信心+順服=救恩
約書亞記二章12至24節
12現在我既是恩待你們，求你們指著耶和華向我起誓，也要恩待我父家，並給我一個實在的證據，
13要救活我的父母、弟兄、姊妹，和一切屬他們的，拯救我們性命不死。
14二人對他說：你若不洩漏我們這件事，我們情願替你們死。耶和華將這地賜給我們的時候，我們必以慈愛誠實待你。
15於是女人用繩子將二人從窗戶裡縋下去；因他的房子是在城牆邊上，他也住在城牆上。
16他對他們說：你們且往山上去，恐怕追趕的人碰見你們；要在那裡隱藏三天，等追趕的人回來，然後才可以走你們的路。
17二人對他說：你要這樣行。不然，你叫我們所起的誓就與我們無干了。
18我們來到這地的時候，你要把這條朱紅線繩繫在縋我們下去的窗戶上，並要使你的父母、弟兄，和你父的全家都聚集在你家中。
19凡出了你家門往街上去的，他的罪（原文是血）必歸到自己的頭上，與我們無干了。凡在你家裡的，若有人下手害他，流他血的罪就歸到我們的頭上。
20你若洩漏我們這件事，你叫我們所起的誓就與我們無干了。
21女人說：照你們的話行罷！於是打發他們去了，又把朱紅線繩繫在窗戶上。
22二人到山上，在那裡住了三天，等著追趕的人回去了。追趕的人一路找他們，卻找不著。
23二人就下山回來，過了河，到嫩的兒子約書亞那裡，向他述說所遭遇的一切事；
24又對約書亞說：耶和華果然將那全地交在我們手中；那地的一切居民在我們面前心都消化了。
信息分享
耶利哥城建於一塊平原之上，城的前面被約旦河圍繞，背後則被群山簇擁。只有一個面對著約旦河的城門。喇合所住的房子築在城牆上面，她用繩索將兩名探子從窗戶縋下，並且囑咐他們出城之後，要跑到山上躲藏三天，然後才過河，否則恐有性命危險。換言之，她是囑咐他們往後跑，而不是向前走。
喇合還把握機會，懇求他倆在日後攻城時，保護她和她的家人。她相信神既然是神，當然可以毀滅人，但同時也必能拯救人。探子的回應和承諾，正好說明瞭神的救恩之特性。
救恩只會臨到一個地方──喇合的家。
那個地方要以紅繩為證。
凡在這家裡的人都可以得救，沒有人數的限制。
條件只有一個──就是僅限在這家裡的人才可以得救。
換言之，喇合的家人一定要相信喇合的話，即相信審判快將臨到，但他們只要聽從指示去做，齊集在喇合的家中，就可以得救。
神所設立的救恩之途也是一樣。只要仔細想想當中的細節，你便會察覺神的計劃是何等的巧妙──人只能相信福音使者的指示，知道神的審判快將臨到，於是來到各各他的山上，就可以得著救恩。
喇合因為相信，所以便得蒙拯救。她後來嫁給一個名叫撒門的以色列人，他是猶大支派的領袖，他們所生的兒子波阿斯，後來娶了路得；而波阿斯與路得，便是大衛王的曾祖父母。由此可見，一個信靠神的人，必世世代代得蒙神的祝福。
神其實最想人做些甚麼？就是堅定信心以致於順服。當我們相信神的話，然後聽從祂的說話而行，神就必然賜福。聖經沒有教導我們要經常為自己求福，反之，只教導我們要遵行神的話，因為一個聽從神的人，就自然得到神的祝福。信心+順服=得救與蒙福。
反思：
請翻閱希伯來書十一章6節，並將它銘記心中。
FAITH PLUS OBEDIENCE EQUALS SALVATION
Joshua 2:12-24
12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,
18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.
19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”
21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them.
23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”
Message
The city of Jericho was built on the plain between the river Jordan and the mountains. It had only one gate, which faced the river. Rahab let the spies down over the wall and told them to go to the mountains and hide there for three days. Trying to cross the river before then would be dangerous for them, so she sent them in the opposite direction.
Rahab also asked for protection for herself and her family. She believed that if God was God, he could save as well as destroy. Notice the words of the two men and the protection promised. It is a wonderful illustration of salvation.
- Salvation was in one place only - Rehab's house
- That place was clearly identified by the red rope.
- There was no limit to the number who could be saved.
- There was only one condition: they must be inside her house in order to be saved.
Her family had to believe what she said. First they must believe that judgment was about to fall. Then they must believe that salvation could and would be theirs, if they did what the messengers of God told them to do.
It is the same today. Think through these details of yourself. See how they are a wonderful picture of Calvary and the way of salvation now.
Rahab believed and was saved. She married an Israelite man named Salmon - a prominent man in the tribe of Judah. She became the mother of Boaz who married Ruth. Boaz and Ruth were the great-grandparents of king David. There is no end to the chain of blessing when a person believes God and does what he says.
What is God always looking for? Faith that moves us to obedience. When we believe what God says and then obey his Word, blessing is the result. We are never told to ask for blessings. We are told to obey and blessings will always follow. Faith plus obedience equals salvation and blessing.
A TEXT FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 11: 6 --- read it again now