE SALE of “Choices of the Heart: Daughters of the King Bible Study Series!”

Before we study Rahab in this post, I have great news!

Choices of the Heart, my women’s Bible study on the women of the Bible, is on Kindle sale for 99 cents for a limited time. In the last blog post, we looked at Rebekah. Now we will feature Rahab. As you’ll see from this study, taken from Choices of the Heart, you’ll see how this book is designed for personal and group study.

Here is the Table of Contents for “Choices of the Heart.”  CLICK HERE to check it out on Amazon.

1. Rebekah and Rahab: Believing God’s Sovereignty
2. Job’s Wife and the Woman of Shunem: Trusting God’s Goodness
3. Jezebel and Deborah: Using God’s Power and Influence
4. Naomi and the Syrophoenician Woman: Praying Powerfully
5. Gomer and the Forgiven Woman: Taking Hold of Forgiveness
6. Sarah and Lydia: Obeying God’s Plan
7. Sapphira and the Samaritan Woman: Choosing Honesty
8. Bathsheba and Hannah: Dealing with Temptation
9. Miriam and Leah: Struggling with Jealousy and Discontent
10. Martha and Mary: Practicing God’s Presence

Part 2: Rebekah and Rahab:

Who Believed More Strongly about God’s Sovereignty?

Now it’s time to give Rahab her side of the story. See if you would vote for her or Rebekah? Who trusts God’s sovereignty most strongly.

Remember Chuck Swindoll’s definition of sovereignty:“our all-wise, all-knowing God reigning in realms beyond our comprehension to bring about a plan beyond our ability to alter, hinder, or stop.”

(This excerpt is from my women’s Bible study “Choices of the Heart” about different biblical women. You’ll find this post includes questions for you to ponder and answer.)

The story of Rahab reveals God’s sovereign hand in many ways. She is an example of a pagan woman who puts her life in danger to follow God. Her story is profoundly revealing of how deep our trust can be. God divinely juxtapositions two spies to find a woman who has never walked in God’s ways. He sovereignly knows she will be willing to sacrifice everything in order to respond to Him.

Try to enter into her dangerous circumstances even though you may know the end of the story. She didn’t know how her situation would end. Yet she trusted in God’s sovereign hand, which was revealed little by little.

You don’t know the “end” of the story you’re living, but in His sovereignty, God does. You can live in trust and faith knowing He will reveal His plan and purpose for you little by little.

• Read Joshua 2:1-24, 6:22-25. The Israelites are getting ready to move into Canaan, the Promised Land. Jericho is the first city they must conquer. Joshua sends two spies to check out the city. How are they protected (2:1-7 cf. 1:1-9)?
• What occupation is Rahab involved in (2:1)?

One of the mysteries of this story is how the Bible doesn’t tell us how or why the two spies stay with Rahab. But author and speaker Liz Curtis Higgs has an interesting thought. “Where better to lie low than in a place with lots of traffic, where questions weren’t asked, and strangers came and went at all hours? Perfect.”

The most important thing to remember about this mystery is God responded to the fledgling belief of a woman who needed him desperately: a sinner needing a Savior God. We should feel more secure knowing no sin is too big for God’s saving grace—even the sins of a prostitute running her own home business.

• Rahab lies to protect the spies (Joshua 2:4-6). In your opinion, is lying ever justified?
• If so, under what conditions?
• If not, why not?

The Israelites were camping nearby, only about seven miles away. The spies would have stood out—their clothes must have been different. They had just crossed the Jordan River—maybe their clothes were still wet!

Everyone in town was talking about the threat. Rahab was smart to hide the men under the flax on the roof, because flax, when cut in the fields, is three to four feet high—easily high enough to cover the spies. After being cut down, flax is soaked in water for three to four weeks to separate the fiber. Then the fibers are dried in the sun on the roof before being spun into linen thread used for making clothing. Evidently, Rahab was an industrious entrepreneur with several businesses! Yet her dependence upon herself and her success did not prevent her from seeing God’s sovereign hand in the arrival of the Israelites.

But the big question of the hour is, did Rahab do the right thing lying about hiding the spies? The Bible doesn’t comment. We must remember she didn’t yet know the God who forbids lying. More significantly, she risked her life to hide these strangers without any assurance she would gain anything. Talk about a woman of faith. God had planted faith within her based on the comments about the Israelites she’d heard from travelers. She knew the Israelites were going to be successful and if she didn’t jump on their bandwagon, she would be destroyed like the rest of her people.

Although none of her fellow citizens responded in faith, Rahab did—and her family, because of her “testimony.”

• Fear for her life may have been Rahab’s initial motivation for her faith in God. What other evidence do you see of her developing faith (Joshua 2:9-13)?
• Considering her past, why is this such a big step for her?
• Why is her plan dangerous?
• What do you think gives her the courage to carry out her plan?

Rahab is acting with great courage because if she and the spies are caught, the spies might squeal on her under pressure. She is putting her whole being—and most likely her family’s—into the care of men based solely on a blossoming faith in their God. This is one gutsy lady!

All the inhabitants of Jericho hear the news of what God has done through the Israelites, like part the Red Sea, yet only Rahab responds with faith in Jehovah, the Lord.

• If you had walked through Jericho, which person would you have identified as a likely candidate for faith?

Most likely not a sinful woman such as Rahab. Yet, she is the one who did respond to “rumors” about God’s actions. God went to a great deal of trouble to bring her into the fold. His sovereign, gracious hand orchestrated everything needed to bring the truth to this needy and sinful woman.

