Hey ladies, my name is Gaby, I am one of the pastors in our women’s ministry at City Church, Fame! All summer long we are learning from women in the Old Testament. And it’s been so fresh and encouraging!

The woman that I get to share with you is Rahab.

Her story is a bit wild.  She’s the prostitute who said yes to God, took a big risk, trusted God’s people, and saved her family! Story goes a little like this. The great warrior Joshua sent some spies to check out this big important city Jericho. Rahab lived there & hid the spies to protect them.  She did this so when Joshua and the army  of Israel came to destroy Jericho, Rahab and her family would  be saved. And she ends up in the genealogy of Jesus. WHAT??!!

Let me read to you the verses where the spies make an agreement with Rahab that makes her & her special rope famous…it’s a little Repunzel-ish.

Joshua 2:18,21 (NLT)

“When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.”

I love the part “I accept your terms.”

Rahab’s words remind me of the season right before I was graduating college. I was pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy and Athletic training and was offered a big leadership role in a job in that field. It was what I knew. It was what I had studied for. It was what my family was expecting. But something in my heart told me it wasn’t the way.  And the demands of the position were going to pull me away from church! NOOOO!

I remember being in the car with Pastor Tami as I struggled with the decision and she offered me to work at the church instead. At that moment; it was such a risk. My heart was saying yes, but I was afraid of disappointing family members or even myself because I wasn’t moving forward in the way I had planned. But God had a plan. I was “accepting the terms” to put God first and work for God’s people. Which was what I truly wanted to do.

God showed me 3 Ways to Lead & Make Good Decisions through this story with Rahab.

1. SAY NO…SO YOU CAN SAY YES TO GOD

Sometimes  you have to say no to your own plans and say yes to God’s! Rahab had to say no to her allegiance to Jericho, so she could say yes to God.

“Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from….(Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.)”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:4, 6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

2. TAKE A RISK TO TRUST GOD.

Rahab had to take a risk to trust the spies promise to save her family. Little did I know that the fitness company I was offered to work for would go bankrupt only a few years later. OMG. I realized God had saved my career, finances & reputation.

“We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭NLT‬

3.MAKE A COMMITMENT AND FOLLOW THROUGH

I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

Here I am 16 years later still working at one of the greatest churches in the world. And not only that, I believe because of that decision I have a wonderful marriage and children blessed by God!

If it weren’t for this church and the incredible friends I’ve made over the last 20 years, I don’t know how I could’ve made that decision and so many others where I had to choose God first.

I hope you learned something from Rahab’s risk today.  What decision have you faced when you knew you had to choose and trust God and you did?

We’d all love to hear it.