The Family Tree Rahab: The Unexpected Ally Kile Baker December 1st, 2024 Jesus’ Family Tree: Exploring God’s perfect plan through imperfect people. The Godly Traitor: Rahab and Jericho Matthew 1:1-5 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, 3Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, 4Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 5Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse… Joshua 2:1-24 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them! ” 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. 7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut. The Bible addresses things God does not approve of. 8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.” 14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land. 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. James 2:18-26 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe ​— ​and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Lessons from Rahab’s life: A healthy fear of God will lead to a healthier faith for you. Discipleship is about following God as your faith grows, it’s not an act that helps you arrive as a finished product. Your love for God will test your loyalty to everything else. Becoming a Godly traitor: Put your faith to work. Growth in faith: Do something new for a more Godly you. Pick a person to pray for; a spiritual disciple to practice; and an area to serve in. Betray your sin as soon as possible, because it’s already betraying you. Betraying sin: List the top three things you do that turn you into a different you. Put something good and Godly in their place for 30 days.