Sunday, November 25, 2007

One Lone Piece of Wall

Joshua 6:22-23 KJV
But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

The image came to my mind of that one spot on the way that did not fall down flat, the house of Rehab, was actually built into that which first fell in Jericho and signaled in a distinct way God's intent to destroy everything involved in the city.

Still, there was one place of grace even in Jericho, and that, upon the wall.

That lone piece of wall, still standing was
A symbol of grace to all those inside.The battle raged out the door, but all was safe inside.

A symbol of mercy for the children of Israel
Everyone knew that those inside were to be spared. It stood out among everything else as that place where mercy lived.

A symbol of wrath for the citizens of the city who refused to enter in.
I do not know that Rahab had told anyone else but her family about the promise made to her. But as that piece of the wall stood there, some would have noticed that the battle raged everywhere but Rahab's house. Perhaps knowing that she had hidden the spies and perhaps hearing about the promise that had been made her, those who did not receive that grace and mercy would surely have been angered at her getting what they were not.

No doubt as the battle went on there were those who did not even notice that there was one piece of the wall still standing.

I am reminded of the church today, standing as a bulwark against the Satanic battles raging in the world around us. For those who come inside, it is a place of grace. For those who stand for God it is a place of mercy and peace. But without the church and in the world there are those that can't help but see the church and see the cars pulling up to attend services and
Grow angered at what we teach.
Grow angered that we have a peace they know nothing of.
Grow angered that we teach those outside face certain destruction.


Of course there are others who drive by the church today and never notice. They are so busy in their own battles that they don't see there is a place of mercy and grace. Though they face the same destruction as those who hate the church, they run headlong into their lives, ignorant of the dangers before them and of the one place of refuge that stands so obviously available to them.

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