Category: Seers, Sayers, Schemers & Saints (Page 2 of 3)

JOSHUA 2, JOSHUA 6, MATTHEW 1

Men came every evening for Rahab. Her profession paid well and as a result her family survived from one day to the next. In spite of seemingly endless nights of foul-smelling men, lecherous advances and unspeakable acts, this prostitute greeted the sunrise with a single thought: “Something, or someone, must exist beyond this hell I’m living.” Then salvation appeared on the horizon. Of all the people in Jericho, only a whore saw God in the midst of the invading forces of Israel.

Rahab was a prostitute and a hero. She sold her body to men hungering for sex, and she supported her family by doing so. The word “complicated” only begins to explain Rahab’s life. Over and over again, you’ll discover that the Bible does not sugarcoat reality. Gritty, tenacious and genuine, the Bible portrays the people of God as they truly were.

Rahab lived in Jericho while the nation of Israel, led by Joshua, moved to enter and conquer their promised land. In front of Israel raged the flooded Jordan River—and beyond that, the walled city of Jericho. Joshua, a prudent military leader and sound strategist, needed intelligence on the defenses of Jericho. He sent two spies to investigate. After reconnoitering the city, they took shelter in Rahab’s house. Why would the spies choose a bordello? Where else in a foreign city could two strangers go that wouldn’t arouse much suspicion? Neighbors saw a couple of guys from out of town just looking for a good time. However, the King of Jericho soon discovered the ruse and sent for the men. Rahab improvised quickly. She hid the spies on the roof and sent the searchers off in the wrong direction.

Why would Rahab risk her life and those of her family in order to protect spies from a nation bent on conquest? Rahab told the spies that she was overwhelmed by the works that the God of Israel has done. “For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” The reputation of the God of Israel preceded the nation’s arrival. Rahab never imagined such a God. When confronted with the acts of Jehovah she exchanged her old gods for the new. Rahab recognized her hope. She chose to serve the God of Israel. I wonder if Rahab’s openness to this new God resulted in part from her life in Jericho? A prostitute, an outcast, desperate. God brings hope to the desperate. Her fellow citizens looked to the sky filled with the choking dust of an invading army and experienced a sense of dread, while Rahab felt a lift in her heart.

Rahab helped the spies escape the city and return to Joshua in order to make their full report. But not before working a deal. She saved the spies and later they protected her and her family. When the city was conquered and the population put to the sword, the spies rescued and shielded Rahab and her family.

What do we learn from Rahab? What do the actions of an ancient prostitute demonstrate to us about leadership? In Rahab we see a woman enthralled by the power of God. She not only observed how God worked amongst Israel, but she deliberated and decided to go all in. Rahab realized that the God of Israel is a liberator, not an oppressor, and Rahab craved liberation. As in the case of enslaved sex workers today, Rahab needed rescuing. Those two spies came in the name of the True Rescuer.

Rahab thought on her feet. She was adaptable and exceptionally brave. What would have happened if the king of Jericho had discovered her lie? Undoubtedly, it would have cost Rahab and her family their lives. No king is going to spare the life of a mere prostitute. But no matter, whether from faith or desperation or a dramatic combination of both, Rahab made her decision to help the spies and to welcome the armies of Israel into the city of Jericho.

Perhaps the greatest lesson we learn from Rahab’s story is the worth we must place on the people around us. Every life is valuable, every individual important. We do not know who God might use to accomplish his purposes. It might be a king or it might be a prostitute. God regards all people as valuable, regardless of their station in life. Similarly, God can use anyone to lead, influence and accomplish his purposes—even the least likely of us.

Rahab risked her life and the lives of her family in order to embrace a God she only saw in the distance. She made her choice by faith, trusting in God and the good will of Israel’s spies. Rahab exemplifies a discerning leader, a leader who calculates, a leader able to read conditions and make decisions. She trusts her judgment and moves forward with boldness and conviction.

In the end, how did things work out for Rahab? In the first chapter of Matthew, there’s a list of the genealogy of Jesus—and on this list are dozens of men, but only four women. One of those women is a prostitute named Rahab. Matthew tells us that Rahab married Salmon, one of the two spies she hid on her rooftop, and was the mother of Boaz, the great-great-grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus. The public exposure of a harlot in the family tree tends to shame distinguished families. But the author of Matthew found it a significant point of pride to reveal that Rahab’s blood, the blood of a prostitute and a hero, flowed through the veins of Jesus.

A good family heritage is a gift. From Seers, Sayers, Schemers & Saints and 2 Timothy 1:

Grandmas are the best. The Bible talks more about grandmothers that one might think. Remember Joash’s evil grandmother, Athaliah? Now, let’s meet a grandma from the other end of the spectrum, someone we’d want to spend time with. Lois is famous, revered through the ages, because she was a godly grandmother. Timothy, her grandson, traveled as a missionary with Paul and developed some of the first successful churches. Timothy grew to become one of Paul’s closest friends and confidants. Paul was encouraged by his sincere faith and Paul addressed his last known written correspondence (the book of 2 Timothy) to Timothy.

