The Watford Church of Christ Podcast
We are on a journey to that future life exploring the incredible plans God has for us on earth to love Him and to love others. Join us on this journey!
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Episodes
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Thursday Feb 01, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 477 | New Thing Series — Part 32 | “Daniel’s Humility” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s humility.
“Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3-4 NRSV)
Daniel’s Humility
Daniel was from Jewish nobility, handsome, intelligent and well-educated (Daniel 1:3, 4). He had everything going for him.
In his homeland he was used to people treating him with deference and respect. People would ask his opinion on important matters.
Now, he has to start fight to survive.“While once considered an expert, now Daniel's Jewish education was considered obsolete; he would have to retool himself if he was to survive, much less distinguish himself among the young men in the palace.” Wide Awake, Erwin McManus
Daniel demonstrates humility in two waysFirstly he shows himself adaptable to his new, less-than-ideal circumstances
Secondly, he looks to God for answers and not his own intelligence
“Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish.” (Daniel 2:17-18 NRSV)
“The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these:” (Daniel 2:26-28 NRSV)
For Reflection
Sometimes our background, education and gifts are eclipsed by circumstances beyond our control. Paul experienced this.
“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9 NIV11)
Has something ‘happened’ to you recently? Is there a possibility that God allowed it so that you ‘might not rely’ on yourself, but God?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 476 | New Thing Series — Part 31 | “Daniel’s Purity” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s purity.
“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favour and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.
At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.” (Daniel 1:8-21 NRSV)
We do not know precisely why Daniel chose this diet. Vegetables would not be any safer from ritual contamination than meat. I offer you this thought by Joyce Baldwin quoted in a commentary on Daniel:
“It would seem that Daniel rejected this symbol of dependence on the king because he wished to be free to fulfil his primary obligations to the God he served. The defilement he feared was not so much a ritual as a moral defilement, arising from the subtle flattery of gifts and favours which entailed hidden implications of loyal support, however dubious the King's future policies might prove to be."
Daniel’s purity
Is an act of faith
Is God-focused
Is effective in impressing pagans
Is blessed by God
For Reflection
We similarly make decisions which the world would find strange. We attend church services instead of having extra time to do whatever we want. We pray to an invisible God! We hold to a moral and ethical code which seems outdated to most of society. Perhaps you can relate to what Peter wrote:
“You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry. They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme.” (1 Peter 4:3-4 NRSV)
Are there any current situations in your life over which you are finding it hard to make a decision because of how it might look to other people? Will doing things gods way make you look strange? Why not pray that you can take inspiration from Daniel and his friends?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 475 | New Thing Series — Part 30 | “Daniel’s Friends” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s friends.
“Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah. The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (Daniel 1:6-7 NRSV)
“Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.”” (Daniel 1:11-13 NRSV)
“At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar, and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king’s court. In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.” (Daniel 1:18-20 NRSV)
“Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish.” (Daniel 2:17-18 NRSV)
Daniel’s friends
They are in exile together
They are in training together
They are under pressure together
They stand up for their convictions together
They pray together
For Reflection
Daniel and his friends are an inspiration to us. God has wired us to be community people. We need friends in Christ. The New Testament is full of instructions to do life together. Think of all those ‘each other’ and ‘one another’ passages. You could look some of those up and pray through them. Perhaps the nearest parallel in the New Testament is Paul and Silas in Philippi:
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (Acts 16:25-26 NRSV)
Why not take some time today to ask God to help you to be a faith-friend to someone?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Monday Jan 29, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 474 | New Thing Series — Part 29 | “Daniel’s Exile” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Daniel. Today we explore Daniel’s exile.
“In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power,” (Daniel 1:1-2 NRSV)
“Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility, young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:3-4 NRSV)
“The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.” (Daniel 1:7 NRSV)
Daniel is referred to by his contemporary Ezekiel (Ezek 14:12-14) who compares him to Noah & Job. Quite an accolade!
