A question I've been asking myself recently is are we as Christians to far removed from people's real life's? Are we so afraid of contamination almost that we limit our circle to only Christians? I hear people say that they need to be careful with the company that they keep because bad company corrupts. But if the spies hadn't kept "bad company" would Rahab have become part of the story and lineage of Jesus?
Sin didn't contaminated Jesus, when he encountered people bound by sin, he set them free. He didn't get infected. Much to consider!
Like Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy says, we’re called to the margins, not to rescue but to move in, because if we all did that, there would be no more margin. My pastor always says, we’ll walk with anyone to the cross. Certainly there are times for rescue, but there are more times for companionship. Rescue implies status. In this story, it’s the one we ordinarily think of needing rescue, who rescues the children of God. We all need rescue. We’re all idolaters at points in our lives, and God calls us harlots. Idolatry is prostitution in God’s eyes. Rahab is a great reminder that we are all equal and equally loved by our Father.
I love your comment: My pastor always says, we’ll walk with anyone to the cross. Certainly there are times for rescue, but there are more times for companionship.
Thanks for sharing the genealogy - Boaz's mom was a Canaanite former prostitute! Perhaps his generosity and compassion toward the poor who came to glean at his fields (Ruth included) came from the parenting that Rahab gave him - her stories of God's grace to her and how she came to be married to a man in the kingly line of Judah. Wonderful.
Absolutely! Love these comments. The genealogy shows how our family’s story shapes us. I am sure Boaz grew up with a heart for the outsider. My own family’s story has cultivated compassion in me for those outside of the Christian bubble.
I love that Rahab's story, true, honest, humble, and God. We all have different stories of brokenness and God. It is liberating when we can be in fellowship with a group of people, saved by grace, and love with grace. It hurts my soul when fellowships think we must be clean and pure to come. Grace, forgiveness, healing, and restored wholeness is never experiences. That is so sad. For me Hebrews 11 is a story of many broken people, who faced fear, trusting in something they could not put their hands on and God did the work. This makes me feel like I can too.
Boaz must have learned from his mother, Rahab. When Rahab heard of what God had done with the Red Sea and destruction of kings, she believed. My ESV version says their “hearts melted “and she praised God . Her actions to help the spies followed.
This shows that God looks at the heart. Boaz continued with that goodness and kindness to Ruth., that good heart.
I’m trying to reconcile the Romans passage with the law-breaking “by faith” stories. I think what we ultimately must be guided by is God’s law. I remember during Covid, my Facebook feed was full of people who refused to wear masks. I remember having a conversation with my dad about applying that Romans passage — if the governor said to wear a mask, then you should wear a mask. But the governor told us to do that in order to protect people. What we ultimately need to do, I think, is follow God’s law. God wants us to help people. God doesn’t want pharaohs killing babies. God wanted the Israelites to take Jericho, and I think Rahab understood that. So when it comes to a matter of disobeying your government, maybe we can be comfortable with that when the government is asking us to violate God’s law, which in this country is still pretty rare.
I love rereading the Bible through different lenses! This was my first time to think “what a woman Rahab must’ve been to raise such a kind hearted man, Boaz”. I know women who relate to Rahab (and Gomer). I love that God included not only women, but women with “stories”. He’s a good God.
Boaz saw through the lens of his mother, just my thoughts. I’ve often wondered if she shared her past with him or did people share her past with him. Either scenario I imagine her telling the story of how God loves the least likely. I imagine her teaching him to do the same.
A question I've been asking myself recently is are we as Christians to far removed from people's real life's? Are we so afraid of contamination almost that we limit our circle to only Christians? I hear people say that they need to be careful with the company that they keep because bad company corrupts. But if the spies hadn't kept "bad company" would Rahab have become part of the story and lineage of Jesus?
Sin didn't contaminated Jesus, when he encountered people bound by sin, he set them free. He didn't get infected. Much to consider!
That was definitely on my mind as I was writing!
This is a great concept to contemplate. Thank you for sharing Beverley!
Like Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy says, we’re called to the margins, not to rescue but to move in, because if we all did that, there would be no more margin. My pastor always says, we’ll walk with anyone to the cross. Certainly there are times for rescue, but there are more times for companionship. Rescue implies status. In this story, it’s the one we ordinarily think of needing rescue, who rescues the children of God. We all need rescue. We’re all idolaters at points in our lives, and God calls us harlots. Idolatry is prostitution in God’s eyes. Rahab is a great reminder that we are all equal and equally loved by our Father.
I love your comment: My pastor always says, we’ll walk with anyone to the cross. Certainly there are times for rescue, but there are more times for companionship.
Thanks for sharing the genealogy - Boaz's mom was a Canaanite former prostitute! Perhaps his generosity and compassion toward the poor who came to glean at his fields (Ruth included) came from the parenting that Rahab gave him - her stories of God's grace to her and how she came to be married to a man in the kingly line of Judah. Wonderful.
Yes - who better to welcome the outside than someone who was raised and taught by an outsider!
Absolutely! Love these comments. The genealogy shows how our family’s story shapes us. I am sure Boaz grew up with a heart for the outsider. My own family’s story has cultivated compassion in me for those outside of the Christian bubble.
Amen!
I love that Rahab's story, true, honest, humble, and God. We all have different stories of brokenness and God. It is liberating when we can be in fellowship with a group of people, saved by grace, and love with grace. It hurts my soul when fellowships think we must be clean and pure to come. Grace, forgiveness, healing, and restored wholeness is never experiences. That is so sad. For me Hebrews 11 is a story of many broken people, who faced fear, trusting in something they could not put their hands on and God did the work. This makes me feel like I can too.
Boaz must have learned from his mother, Rahab. When Rahab heard of what God had done with the Red Sea and destruction of kings, she believed. My ESV version says their “hearts melted “and she praised God . Her actions to help the spies followed.
This shows that God looks at the heart. Boaz continued with that goodness and kindness to Ruth., that good heart.
It’s like He wants you to understand who He’s calling home.”
I’m trying to reconcile the Romans passage with the law-breaking “by faith” stories. I think what we ultimately must be guided by is God’s law. I remember during Covid, my Facebook feed was full of people who refused to wear masks. I remember having a conversation with my dad about applying that Romans passage — if the governor said to wear a mask, then you should wear a mask. But the governor told us to do that in order to protect people. What we ultimately need to do, I think, is follow God’s law. God wants us to help people. God doesn’t want pharaohs killing babies. God wanted the Israelites to take Jericho, and I think Rahab understood that. So when it comes to a matter of disobeying your government, maybe we can be comfortable with that when the government is asking us to violate God’s law, which in this country is still pretty rare.
I think you’ve definitely got the truth of it. It’s the application that takes wisdom and connection with the Spirit of God.
Believe it or not, we talked about this exact topic in Bible class today — how to live out Romans 13/does it contradict Moses’ parents, etc!
And you were prepared!
I’ve always loved when I see churches with red doors mostly because red is my favorite color, but “entering through the wound”… wow.
Need to go buy some paint
I love rereading the Bible through different lenses! This was my first time to think “what a woman Rahab must’ve been to raise such a kind hearted man, Boaz”. I know women who relate to Rahab (and Gomer). I love that God included not only women, but women with “stories”. He’s a good God.
Boaz saw through the lens of his mother, just my thoughts. I’ve often wondered if she shared her past with him or did people share her past with him. Either scenario I imagine her telling the story of how God loves the least likely. I imagine her teaching him to do the same.