Genuine faith never appears out of thin air. Timothy absorbed it from his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois. Paul knew them both and perceived their faith as the spring that watered the flowering of Timothy’s commitment to the Lord. Neither Timothy’s father, who was thought to be Greek, nor Timothy’s grandfather, are mentioned in the text. Timothy’s faith developed from his matriarchal lineage.

A strong and sincere faith is not guaranteed from one generation to the next. Many well-meaning parents apply all the religious parenting techniques currently in vogue only to see their children reject the faith, or ignore the faith, or quietly set the faith aside. Christianity is only one generation deep. Every generation must believe afresh. Lois did something right. Too bad we don’t know her practices as we could use them to develop a series of books, podcasts and video guides on how to raise children of faith. We could dub it the “Lois-ization” of our children. I would have bought it when my kids were little. However, we do own one clue about her methodology—her faith is described as “sincere.”

“Sincere” is defined by Webster’s dictionary as being “free from pretenses or deceit; not hypocritical, genuine, whole-hearted, real, honest, frank, upfront, candid, on the level, pure.” Our children sniff out hypocrisy in our lives and our words as parents. When we act one way in front of others and a totally different way at home, the kids notice. They start to surmise that the Christian faith that their parents profess is not fully realized, not efficacious, and not deeply meaningful. They correctly deduce that if that’s all there is to the Christian faith, then no need to waste their time here. Plenty of other good things to pursue on a Sunday morning.

What holds for a parent holds for a leader. No effective apologetic exists for hypocrisy. A leader who is fake or pretentious really is not a leader at all, but merely a figurehead, a placeholder. This person might hold the position of boss or director, but he is not a leader others will follow wholeheartedly. You may work for a two-faced supervisor because there’s a steady paycheck in it, but you’ll bolt when a better opportunity comes along. Hypocrisy manufactures a legacy of disbelief, disengagement and distance. True for parents and true for leaders.

This was not true of Lois. Her sincere faith refreshed Paul and molded Timothy. You are never alone as you live out your faith. Our sincerity does not fade away in vain, even if we do not see the results. Two old sayings come to mind when I think of Lois and the many godly grandmothers who followed in her path. The first reminds us that “the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” Good leadership, like good parenting, imprints qualities on the next generation. If another old saying is true, that “our most important contributions are the ones we leave behind,” then the legacy left by Lois will be hard to surpass. Forever stamped in Scripture, this quiet grandmother’s endowment offers us much to ponder as parents, grandparents and leaders.

From Seers, Sayers, Schemers & Saints, a look at one of the schemers. His unfortunate story is found in 1 Kings 12:

Have you ever had to give a speech? Most people hate public speaking. In fact, it’s often number one on the lists of things people fear the most. The dread of getting up in front of people and saying something stupid keeps most of us in our seats. We don’t want to look silly and we’re afraid we’ll blow it. Well, don’t worry, because you cannot possibly do any worse than Rehoboam did when giving his first speech as the new king of Israel. Rarely have so few words cost a ruler so much. A fool and his kingdom were soon parted.

Rehoboam, son of the legendary Solomon, failed to inherit one ounce of his father’s wisdom. Arrogant and spoiled, Rehoboam waited for years to grasp the reins of power. When his moment finally arrived, Rehoboam brought neither the sagacity of his father nor the communion with the Lord of his grandfather, David. Instead, he brought along his youthful advisors looking to take advantage of their new positions in the entourage of the king. With them came a certain expectation that the kingdom existed for their pleasure and the kingdom’s subjects for their purposes. Raised in wealth and comfort, denied little in their adolescent lifestyles, these young men neither listened to sound advice nor dispensed any. Rejecting the guidance of Solomon’s counselors, Rehoboam embraced the strategy of this youthful cohort. He chose poorly. Few lines in the Bible drip with such arrogance and disdain as Rehoboam’s first speech to the nation’s leaders. “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” Not waiting around for the scorpions, ten of the twelve tribes of Israel immediately turned their backs on Rehoboam and crowned a new king. The magnificent kingdom of Israel, at the height of its glory and wealth, split forever after a single speech.