“if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 14:13-14 NIV11)
Daniel’s exile
Daniel is a thousand miles from home.
He has been removed from his family, his society, his culture and his religion.
His liberty is curtailed, he is a persecuted minority.
He has a new language to learn and doesn't know his way round.
He has been given a name and a job he didn't ask for
His convictions are tested.
For Reflection
When we follow Jesus we come home. But, we are not finally home — yet. In some ways our exile is ended. In other ways it continues but with a different context. We are no longer distant from God. We are in his kingdom and do not belong to the kingdom of the world any longer.
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.” (1 Peter 1:1-2 NRSV)
parepidēmos: pilgrim, refugee, residing in a country not one’s own, a sojourner, stranger,
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honourable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.”(1 Peter 2:11-12 NRSV)
Why not take some time today to ask God to give you security even while you are in exile? Ask him to make give you a Daniel-style confidence.
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
*(https://lisaappelo.com/lessons-from-rahab-in-lineage-of-jesus/) Lisa Appello
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Sunday Jan 28, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 473 | New Thing Series — Part 28 | “Rahab’s Future” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore Rahab’s future.
“Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.” (Matthew 1:2-6 NRSV)
The genealogy continues all the way to, “Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:16 NRSV)
Rahab’s future
We know almost nothing about Rahab and her family after they are rescued from the assault on Jericho.
We know that she appears in the genealogy of Jesus.
This means several things. She got married and she became a mother.
Someone put it like this:
God redefined Rahab —
from a fallen woman to a chosen woman,
from a bad girl to a bride,
from a mess to a mother and
from prostitute to progenitor of the Messiah.*
For Reflection
When we are baptised into Christ we are redefined by God. We become his children, part of his family. Our identity changes from stranger to friend. Our status changes from lost to found. Our future changes from horror to hope. Our destiny changes from hell to heaven.
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2 NRSV)
Why not take some time today to pray to thank God for redefining you? Ask him to make clear all the ways in which he has changed your future.
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
*(https://lisaappelo.com/lessons-from-rahab-in-lineage-of-jesus/) Lisa Appello
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Saturday Jan 27, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 472 | New Thing Series — Part 27 | “Rahab’s Obedience” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore Rahab’s obedience.
“The men said to her, “We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear to you if we invade the land and you do not tie this crimson cord in the window through which you let us down, and you do not gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your family. If any of you go out of the doors of your house into the street, they shall be responsible for their own death, and we shall be innocent; but if a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death. But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you.” She said, “According to your words, so be it.” She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.” (Joshua 2:17-21 NRSV)
“So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her—they brought all her kindred out—and set them outside the camp of Israel.” (Joshua 6:23 NRSV)
Rahab’s obedience
We cannot be certain as to the origin of the significance of the crimson cord, if there was one.
In itself it is insignificant. A piece of cord is not an important object. Except, that it is — in this context.
Can you imagine how carefully she tied it to the window? I'm sure it was the tightest knot she ever made.
I wonder if she had some scarlet cord handy? Perhaps she had some blue or green cord. That was not good enough. She not only put the code in the window, but made sure it was the right colour.
Did she risk people asking her why she had put the cord out of her window? How would she explain it?
Her obedience was immediate, precise and courageous.
Her face was demonstrated in this obedience. What saved her was not the chord, but her faith in the God who revealed the significance of the cord for her salvation.
“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” (James 2:24-26 NRSV)
For Reflection
We are baptised into Christ as an act of obedience. Something very profound and significant happens in our baptism, but it is not magic. Sins are washed away not because we get wet, but because we have faith in God. He saves us because we trust him to do so.
Why not take some time today to pray to thank God for your Salvation and ask him to continue to live a life of trusting obedience?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Friday Jan 26, 2024
Friday Jan 26, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 471 | New Thing Series — Part 26 | “Rahab’s Family” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore Rahab’s family.