• What plan do Rahab and the spies create (Joshua 2:15-24)?

This passage contains another clue as to why the spies could have easily found Rahab’s home. She lived on the wall of the city, an easy place from which to quickly reach the gates if they were discovered before they found safety. Jericho, like many ancient fortified cities, had two walls built twelve to fifteen feet apart. Wooden planks covered the divide, and a house was built on top of the wood. Then, windows would be available to look beyond the city walls.

Onto this window, Rahab placed the wonderful and saving scarlet cord to let the returning Israelites know which house was hers and to save herself and her family. Rahab’s scarlet thread signifies the Holy Spirit in our lives. Through the Spirit, who is our “seal” (Ephesians 1:14), he assures us of salvation and reminds us we are one of God’s forever children.

Many women are concerned about sins they committed before coming to know Christ, along with the sins they continue to struggle with. They wonder, Can God forgive and cleanse me from such wrong things? Can I be secure in Christ? Yes! A resounding yes! Because all sins are equal in God’s eyes, and he provided salvation for every one of them: past, present, and future.

On a geographical note, within a half mile west of ancient Jericho are limestone cliffs about fifteen hundred feet in height.

These cliffs contain many caves where Rahab likely directed the spies to hide.

• A cord of scarlet thread is Rahab’s security (Joshua 2:18). What are the sources of security in various areas of your life?

We can imagine Rahab’s worry as she wonders how everything will turn out. But she may have stared at the scarlet thread to fight against worry. The scarlet cord had to bring her and her family peace, reminding them they were safe and secure. Seeing the cord reminded them of God’s sovereign dealings with them and gave them security, knowing if He did so much to reveal Himself, He would keep His promise of deliverance.

There are many things in life we can depend upon for security. But they may not be related to dependence upon God’s view of us as a member of God’s family. Rahab could have depended upon money to bribe the spies to let her live. Rahab could have depended upon beauty to divert the spies’ attention. Rahab could have depended upon intellect to convince the spies to save her life.

Those are temptations you and I could face today. But just as Rahab depends upon her belief in God’s protection, we can too. We can seek God’s approval and not what society offers.

• Look at Joshua 6:22-25. The Israelites have defeated Jericho. What happens to Rahab and her family?

Although the spies aren’t named in the biblical account (Joshua 2:1), one of them may have been Salmon. Why? Because Rahab marries him later (Matthew 1:5). At least our romantic hearts would like to think of love at first sight—even in a brothel! What an example of God’s sovereign hand accomplishing something unusual to show His might and power.

• If faith gets us into God’s kingdom, and what we do (“works”) is the evidence of our faith (Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26), in what ways do you need to strengthen each of these areas?
• How do you express each now?

Rahab not only had faith in God’s sovereignty—she took action. Our salvation isn’t dependent upon our works (Titus 3:5), because trusting Him is a gift from God. We say to God, I acknowledge I deserve to be on the cross because of my sins. But I believe You provided the substitute of Jesus so I can be cleansed and forgiven. I receive His death on my account. Now having you as my Lord and Savior, I can walk in your power on this earth.

What freedom we have to represent the Lord through the opportunities He gives us and to know He is transforming us more and more into the image of Jesus. Of course, Rahab didn’t know all she was “signing up” for in joining the Israelite camp and taking on a relationship with Jehovah God. And neither do each of us when we first receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. But Rahab learns and becomes Salmon’s wife. And so do we day by day and step by step. Our faith bears the fruit of action in obeying God and learning more and more about Him.

• Read Hebrews 11:11, 31. Rahab and Sarah are the only women mentioned by name in the Hebrews “Hall of Faith” Why do you think God included them?
• For what characteristics would God include you?
• In what ways would you like your faith to grow?
• Rebekah tried to force God’s plan to happen her own way, whereas Rahab cooperated with God’s plan. What can you learn from each of them to help your trust in God grow, especially regarding the choices you make?

Isn’t God gracious to provide biblical examples of those who made good choices and those who didn’t? We have both in the stories of Rebekah and Rahab. God’s sovereign touch is upon these women’s lives, yet they had a choice whether to recognize His work and how they would respond.

God’s control and power are surrounding every one of us, but we must look for His handiwork and then decide how we’ll respond. We can take Rahab as our mentor for opening our eyes to God’s work and will. And we will be blessed like she was.

(In every women’s Bible study in my Daughters of the King Bible Study Series, every lesson ends with a “letter from God.” Here is the one included in the lesson on Rebekah and Rahab).

My precious Princess and Daughter:

I am in control. I am sovereign. I am able to make things happen the way I want. Yes, I do allow you to make your own choices. And I know you don’t fully understand how these concepts can operate side by side. But I’m able to work within and around the choices you make to cause my ultimate purposes to succeed. For this, you must trust me. Ask Me about your choices and plans. My wisdom is yours if you’ll ask.

Just look at My Son’s death and resurrection. His enemies thought they were acting on their own. Yet, while their choices revealed who they truly were, I made sure my words given to my prophets came true.

I want you to cooperate with my plans. When the people around you reject my leading, be assured, I am still in control. I will fulfill My plan. At times, I’ll ask you to help Me influence their lives, but don’t take responsibility for them. Their choices are their own, but I’m still in control. Trust me. I’ll use all things for your good.

Lovingly,

Your heavenly Father, the King

So which biblical woman trusted God’s sovereignty most? How would you like her to inspire you to trust God more?

Click HERE to order the Kindle copy of Choices of the Heart for only $.99 (limited time).