Good parents are gracious to forgive when their children humble themselves, admit their disobedience, and ask for mercy. Today we discover ancient accounts that point us to our graciousness of Heavenly Father, who is willing and wanting to forgive those who turn to Him.

These people did what God said BEFORE they saw the result, obeying what God said, TRUSTING that He was going to do what He said He was going to do. The Hebrew people were to choose an unblemished sheep or goat and the slaughter them at twilight, then smear the blood on the doorposts and lintel of the houses. Then they were to roast and eat the meat with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Any part of the animal they couldn’t eat, they were to burn.

Exodus 12:11-13 Here is how you must eat it: You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is [Yahweh’s] the LORD’s Passover. I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I am [Yahweh] the LORD; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

The death angel killed the firstborn of the Egyptians while obeying God’s command to PASSOVER the Hebrews who had obeyed His command to wipe the blood on the doorposts. Just as God had promised, as the Egyptian households wept in anguish over the death of the first-born (including Pharaoh) and the Hebrew people were told to get out! And they did (Ex 12:29-40).

When the Egyptians realized their slave labor was now gone, they pursued the Hebrews to get them back. God had the Hebrew people hold up and camp close to the sea, setting Pharaoh and the Egyptians up for destruction (Ex 14:1-4). As the Egyptians got closer in their 600 chariots, the Hebrew people thought it was the end of their lives (Ex 14:5-12).

It took faith for these people to step between the waters “like a wall” to their right and left (Ex 14:21-22). They trusted God and crossed the sea bed that had become “dry ground” (Ex 14:22), while God drowned the Egyptians as the water wall collapsed on them. 

40 years later (due to the peoples’ disobedience) the younger generation obeyed God and crossed into the Promised Land. With no battle experience God told them to go to Jericho and follow these strange instructions.

God showed His power and brought destruction on Jericho, but God & the Hebrews showed grace to a lady we wouldn’t expect to be in the “Hall of Faith” - a pagan prostitute who protected the Hebrew spies sent by Joshua to check out the fortress.

Rather than turn these enemies in, Rahab welcomed the spies and hid them in her home. Why? Here’s her reasoning.

Joshua 2:9–11 (LEB) I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away in fear because of your presence. For we have heard how Yahweh dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you went out from Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. We heard this, and our hearts melted, and no courage was left in anyone because of your presence. For Yahweh your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Because she protected them, the Hebrew spies made a deal with her - to save her family. And that’s exactly what they did. Rahab and her family were spared.

Rahab’s example of faith is here in Hebrews 11:31 and also in James 2:25. But her name is mentioned somewhere else…Matthew chapter 1 opens with the family tree of Jesus and look whose name we find!

Matthew 1:5-6a (CSB) Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered King David. 

Rahab, formerly a pagan prostitute and enemy from Jericho, became the great, great grandmother of King David. This non-Hebrew puts her faith in Yahweh, the One true God, and becomes an example of FAITH for others to follow!

Rahab had NOT gone too far for God’s grace and neither have you!  

Remember how the Hebrew people obeyed God to sacrifice the unblemished lamb or goat and place its blood on their doors? The blood of the unblemished sacrificed 1) protected them from God’s wrath and 2) released them from bondage.

Over 1400 years later, Jesus transforms the Passover meal to show the HE IS the UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICE that 1) protects us from God’s wrath and 2) releases us from the bondage of sin.

This brings us back to where we started today. Remember how the Hebrew people obeyed God to sacrifice the unblemished lamb or goat and place its blood on their doors? The blood of the unblemished sacrificed 1) protected them from God’s wrath and 2) released them from bondage. Over 1400 years later, Jesus transforms the Passover meal to show the HE IS the UNBLEMISHED SACRIFICE that 1) protects us from God’s wrath and 2) releases us from the bondage of sin. His disciples don’t understand what He means until AFTER His death, burial, and resurrection. The death of Jesus became their eternal hope. They no longer trusted their good works to make them right with God. They trusted in Jesus’ good works! He lived a perfect life and then died a wicked death…to PAY for their sin!…and for ours!

TURN from sin and TURN to Jesus - recognizing that He made the ultimate sacrifice for you, and you WILL be forgiven and set free!

Today, like the 1st followers of Jesus, we consume the bread and juice to REMEMBER what Jesus has done for us and BY FAITH, trust in the future promises of what is coming.

Take a moment to prepare yourself and pray.