Rahab and Ittai
I’ve been inspired recently by two characters not often mentioned and yet so great in the Lord’s sight: Rahab and Ittai. Though their stories are brief, they offer life-altering lessons if we choose to embrace them. These two people decided to be part of what God was doing no matter what it looked like. Rahab was an outsider to the Lord’s people and knew that God was about to destroy her city and all its inhabitants. In that fateful moment, when the opportunity came, she made the decision to be part of what God was doing. As a prostitute living in a city gripped with fear, she could have chosen to shrink back or be offended about her seemingly dismal portion in life. Instead she acknowledged the power of God and partnered with what he was doing.
Jump forward a bit to King David’s family drama. During a coup initiated by his son, David retreats toward the wilderness. Ittai, a foreigner who arrived only the day before, insists on following David into a barren land despite David’s attempt to release him to a better future. Why would Ittai choose the losing team? Why would anyone in their right mind choose to live in the wilderness with an overthrown king? Like Rahab, Ittai understood in his heart that it was better to be part of what God was doing no matter what it looked like. Can we choose to be a people who resolve to be part of what God is doing even when other options look better?
I’ve realized that sometimes we think that the only way to be part of what God is doing is to perform miraculous signs and wonders. That’s certainly an important endeavor but can we recognize and respond to the seemingly smaller invitations the Lord sends us? When faced with an inner giant recently, a dear friend of mine said “I want to partner with you and see you overcome this.” I was humbled that someone would choose to be part of what God was doing in my life with no applause or fanfare. The reality is, there are so many ways to be part of what God is doing in the lives of others if we would only have eyes to see it. In what ways can you keep praying for God’s kingdom to come into everyday situations? In what ways can you invite others to be part of what God is doing in you?
What was the result of Rahab and Ittai’s choice to play their part in what God was doing? Rahab was promoted to the ancestral line of Jesus and Ittai was promoted to the position of a general in the army of a king whose throne would never end.
Lord, whether it’s praying for a friend, caring for a broken soul, or healing the sick, find me faithfully searching to be part of what you are doing. For whether I’m in a barren land or a fruitful vineyard, wherever you are is where I want to be.
~Mary McEvoy
October 13, 2021
Jump forward a bit to King David’s family drama. During a coup initiated by his son, David retreats toward the wilderness. Ittai, a foreigner who arrived only the day before, insists on following David into a barren land despite David’s attempt to release him to a better future. Why would Ittai choose the losing team? Why would anyone in their right mind choose to live in the wilderness with an overthrown king? Like Rahab, Ittai understood in his heart that it was better to be part of what God was doing no matter what it looked like. Can we choose to be a people who resolve to be part of what God is doing even when other options look better?
I’ve realized that sometimes we think that the only way to be part of what God is doing is to perform miraculous signs and wonders. That’s certainly an important endeavor but can we recognize and respond to the seemingly smaller invitations the Lord sends us? When faced with an inner giant recently, a dear friend of mine said “I want to partner with you and see you overcome this.” I was humbled that someone would choose to be part of what God was doing in my life with no applause or fanfare. The reality is, there are so many ways to be part of what God is doing in the lives of others if we would only have eyes to see it. In what ways can you keep praying for God’s kingdom to come into everyday situations? In what ways can you invite others to be part of what God is doing in you?
What was the result of Rahab and Ittai’s choice to play their part in what God was doing? Rahab was promoted to the ancestral line of Jesus and Ittai was promoted to the position of a general in the army of a king whose throne would never end.
Lord, whether it’s praying for a friend, caring for a broken soul, or healing the sick, find me faithfully searching to be part of what you are doing. For whether I’m in a barren land or a fruitful vineyard, wherever you are is where I want to be.
~Mary McEvoy
October 13, 2021
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