The Everlasting Covenant

Effect of the Preaching in Egypt

The Gospel is the power of God to salvation, and since God’s mighty power was exhibited in the salvation of Israel from Egypt, it is evident that the Gospel was at that time proclaimed as it has never been since. The effect of that proclamation is shown by the words of a heathen woman, the harlot Rahab. When the two spies came to her house in Jericho, she concealed them, and said to them:— EVCO 390.1

“I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you; for the Lord your God; He is God in Heaven above, and in earth beneath.” ¹ And then she begged for and received the promise of deliverance. EVCO 390.2

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies in peace.” ² That which happened to her might have been the lot of every other resident of Jericho, provided they had exercised the same faith that she did. They had heard the same things that she had, and knew as a matter of fact, as well as she did, that “Jehovah your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” EVCO 390.3

But knowledge is not faith. The devils know that there is one God, but they have no faith. Faith is trust—submission. Rahab was willing to submit to the requirements of God, and to live as one of His people, while her fellow-countrymen were not. In here case we see the evidence that God saves people, not because they are good, but because they are willing to be made good. Jesus is sent to bless us, in turning us away from our iniquities. That poor heathen woman of disreputable life, who could utter a lie with a composed countenance, and with no consciousness of guilt, had a most meagre idea of the difference between right and wrong; yet God acknowledged her as one of His people, because she did not turn away from light, but walked in it as it came to her. She believed to the saving of her soul. Her faith lifted her out of her sinful surroundings, and set her in the way of knowledge. EVCO 391.1

No stronger evidence can be found that Christ is not ashamed to acknowledge even the heathen as His brethren, than the fact that He is not ashamed to have one of them, a harlot, to boot, recorded in the roll of His ancestry after the flesh. This, of itself, shows that the promises are not confined to the lineal descendants of Abraham, but that they are to those who believe, no matter what their race or condition. “In every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him.” EVCO 391.2