E-pistle for June 17, 2005
Posted by: info <info@...>
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay
Foundation June 17, 2005
HOLY GROUND INTERVIEW: RAHAB
Why Pillsbury College & Seminary
Curt Scarborough's HOLY GROUND INTERVIEWS
Featuring Today's Special Guest: RAHAB
CS Rahab, don't you think it is strange that a person of
your dubious,
unholy profession would be preserved by the Holy God
of Israel when
your city of Jericho was destroyed?
Rahab Who can truly explain the mercy and grace of God?
Somehow in His
mysterious providence, the Lord chose to use a most
unworthy and
unlikely person to help bring a great victory to His
people.
CS The fall of Jericho was a remarkable historical event!
Children still
sing about it to this day, over 3,000 years later!
Tell us about it.
Rahab Even before Joshua and his army crossed over the Jordan
River, we
citizens of Jericho had heard about the God of
Israel. Travelers and
merchants during the preceding forty years had
brought stories of the
plagues in Egypt, the miraculous crossing of the Red
Sea, and the
destruction of Pharaoh's army.
CS I guess you also got word about the defeat of the two
Amorite kings
east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og.
Rahab Yes, we'd heard. So, when lookouts spotted the thousands
of Israelite
tents camped across the river, we went to a state of
high alert. Our
fears multiplied when reports came back that the
Jordan River had
miraculously parted, and the enemy was camped just
outside the city.
CS Did your leaders call out the national guard for a
defensive strike?
Rahab No need! At least, that's what they thought. Just call
everyone inside
the tremendous, thick, high walls of the city, and
close the gates, they
assured us, and we'll be safe.
CS Then what happened?
Rahab For several days, nothing happened. Then a couple of
strangers came
to my house, pretending to be potential customers.
I recognized them
immediately as Israeli spies, but I gave them the
information they
requested about the defenses of the city.
CS And you hid them when the king's soldiers came
searching . . .
Rahab On the roof, under some stalks of flax. Later I lowered
them by a
scarlet rope through a window in my house, located
on the city wall.
CS Did the spies pay for your information?
Rahab Yes, but not in money! They promised not to harm me or
my family
when they attacked the city. I was told to mark the
"safe house" by
hanging a scarlet cord in my window.
CS So then, you had a bird's-eye view of the battle of
Jericho?
Rahab Out my second story window, I could see everything . . .
but it wasn't
really a "battle." All those Israelites, including
women and children,
simply marched around the city one day, then
returned to their tents.
It was eerie; there was total silence. Not a peep
out of anyone!
CS This psychological warfare continued for a week.
Rahab On the seventh day, they marched around the city not
once, but seven
times. Then the seven priests at the head of the
column blew their
trumpets and the people shouted with a great shout!
CS "And the walls came a-tumbling down . . . "
Rahab Except for my house. The two spies I had protected
rescued me, my
father and mother, and my brothers. We were the
only survivors.
CS So you were prisoners of war?
Rahab Absolutely not! We were welcomed as heroes.
CS But you were hated Canaanites . . . heathen.
Rahab Not for long. My family and I were instructed in the
Hebrew faith,
And ceremonially cleansed and inducted into the
nation.
CS It's hard to believe . . . the Jews were so exclusive!
Rahab If you think that's hard to believe, consider this. I
married a very
prominent man from the tribe of Judah. My husband
was Salmon,
and we had a son named Boaz, who you may know.
CS Boaz, the man who married Ruth? The Book in the Old
Testament?
Rahab That's the one!
CS Then you are an ancestor of King David.
Rahab He was my great-grandson.
CS Then this puts you, a former harlot, in the Messianic
line?
Rahab I'm not the only "shady lady" included among the Lord's
ancestors.
You mentioned Ruth, another foreigner . . . from
Moab. And don't
forget Tamar, who bore twins out of wedlock from an
incestuous
relationship with her father-in-law, Judah.
CS Do you mean Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob . .
. one of the
heads of the tribes of Israel?
