Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-03-24

treat LOT llle MOlllSu VI Wv PA~
day who have been distinguished for
self sacrifice for their loved ones. But
though the women Of Weinsberg each
saved Il husband, father, brother
or a son, | want to tel you that Ra-
hab of Jericho did far more than that
Through her faith in God she was the
means of saving the lives Of her ia
tber and mother and brothers and Sis
ters. She carried forth out Of that
destroyed city not one, but many,
dear ones. She saved the lives OF her
whole family.
Nonsense" says some one to me;
"nonsense It was not through the
help Of God that Rahab saved the ram
ilv. They were saved on account OF the
bargain she made with Joshua's spies.
After she had hidden these two spies IN
her home and saved their necks from
the pursuers she made them take an
oath TO save her and her fathers house
hold. They had to do it, being bouhu
Inv their sacred oaths. Then, in order
to make her rescue more certain, lne
two spies said, place Scarlet rope Ill
vour window and our soldiers VIII not
hurt YOU when they enter the town 10
search it, Rahab did this, and she
was saved. God had nothing to DO
with it. That is just the way with you
Christians. If q man is sick and you
Dray over him, then you say God makes
the invalid we'll The simple fact Is
the man would get well, whether you
prayed over him or no."
Yes, my friend, know that it IS the
common idea. You are exactly In the
same pOsltlOn as a prominent professor
Of one Of our large state universities
who. n short time ago. said to his class
"Young gentlemen, prayer has abso-
lutely nothing to do with the outcome
of the natural world When the condl-
tions are right for it to rain, the ram
comes. When the medicines are taken
and the fever has run its course, the
natIent gets well, and 1t makes but
little difference whether the sick man Is
n Mohammedan or a Christian. When
tho tornado has blown itself out, the
storm ceases. and not before. Prayer
may have its influence on the spiritual
world. but 1t has absolutely no lnnu-
ence I'm the material" Now, take
issue with those who hold such ideas.
God does rule the material. And God
docs change the outcome of the mate
rial. This ancient story Of preservation
Of Rahab in the destruction Of jericho
IS symbol Of what has taken place
many times in history and of events IN
your career and in mine.
How Rahab Was Saved.
You say Rahab was saved by Josh
ua's army? She was saved by the pro
tecting hand Of God alone. Did you
ever stop to consider where Raha0s
house was built? The Bible distinctly
tells this In Joshua ii, 10: For her
house was upon the town wall, and she
dwelt upon the wall" Now, as this
house was built upon the wall, what
happened when the besieging army
marched in? Why, that part OF the
wall where Rahab's house was anc
where she gathered her father ane
4 mother and brothers and sisters was
left standing God did not allow tha'
mart Of the city wall to totter and fall
for If It had with the tumbling o.
those mighty rocks Rahab and her IA
theirs household surely would nave
been instantly killed. You say, "RahaI
and her household were saved by tn
IIahrev soldiers on account Of th'
scarlet thread placed in the window.
'Tis true; God does work through hu
man agencies. But, l say, RahaD wa
also saved because God held up tina
wall. upon the top of which stood ka
habs home Can you not see that Coz
in answer to prayer cares for the phys
ical well being Of man as well as tn
spiritual?
Do YOU feel that it is a silly or use
less act to go and kneel by the llttl
crib Of your sick child and say, I
God. make my baby well, if it be tn
vill?7 Was not the life Of Hezekla
, prolonged fifteen years through hi
nraying to God? Do you think 1t d
absurdity when you are about to stal
on a long voyage to kneel and say, y
: Lord. thou who dost govern the wind
, and dost hold the seas in the palms {
tby hands. guard us and care for us 9
l we plow through the trackless deep
p Was not the Mayfower protected o
| her tourney to the American shore D'
I couse John Robinson and his band
Q followers started the pilgrim fathel
t with the pleadings of prayer In d
old book | once saw picture calle
"The Prayers For the Crusaders
/ There at the foot of the cross knelt IL
n wives. sisters, mothers and children
y while off in the distance you could st
/ the armies marching toward the eas
II ern capital Of David. All, yes; ma
Il every one Of our homes be living pl
> t,re Of "The Prayers For the Crusa
l. ers~ MAY we pray for the safety
r our loved ones. May we pray TOT u
L restoration of health to the sick. Ma
/ we pray that God shall guard u
/ bodies of our dear ones, even as GC
2. was the Saviour of Rahab and her l
is theirs household, upon the top OF u
'r heaving. rocking, tumbling and sha
e tered walls Of Jericho. at the mercy
ST an invading host
A Practical Application
But was this Rahab's only reward
II Nav. God not only saved Rahab, b
i also all the property that she and b
\ \ fathers househSd had. God saved X
u II hab's body, her clothes and her mon'
- and her jewels and her house ana d
u " food. In other words, by this rescue
% Rahab God seems to come to us al
- - say. "If you will only trust me al
- live for me, will look after your fo
g o,d clo+bi,tp and house rent and ch