Editorial(2)

It has been often quoted of the two Testaments of the Bible that the

New is in the Old contained,

The Old is by the New explained.

In a single verse of Hebrews 11 the writer adds one more character to the panorama of men and women who are called by him in the following chapter "so great a cloud of witnesses". Rahab is distinguished from those who were disobedient (11:31) because she had faith which was alive. She not only believed that the Lord had given the land to Israel but she was prepared to hazard her life by hiding the spies who belonged to the people of Jehovah. The word disobedient which is used here, shows that the inhabitants of Jericho were fully conversant with the reasons why the nation of Israel had crossed the river Jordan, but they were unpersuaded by the reports. They did not believe them and Rahab did. They were disobedient and perished. She was preserved and eventually found a privileged place in the midst of Israel (Joshua 6:25) and also in the line of genealogy of David's son (Mat. 1:5). She bares witness today to the power of faith in her life work and experience. The principle of divine sovereignty, grace and mercy in choosing to save Rahab is dealt with by our contributor to Spiritual Lessons from Joshua. Where reason fails with all her powers, there faith prevails and love adores.

Some of the rare qualities of human character are brought to our notice in Great Truths from the Lord's Ministry by considering them as seen in the life of our Lord and Master. They stand in sharp contrast to the ugly attributes manifest daily by men of violence and terror, whose feet are swift to shed blood and who do not know the way of peace. How rarely is meekness, gentleness and humility seen in the industrial, commercial and public lives of men and women today.

unknown | Mar 1985
Editorial