Rahab The same. Also, Matthew included Bathsheba in his
genealogy of
Jesus, and her story was a bit on the sordid side as
well.
CS Why, do you think, did God give His Son such imperfect
ancestors?
Rahab The Lord, Himself, answered that question. "Those who
are well have
no need of a physician, but those who are sick . . .
I did not come to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew
9:12-13)
CS I've always been intrigued by the fact that the writer
of Hebrews
Included your name in the eleventh chapter, as one
of the heroes of
faith. Why was that?
Rahab I think, because by faith I testified to the spies who
visited my house in
Jericho: "The Lord your God, He is God in heaven
above and on earth
beneath." (Joshua 2:11)
CS But James cites you as an example of works, not faith:
"Was not
Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she
received the
messengers and sent them out another way?" (James
2:25)
Rahab There is no contradiction between Hebrews and James . . .
or
anywhere else in the Scriptures. These writers
simply meant that my
faith produced works, and my works proved my faith.
CS Thanks, Rahab, for your enlightening words of wisdom,
which I plan
to remember: "Faith produces works; works prove
faith."
Four Questions You Should Ask
About Pillsbury College & Seminary
1. Why should I choose Pillsbury instead of some on-campus college or
seminary?
Because most mid-career ministers have personal and church
obligations that prevent them from moving their family to become resident
students. At Pillsbury, you'll get a first class education without having
to quit
your job or leave your church field.
2. How is it possible for Pillsbury to offer a top quality education
through distance
learning, yet at such affordable cost? ($90 per graduate credit hour)
Pillsbury has established official connections with three of the
most
recognized and reputable suppliers of Christian graduate-level curriculum
in the nation . . . AACC: American Association of Christian Counselors;
NCCA: National Christian Counselors Association; and ITS: Institute of
Theological Studies. In addition, FreeWay Foundation has published the
president's complete 5-volume Bible Study Series ("Personal & Practical")
as the core curriculum for the school's Expository Studies track. Pillsbury
College & Seminary is owned and operated by FreeWay Foundation, which
pays the salaries and benefits of all school personnel. The school occupies
a part of the Foundation's building in the St. Louis area without charge.
The
tuition costs therefore remain low because overhead costs of the school are
minimal.
3. How long does it take to earn a master's or doctoral degree?
Pillsbury offers two master's degrees. The 36 credit hour
program can
be completed within one year, and the 45 credit hour master's takes 15
months.
We also offer two basic doctoral degree programs. The 48 credit hour
doctorate
can be completed within 16 months, and the 60 credit hour doctorate takes 20
months. Students take only one 3-hour course at a time, and most 3-hour
courses
can be completed within 30 days.
4. What's the one thing that makes Pillsbury stand out from all other
schools?
Although we are a distance learning institute, Pillsbury truly
makes every
effort to provide up close and personal service. When you telephone,
chances are
you'll talk directly with Dr. Sharon Bartlett, the Academic Dean. Or, if
you are
working on licensure and board certification as a Christian counselor, you
may confer
with your clinical supervisor, Dr. Mary Jo Schneller. Also, if you need to
discuss school
policy (or whatever), just ask to talk to the president. You'll see how
true it is! We
really are: "THE DISTANCE LEARNING SCHOOL, WITH THE PERSONAL TOUCH!"
For more information contact us at 314-739-1121 or email
[email protected]
and we will be glad to answer any questions to help you decide if Pillsbury
College
& Seminary is right for you.
An avid ice fisherman moved on the ice and began to chop a hole. Suddenly
a voice boomed from above. "There are no fish in there." The man looked
around but didn't see anyone. However he heeded the advice and moved
to a different spot to chop another hole. Again, the same voice said,
"There are not fish in there." So, he moved again and chopped a
third hole. "There are no fish in there," resounded the voice even
louder. By now the fisherman was becoming afraid. "Are you
God?" he asked meekly. "NO" the loudspeaker thundered,
"I own the skating rink!"
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