Just under the surface of our smiles many of us have stories we’d rather not share. Maybe it’s a decision from a long time ago that we wish we could redo, or maybe it just happened this morning. Parenthood has a way of stirring up stories from our past. 

There came a time when my husband and I told our children about our pasts. We wanted them to see that people mess us and God’s grace and mercy still remain. We wanted them to believe there’s always hope even if it seems like all is lost. These tokens of faith connect our lives with the hope that this same kind hearted God will be near to the next generation as well.

I wonder if Rahab believed these same things when the two Israelite spies stood at her front door. She remembered the way her heart melted when she heard of their Red Sea crossing and the way they wiped out the two kings on the other side of the Jordan. For the first time in her life, she believed in the One true God.

Acting quickly, she hid the spies on her rooftop under the stalks of flax. When the king’s messengers demanded she turn over the spies, she risked her life by cunningly sending the messengers on a wild goose chase outside the city gates. Returning to the roof, she didn’t cling to her old lifestyle of prostitution, but boldly declared her faith in God. “I know that the LORD has given you this land” (NIV, Joshua 2:9), “for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11).

Seizing the moment, she struck a deal with the spies by courageously asking for God’s covenant kindness as one of His people, despite being a Canaanite. “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, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death” (NKJV, Joshua 2:12-13). The spies gave her a scarlet cord as a true token to tie in the same window where she let them down, and when the walls of Jericho fell, she and her family were saved. Rahab married an Israelite and they had a baby named Boaz. Oh, and she’s also listed in the lineage of Jesus. (Matthew 1:1-17).

A prostitute in the lineage of Jesus? Yes, it’s true! Faith and works together have the power to produce righteousness. “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25). So, even though Rahab was a prostitute, her faith in action saved her family. This redemption speaks to God’s grace, mercy, and love for all of us. 

When our own pasts are less than perfect, the weight of responsibility to raise our children the ‘perfect way,’ can feel overwhelming. We want what’s best for our children, but how do we pass on what’s good?  Just like Rahab, none of us are perfect, and it’s likely we stumble every day. Even in our shortcomings, God’s providence gives us opportunities to pass on tokens of faith.

I wonder if Rahab told her story to her son Boaz when he was old enough to hear it. I wonder if she told him about her life before meeting the spies. Boaz surely learned from his own mother what integrity, courage, and faith looked like. Maybe the scarlet cord hung on their wall as a reminder of his mom’s faith. He must have learned not to judge where people come from, but rather focus on where they’re going. His own life hints at this in the way he showed Ruth, an outsider and a widow, honor and respect when she refused to abandon her mother-in-law Naomi. Surely this strength of character, the ability to see past labels, was instilled from Rahab. A token of faith she passed to him as he grew. 

Maybe you’ve passed a token of faith as you’ve listened to your adult daughter stressed about relationships, work, and adult responsibilities. Your presence and love speaks strength back into her life, reminding her God is still with her. Maybe you’ve passed a token of faith as you’ve sat beside another mom watching your kids at the playground, sharing life, the struggles, the wins, and how you navigate the day-to-day. This encourages her to stand upright and move forward again, believing in God’s faithfulness. Maybe you’ve passed a token of faith as you’ve snuggled next to your young child learning to read. Reflecting the image of God, you pass the intangible thread of belief that someday soon they’ll be on their way. 

All tokens that God is present, able, and at work in our lives. His glory is evident in both the good and not-so-good parts. He redeems and provides a way through. And instead of being overwhelmed with our past stories, we can know that God has purpose in our whole story. We can trust that God’s providence holds our lives together. And as we look back at our own tokens of faith, we can rest knowing He pours out this same love to our children and all generations to come.

Reflection Questions:

How have you seen God using your whole story, the good AND not-so-good parts, to create space for Him to be glorified?

How has God used tokens of faith in your own life to remind you of His presence and faithfulness?

Prayer:

Lord, you see our whole lives, even the parts we wish we could change. When we’re struggling, your kindness and compassion remind us that you have purpose in our whole story. Thank you for loving us with gracious open-handedness. Help us to see our own true tokens as useful for encouraging and lifting up other people who are facing hard things. May our faith strengthen theirs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

This was originally published in Lessons from Biblical Motherhood: A Compilation of Wisdom from Women Past to Present as a collaboration with 21 other writers. If you want a free copy of the entire devotional, click here: https://rachaelkadams.com/free.