Rahab, called a Canaanite prostitute but men but not by God. She plays a pivotal role in the biblical account of the Israelites’ conquest of Jericho. Some believe the translation of harlot should in fact be in keeper or hostess. According to Joshua 2 and 6, Rahab lived in Jericho when the Israelites, led by Joshua, prepared to conquer the city. Rahab’s story showcases her faith, courage, and resourcefulness as she interacts with the Israelite spies and ultimately helps them escape.
When Joshua sent two spies to scout out Jericho, they sought refuge in Rahab’s house. The king of Jericho had been informed about the spies and demanded that Rahab hand them over. However, Rahab protected the spies, hiding them on her roof and providing them with a means of escape. She explained to the spies that she knew about the Israelites’ conquest of other lands and believed in the power of their God. Rahab asked the spies to spare her family when they conquered Jericho, and the spies agreed, provided she would tie a scarlet cord in her window as a sign.
Rahab’s actions demonstrate her faith in the God of the Israelites and her willingness to take risks to protect the spies. Her story highlights the theme of redemption and salvation, as she and her family were ultimately spared when the Israelites conquered Jericho. When the Israelites marched around the city, Rahab and her family were safely inside her house, marked by the scarlet cord. The walls of Jericho collapsed, but Rahab and her family were rescued, showcasing God’s mercy and protection.
Rahab’s legacy extends beyond her role in the conquest of Jericho. She is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Matthew 1:5), highlighting her significance in the biblical narrative. Rahab’s story serves as an example of faith, courage, and redemption, demonstrating that people from diverse backgrounds can play important roles in God’s plan. Her actions and faith ultimately led to her integration into the community of Israel, showcasing the inclusive nature of God’s plan and the importance of faith and obedience.
Rahab’s story also provides insight into the cultural and historical context of the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan. Her faith and actions earned her a place among the Israelites, highlighting the transformative power of faith and redemption. Through Rahab’s story, the biblical account showcases the complexities of human relationships, faith, and obedience, providing valuable lessons for readers.
KJV Revelation 18:23: “And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Pharmakeia: The Greek word translated as “sorceries” in this verse. Pharmakeia far-mak-i’-ah Parts of Speech: Noun Feminine Pharmakeia Definition- NAS Word Usage – Total: 3 1. The use or the administering of drugs. 2. Poisoning 3. Sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it 4. Metaphor; the deceptions and seductions of idolatry https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/pharmakeia.html
Pharmakeia is where the modern English word pharmacy originated.
Read it again with the word pharmacy where it would go.
“The light of a candle shall shine no more”, meaning the light within is now gone.
Who is known as light? God.
“The voice of the bridegroom you of the bride shall be heard no more at all in the”
The voice of who? GOD. The internal voice of God had left all together.
“For thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.”
Who deceived the world? The great men of the earth who are merchants.
And what were these merchants selling? Pharmakeia.
This verse is a detailed warning about the great men of the earth who are merchants that deceived the whole world with their sorceries. How much clearer could our Father be to warn us of the corrupt medical systems of today. Not just America, the whole world. Mark 13:23 “But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” God’s warned us about everything, we just need to read His word to find it.
My go to comfort food is sloppy Joe. This meal always put a smile on my face and warms my belly. Too bad most of my family does not share the same love for the food.
What do I listen to while I work? I like to listen to God word being taught while I work. I love to listen to sermons. When I have had my daily dose of Bible I enjoy fun an factual podcasts about everyday things.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3 KJV https://bible-strong.app
Jeremiah 31 1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
Welcome back to another in-depth Bible study. If you’re just not stopping by I highly recommend going back to the beginning, Genesis 1:1. This is an in-depth Bible study that follows chapter by chapter, verse by verse, Genesis to Revelation.
Deuteronomy 12:16
16 Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.
17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
20 When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
21 If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
22 Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.
23 Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.
24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.
25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.
26 Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:
27 And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
29 When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;
30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.
32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 13 1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.
12 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,
13 Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
14 Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.
16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.
17 And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;
18 When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
As Christians we always fall short. We are not and will never be perfect. If you proclaim that you do not sin, you are simply lying to yourself and God. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”. The important part is to repent for our mistakes and work hard not to commit the sin again. We all get lost from time to time and stay away from God’s plan. These fleshy bodies are made to tempt us, and tempt us they do. While failing is inevitable, how you handled that failure is what sets us apart. Below are 5 strategies to help build your faith and set you back on the right path. The path that allows you to grow closer to our heavenly Father and maintain a close relationship with Him.
1. Repent
Confess your sins to the Lord and they all will be washed away. Many Bible verses direct us to pray, Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is crucial to our salvation to regularly talk with God about our sins and transgressions and ask for forgiveness. Through God’s grace we are purified and made new.
2. Study the Word
As a Christian, each and everyday we should devour the word of God. Whether it’s 10 minutes or two hours, time for God should always be part of your daily schedule. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV reads “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We must read and learn God’s word, how else can we implement the knowledge into our lives? We cannot model something we do not know. God tells us everything we need to know about life and what he expects, we just have to read it.
3. Companions
Surround yourself with like minded people. If you regularly entertain people who hate God and do unGodly things, you are more likely to join in. Find people with the same values and mind set that you have. Find people who can edify and uplift in the name of God. It’s so much easier to stay on God’s path when you have like minded people around. Peer pressure can be overwhelming, make sure the peer pressure you have is the righteous kind.
4. Media
Take a close examination of what kind of content you are consuming daily. Books, TV shows, YouTube, Google, social media, and music all have a compound effect on your relationship with God. Matthew 15:18 reads “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” The things that we watch and listen to transforms are heart and as a result, shows itself with the things we say. Would God approve of your television show or music preference? If not I suggest you change it.
5. Answered Prayer/ Blessings Journal
One of the best ways to build faith and strengthen your relationship with God is to keep a journal of answered prayers or blessings provided. I have done this and it is astounding to see the multitude of writing entries after a short time. IN society today we ARE expected to stay busy, constantly moving to the next goal. A faith journal allows you to take a moment and reflect on the goal already achieved and the greatness in them. It allows you to showcase God’s grace as you write testimony after testimony of God’s grace, comfort and provisions. Proving to your self time after time that God will always lead, guide, direct and protect those who would call on His name.
Being a Christina isn’t a religion, it’s a lifestyle choice. Each and every day is a test and we are either growing toward Him or growing away from Him. It is your choice my friend, your salvation depends on you. Not God, not your up bringing, not your past, not your parents. You and only you are responsible for your soul. God is the same yesterday and he was today and will be tomorrow, he’s just waiting for you to come back home.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJV https://bible-strong.app
John 15 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
