信心+顺服=救恩
约书亚记二章12至24节
12现在我既是恩待你们，求你们指着耶和华向我起誓，也要恩待我父家，并给我一个实在的证据，
13要救活我的父母、弟兄、姊妹，和一切属他们的，拯救我们性命不死。
14二人对他说：你若不泄漏我们这件事，我们情愿替你们死。耶和华将这地赐给我们的时候，我们必以慈爱诚实待你。
15于是女人用绳子将二人从窗户里缒下去；因他的房子是在城墙边上，他也住在城墙上。
16他对他们说：你们且往山上去，恐怕追赶的人碰见你们；要在那里隐藏三天，等追赶的人回来，然后才可以走你们的路。
17二人对他说：你要这样行。不然，你叫我们所起的誓就与我们无干了。
18我们来到这地的时候，你要把这条朱红线绳系在缒我们下去的窗户上，并要使你的父母、弟兄，和你父的全家都聚集在你家中。
19凡出了你家门往街上去的，他的罪（原文是血）必归到自己的头上，与我们无干了。凡在你家里的，若有人下手害他，流他血的罪就归到我们的头上。
20你若泄漏我们这件事，你叫我们所起的誓就与我们无干了。
21女人说：照你们的话行罢！于是打发他们去了，又把朱红线绳系在窗户上。
22二人到山上，在那里住了三天，等着追赶的人回去了。追赶的人一路找他们，却找不着。
23二人就下山回来，过了河，到嫩的儿子约书亚那里，向他述说所遭遇的一切事；
24又对约书亚说：耶和华果然将那全地交在我们手中；那地的一切居民在我们面前心都消化了。
信息分享
耶利哥城建于一块平原之上，城的前面被约旦河围绕，背后则被群山簇拥。只有一个面对着约旦河的城门。喇合所住的房子筑在城墙上面，她用绳索将两名探子从窗户缒下，并且嘱咐他们出城之后，要跑到山上躲藏三天，然后才过河，否则恐有性命危险。换言之，她是嘱咐他们往后跑，而不是向前走。
喇合还把握机会，恳求他俩在日后攻城时，保护她和她的家人。她相信神既然是神，当然可以毁灭人，但同时也必能拯救人。探子的回应和承诺，正好说明了神的救恩之特性。
救恩只会临到一个地方──喇合的家。
那个地方要以红绳为证。
凡在这家里的人都可以得救，没有人数的限制。
条件只有一个──就是仅限在这家里的人才可以得救。
换言之，喇合的家人一定要相信喇合的话，即相信审判快将临到，但他们只要听从指示去做，齐集在喇合的家中，就可以得救。
神所设立的救恩之途也是一样。只要仔细想想当中的细节，你便会察觉神的计划是何等的巧妙──人只能相信福音使者的指示，知道神的审判快将临到，于是来到各各他的山上，就可以得着救恩。
喇合因为相信，所以便得蒙拯救。她后来嫁给一个名叫撒门的以色列人，他是犹大支派的领袖，他们所生的儿子波阿斯，后来娶了路得；而波阿斯与路得，便是大卫王的曾祖父母。由此可见，一个信靠神的人，必世世代代得蒙神的祝福。
神其实最想人做些甚么？就是坚定信心以致于顺服。当我们相信神的话，然后听从祂的说话而行，神就必然赐福。圣经没有教导我们要经常为自己求福，反之，只教导我们要遵行神的话，因为一个听从神的人，就自然得到神的祝福。信心+顺服=得救与蒙福。
反思：
请翻阅希伯来书十一章6节，并将它铭记心中。
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