Surprised by Grace

So how did Rahab and Ruth, two very ordinary Gentile women from different Gentile nations end up entering into the blessing of God? The answer is through the amazing grace of God. In Rahab’s case, she had heard how God came to the rescue of His people Israel by drying up the Red Sea, as well as how He dealt with their enemies. So, she acted in the fear of the Lord when she hid the spies and also had the wisdom to negotiate the freedom of her family.

“And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you, for the Lord your God He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11).

What a testimony! Little did she know the spies were there by divine appointment, for the Lord knew her heart. In Ruth’s case, she married into a Hebrew family when the family mistakenly moved to Moab in a time of famine. Isn’t it amazing how God can work all things together for good, even our mistakes, when we return to Him?

Ruth could easily have walked away after her husband died, but there was something special about the God of Israel, who had fulfilled her life in a way no other had done. She refused to leave Naomi and the two went back to Israel where God blessed their lives beyond what they could have imagined.

Even Boaz, who would eventually become Ruth’s husband, declared “The Lord recompense thy work and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust” (Ruth 2:12). In conjunction with the Lord, both women, though outsiders, came to trust under the wings of Almighty God and became recipients of His grace and mercy after they joined themselves to God’s people. God wants His grace to be extended to every nation in the world, and everyone who begins to journey in His direction, will find themselves in the arms of grace.

Mankind is so blessed to be offered such mercy. Even the angels are amazed (1 Peter 1:12).