The Fear of the Lord

Amazingly, without any form of modern technology or communication, news still managed to travel across the then known world as Rahab the harlot testified that the fear of the Lord had fallen on all the inhabitants of her nation concerning the acts of the Lord on behalf of the children of Israel.

Rahab’s remarkable testimony confirmed “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are faint hearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites” (Joshua 2:9-10).

She had heard of the might and acts of the God of Israel and made her decision. She preferred to be with Him rather than against Him. So, she took action and hid the two spies who were on reconnaissance. That one decision and act saved not only her own life, but the lives of her family who were in the house with her when Joshua and the Israelites conquered Jericho. In one decisive moment, her whole life changed. In the eyes of the Lord, no longer was she categorised as a harlot. He lifted her from the gutter most to the uttermost.

This was the point where her name entered the hall of fame of mighty men and women as declared in the book of Hebrews chapter 11:31. No longer would the whispering lies of the enemy call her to account for her mistakes and failures of her past. She had been plucked as a brand from the burning and was counted among the people of God. When she said yes to God, she had a new beginning. Only Almighty God could exchange the shame of her past for a place among the great and mighty men and women of faith.

What was it that changed her mind? The fear of the Lord and how He acts on behalf of His people.

The Bible declares, ‘Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another: and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make them my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him’ (Malachi 3:16-17).

As the second coming of Christ draws ever nearer, it is so noticeable that we live in a world where respect for the Lord is dwindling, as the ungodly choose their own path. But, as sons and daughters of the living, we are called to hold fast the word of life and to honour our God for who He is. For He is mighty to deliver.