Rahab the Harlot.
Thomas the Doubter.
We don’t know these two by what they were after they met God or his people, we have allowed their dysfunction to define them.
Rahab was a woman who lived in Jericho some 40+ years after the Exodus. She was known as a harlot, a woman of the night. She lived in one of the enormous walls of Jericho with a window facing outward.
Two Hebrew spies same into Jericho to checkout the lay of the land. They were soon in need of a place to hide, and for whatever reason ended up at the house of Rahab. She not only hid them, but helped them escape with the promise that she, and her family, wouldn’t be destroyed. They obliged, as long as there would be a scarlet thread hanging out of her window.
All of that seems completely random, and really it is. But, what I find interesting, is that this prostitute, who helped the people of God, would forever be known as “Rahab the Harlot”
The writer of Hebrews said, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” Hebrews 11:31
In James 2:25, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?”
If she was justified, and so full of faith, why is she still being referred to as a harlot? The Bible never again mentions her selling herself for money. It says nothing of her continued immoral lifestyle. She left the city, changed location, changed everything. Married a Hebrew man. In fact, the Bible mentions her being in the lineage of Jesus.
Why is it that sometimes no matter how hard we try, we just can’t change people’s minds over what we used to be?
Why is it that our dysfunction, seems to eternally define us?
It’s been a longtime since I committed that sin, or whatever, and people still define me by that.
Thomas the Doubter, or Doubting Thomas.
In a moment where he is hurt and feeling lost, he doubts. His mentor, teacher, Lord, and friend has died. He is an emotional basket case. He had to have been, I would’ve. He is told that Jesus visited them while he was gone. He spews doubt and unbelief from his mouth, refusing to believe them.
How could they get his hopes up? Surely they would just be more dashed hopes. Through hurt he says he doesn’t believe it.
He doubts ONE time, and all of a sudden, he is forever defined by that one moment of doubt. He doubted ONCE. One time, not perpetually, not even sporadically, but once. Scripture never even refers to him doubting ever again. But, he will forever be known as the doubter.
Thomas the Doubter, Rahab the Harlot.
What dysfunction defines you?
Do you think it always will?
In my next post, I’ll talk about some ways to overcome your dysfunction, and it defining you for the rest of your life.
jareddoran 