Daily Devotional | Saved from Destruction

Imagine the bedlam that occurred after the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. As bricks crumbled and dust clouded the air, the Israelite army rushed into the city. The enemies fled for their lives as Jericho was overtaken. Rahab and her family were in hiding, probably clinging together in fear as they awaited their fate.

Although today’s reading is part of yesterday’s text, this narrative deserves a closer look. We encountered Rahab a few chapters ago when we read how she heroically sheltered the Israelite spies. After Rahab revealed her faith in the God “over heaven above and earth below” (2:11), she made a deal to be spared Jericho’s inevitable doom. She helped the spies escape and now it was their turn. Would they honor their agreement?

Joshua ordered that everything inside the city would now be devoted to the Lord (v. 17). The Hebrew word for “devoted” used here refers to the irrevocable giving to the Lord by total destruction. But Joshua also honored the promises made to Rahab and her family. This act of mercy displayed Joshua’s commitment to justice and revealed the Lord’s character. The lives of Rahab and her family were spared because God always fulfills His promises.

Rahab’s story has a parallel to the gospel. We are taught in the New Testament, that God desires every person to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Just as God did not reject Rahab because of her past failures, the Lord receives all who surrender their lives to Him. The same mercy given to Rahab has been offered to us as well. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and victory over the grave, we are able to be saved from inevitable destruction. God saves all who trust in Him.

>> God knows your story . . . all of it. Despite your imperfections, He loves you and wants you to be part of His family. Through Jesus, He made a way for that to be possible. Surrender your life to Him, today! It is a life-changing decision that only you can make.

Pray with Us

Let’s ask the Father to help us grow in our love for Him and for each other. Let us also thank Jesus for His salvation that brought us into His family of faith.

BY Dr. Chris Rappazini

Dr. Chris Rappazini believes “the Bible is still relevant, leadership is essential, and the church’s best days are still ahead.” Chris is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the University of Edinburgh, and Gonzaga University. He served as Associate Professor of Pastoral Studies at Moody Bible Institute. Chris and his wife, Ashley, and their children now reside in North Carolina.