From this episode brought to us by Rehoboam and his gaggle of haughty advisors we find a lot to learn. First, nobody owes you his or her allegiance. You earn it. You may be given the title of “boss,” but you earn the title of “leader.” Second, learn to listen to the wise voices in your life. Often, older, more experienced women and men bring sound thinking into difficult decisions. Be sure to find and cultivate relationships with these types of mentors. Third, people asking honest questions, like we hear from the leaders of Israel, deserve thoughtful responses, not harsh edicts. Show some humility and enter into the world of those you’re leading, or might soon be leading. Kindness and understanding will get you further than rudeness and bullying. From Rehoboam we learn how to fail as a leader when confronted with challenging questions from the people under our leadership. Do the opposite of Rehoboam. Listen, ask questions, and seek to understand. Request and consider the wisdom of others. Be thoughtful in your responses.

Finally, never promise a future filled with scorpions. People choose to whom they will give their good will and affections. Rehoboam’s words were those of a slave master, not those of a visionary leader to follow into the future. People won’t leave you over a bad speech. You’ll be forgiven for stumbling during a talk. However, people will leave due to your bad character. Positive, humble, strong-hearted leaders are rare. Grow in these characteristics and you won’t need to worry so much about your public speaking.

From Luke 21:1-4; Mark 12:41-44, and the story in Seers, Sayers, Schemers & Saints:

Shuffling up to the contribution box attracted no one’s notice. The priests busied themselves with their work and with the better-dressed members of the temple. Lots of older women, many of them widows, moved in and out of the temple during the day. This one in particular fretted about her money but felt compelled to give something back to the Lord. Despite her current status in society, so much good infused her life that she sensed the Lord’s graciousness all around her. Even today, she had heard a new rabbi teaching about the Lord’s concern for widows. His words seemed intended especially for her. The Lord notices widows and orphans, even if the religious leaders busy themselves elsewhere. With a grateful heart, she dropped two small coins—literally all the money she possessed—into the box. No worries, the Lord provides. Moving back through the crowds, she left to discover that provision for the day.

One afternoon Jesus was with his disciples, teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. He had just finished excoriating the religious teachers of day, denouncing them as men who love to both “devour widow’s houses” and show off with long, pretentious prayers. Let all of us who spend time talking about God and how to live a life pleasing to him note that Jesus used his most damning language against religious hypocrites. This teaching emphasis should never be far from our minds and hearts.

Just as Jesus ended his sentence about widow’s houses and those who would devour them, he looked up and what did he see? A widow making a contribution. Jesus could see that she was poor and Jesus could see what she gave. The widow dropped two small copper coins in the offering box. Older English versions of the Bible call a coin like this a “mite.” These were the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Judea at that time. It’s hard to know the value of these coins relative to today’s monetary system, but suffice it to say that at the most, it wouldn’t add up to more than a buck. More shocking than the amount is the fact that Jesus knew that these paltry coins are all the money the widow had to live on. Because he’s Jesus, he could both recognize her financial situation and look into her heart. She had just given all she had. The rich people around her, while giving much greater sums of cash, in no way matched her sacrifice.

I recently watched a television program about a group of billionaires who have pledged to give at least one half of their fortunes away to charity before they die. Without question a worthy goal. Many good causes will benefit and untold lives around the world will be influenced in positive ways. In no way would I ever want to communicate that these gifts are not admirable. This is a good example of how we should give and how we usually give—out of our abundance. If you have been given a great deal, then the right thing to do is to share it with others less fortunate. I have plenty—here, have some of mine.

Nonetheless, Jesus did not applaud that sort of giving. Jesus dismissed it, in a sense, and instead pointed to the widow, who gave all she had to live on, her last dollar. The widow gave sacrificially; she gave, knowing it would hurt. The widow gave, understanding that she may not eat; she gave even though she was impoverished. To my mind, the widow gave foolishly. Yet Jesus praised this manner of giving.

Generosity. That’s the lesson for leaders. Where do you and I need to give? Where do we give politely when we need to give sacrificially? Or even foolishly? This involves our money as Jesus so powerfully points out to us. But giving like this can also apply to our time and our energy and our expertise and our influence. Where do we need to go from being an occasional giver to being a lavish giver? By this I mean a person who is unrestrained, practicing a generosity that you will feel in the morning. What would it take for you to become a truly generous person?

Ponder this idea for a minute—if you were a multi-billionaire, where would you spend your money? Would you buy yachts or mansions or islands? Personally, I would buy the St. Louis Cardinals and give everyone in the stands a free slice of pizza every time a Cardinal hit a home run. How about you? Could you give away half of your fortune? Or maybe up to ninety-nine percent? Let’s face it, most of us won’t get the chance to control billions of dollars or own our favorite sports franchise. But all of us will be and have been given something. Most of us will be given money and resources far in excess of what other people around the world possess and far more than people throughout history even dreamed of.

How will you deal with your wealth? Will you take the risk of living generously? Jesus instructed us to look to the widow. The widow gave it all. Deliberate on this aggressive teaching, maybe the most challenging words of Jesus to our affluent ears today. Give sacrificially. Give in a way that costs you something. As a leader, think often of the widow as you think of living generously.