Read: Joshua 2:1-11; 1 Kings 10:1-9; 2 Kings 5:1-15.
Each story is a cross-cultural encounter, involving Israelites and Gentiles from different nations and backgrounds. Rahab was a female prostitute in Jericho. Naaman was ill with leprosy and a successful army commander in Aram. The Queen was a wealthy political ruler from southern Arabia. Each of these people first heard about the Lord from witnesses. Confirmations of these reports followed from foreign Israelite spies, Elisha the prophet, and King Solomon. Rahab, Naaman, and the Queen responded with praise and proclamation of God’s sovereignty. God revealed himself to each person as they were in their particular place in life. Their lifestyles, associations with other gods or beliefs, social status, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or health did not prevent God from reaching them and working in their lives.
- According to Joshua 2:9-11, the people’s hearts feared and acknowledged God’s sovereignty before the Israelite spies arrived. How has God worked (or is working) in the hearts of people in your city to prepare them to hear God’s message?
- Naaman expected a spectacular power display to cure his leprosy (2 Kings 5:11-12). Instead, God chose to work through the faith of a Jewish-hostage-slave-girl-child and a foreign prophet, and the humility of the muddy Jordan River. In what unexpected ways have you seen God work to reach people in his mission?
- The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by what she saw in King Solomon’s palace. What gifts, talents, achievements, or personal qualities have you seen others use to point people to God?
- As in these examples, sometimes we are sent to “the nations” and sometimes “the nations” are sent to us. How does God want to use you to reveal himself to people in the nations? How does God want to use your church to reveal himself to people in the nations? Are you willing to listen to people in the nations for something God may wish to say to you?