“The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” (Joshua 2:12-13 NRSV)
“Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house, and bring the woman out of it and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her—they brought all her kindred out—and set them outside the camp of Israel.” (Joshua 6:22-23 NRSV)
Rahab’s family
Rahab prioritises her family, not herself. She sees her opportunity for salvation as something she wants others to experience.
Just about the highest value for a woman in ancient society was in terms of her relation to husband, father and children. So her concern for her family is, in this passage, presented as making her ‘righteous’ (see the Proverbs 31 woman, with parallels concerning family, industry, flax and crimson clothing).
‘The term for family is literally ‘house of the father’. This appears in the Bible as a description of an extended family governed by the eldest male. Members of a family often lived together in a cluster of dwellings… Rahab requests a sure sign (Heb. ʾôt ʾĕmet) that this deliverance will be accomplished. The sign is the oath that she wants the spies to swear for the protection of her family. It is important to see the solidarity of the family, a concept that in this case ensures blessing and salvation for many in addition to the believer. As an oath of fealty, this covenant would bring Rahab’s family into Israelite society…Rahab and her family here ceased to be Canaanite and became part of Israel’s family. Rahab is acting as spokeswoman and agent for the family. A female, rather than a male, leads this extended family and her faith delivers it.’ Tyndale
“And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8 NRSV)
“And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4 NRSV)
For Reflection
Rahab could not control her family — it was up to them whether they joined her in her house at the time of Joshua’s attack on Jericho — but she gave them a chance.
Why not take some time today to pray for your family? Include extended family, including any who live abroad, those you don’t see very often or others you find difficult. What could you do to give them a chance to share in your salvation?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Thursday Jan 25, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 470 | New Thing Series — Part 25 | “Rahab’s Kindness” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore Rahab’s kindness.
“As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family.” (Joshua 2:11-12 NRSV)
Rahab’s kindness is a new thing
Rahab has “dealt kindly” with the spies. In return she asks them to ‘deal kindly’ with her family
The word ‘kindly’ is a very rich word. It is the Hebrew word ‘hesed’.
‘hesed’ is a covenant word expressing a commitment to faithfulness
God uses the word of himself when speaking to Moses
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love (‘hesed’) to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”” (Exodus 34:6-7 NIV11)
God is saying, ‘I am the hesed God. You can count on me to keep my covenant.’
Ḥesed is found nearly 250 times in the OT and is hard to translate. Usually a composite of English words is used: grace, mercy, compassion, steadfast love and so on. Bernard of Clairvaux described it as the “love that will not let us go.”
Note in the Exodus passage how his love is lavished on thousands while the punishments for sin only last to the third or fourth generation.
These are the first things God says to Moses from within the cloud, as he prepares to give the law to Moses the second time. The very giving of the law a second time is an act of ḥesed love.
hesed is not so much about a state, but a relationship. It makes sense in the context of family and community bonds.
For Reflection
Rahab has demonstrated hesed (kindness) and wants hesed to be shown to her family. She wants in on the family of God who she trusts to show her hesed because that is at the very core of what God’s family is all about. The same is true for us in the New Testament:
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7 NRSV)
Why not take some time today to reflect on some of the ways God has been lavishly kind to you in your Christian life so far?
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Quiet Time Coaching Episode 469 | New Thing Series — Part 24 | “Rahab’s Reward” | Malcolm Cox
Introduction
A new thing! I'm Malcolm Cox. Welcome to your daily devotional podcast anchored in Isaiah 43:19: 'See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.'
We are currently looking at God doing a new thing in the life of Rahab. Today we explore what Rahab’s reward.
“Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.” (Joshua 2:17-21 NIV11)
Rahab’s reward is a new thing
She acts in faith
Her actions have no precedent
Her actions were courageous.
“Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’S house. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.” (Joshua 6:22-25 NIV11)
For Reflection
Rahab’s stands as an inspiration to us in our faith because she did not ‘deserve’ her reward. She was not an Israelite, had not history of YHWH worship and a limited understanding, if any, of the covenant and commands of the LORD. Yet, she recognised God doing a new thing, paid attention, accepted it, and, courageously, fitted her future into what God was doing.
Conclusion
I hope you find your heart, your life, your congregation and your world inspired by God doing a new thing. Until tomorrow, take care, and God bless.
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
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"Carpe Diem" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
Tuesday Jan 23, 2024
IntroductionWhy are we looking at Rahab as part of this 'a new thing' series?She is the first non-Isrealite in the genealogy of Jesus:
“and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,” (Matthew 1:5 NRSV)
It doesn't get much better than that!There are several 'unlikely' people in that list.There are several reasons she should not be in that list, but they are the same reason she is in the list.First, a review of what happens in Joshua 2 & 6Joshua 2.1-24Joshua 6.17Joshua 6.22-25
1. She is a Gentile
God's desire has always been for everyone to know him
“I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:3 NRSV)“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:6-7 NRSV)
Jesus saw this as pertaining to his own day
“and he said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a den of robbers.”” (Luke 19:46 NRSV)
Paul recognised the significance of the arrival of the Messiah
“Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.”” (Romans 15:12 NRSV)
Rahab prefigures the hope that all modern-day Gentiles have that, by faith, we are included in the people of God.
2. She is a womanRahab as protector- In the Old Testament men are protectors; so are women. [[Abigail]] protects her husband and the men in her household from a violent death (1 Sam. 25). [[Rahab]] protects the male spies (Josh. 2). [[Esther]] protects her people, the Jews, from being massacred (Esth. 2:19 – 9:19).- She is one of two heroines in a window heading off danger: Rahab and Michal, societal opposites.
“Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.” (Joshua 2:15 NRSV)“So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped.” (1 Samuel 19:12 NRSV)
Rahab as a woman of dignity'We think of the courageous life of [[Sarah]] (Gen. 12–23), the faith of [[Rahab]] (Josh. 2), the commitment of [[Hannah]] (1 Sam. 1–2), the devotion of [[Ruth]] (Ruth 1–4), [[Abigail]]’s gentle but firm rebuke of David (1 Sam. 25), the humble faith of both the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs. 17) and the Shunammite woman (2 Kgs. 4), and the risk-taking faith of [[Esther]] (Esth. 1–10).' Blomberg, Craig . Two Views on Women in Ministry (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology) (p. 272). Zondervan Academic.
Jesus treats women with dignity- “She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.” (Luke 10:39 NRSV)- Rahab prefigures the promise of the Spirit that all are equal before God(Acts 2:17-18 NRSV)
3. She has a questionable professionRahab as host- Hosts the undesirable?- Hosts spies, people of God, beachhead of kingdom, 'temple'- Place of faith and salvation- Like Jesus in reverse - hosting those who make her life more complicated(Mark 2:15-17 NRSV)
ConclusionWhat does Rahab learn?God cares about the Gentiles (those far from God)God keeps his promises (salvation)God is powerful (more so than any earthly power)God is full of grace (no matter what others think of her, or she thinks of herself)
What do we learn?The importance of honouring the marginalised - if God does it, and Jesus, so should we. He wants them in his family.Not to look down on 'sinners', but to seek to show them the love of God.No human barrier can stop anyone from becoming a God-follower.To have vision for those (apparently) furthest from God
New Thing pointHer decision to have faith in God took her and her family on a new counter-cultural journey into uncharted territory.
'It must have been an interesting period for Rahab’s extended family, all squashed into her house, like a mini-ark, on the edge of a terrorised city, waiting for the unknown.' Amanda Kaner
Is God taking you and/or your congregation into the unknown, so as to do a new thing?Questions for reflection and discussion
Who do you personally know that is as far from God as it is possible to be?
What would it take for you to pray for their salvation and believe it to be possible?
What will help you to remain faithful and confident on God despite the uncertainties of the new thing God is doing?
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [malcolm@malcolmcox.org](mailto:malcolm@malcolmcox.org).
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/).
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm