Lesson 8: A son to train

Read Joshua 9 and 10

For many years after the people of Israel entered the Promised Land, they followed God in battle against the people who lived there, people who worshiped other gods and did what was evil in God’s eyes (Deuteronomy 20:16-17). All adult men were required to join these battles, so it meant the women were left in the camp to raise the children.

We might not think this is an important part of this story of Rahab, but it is. One of the sons of Salmon and Rahab was Boaz (Matthew 1:5). We will learn more about this man in the next section of this study. For now, we only need to remind ourselves that Boaz became a wonderful picture of Jesus through being what this culture called a “kinsman redeemer.” Boaz had learned God’s way from his mother, Rahab.

Often in our lives we do things we think have no value for eternity. Raising a son was just something Rahab had to do, and she often did it alone, because her husband was needed elsewhere. We too, do things which can seem to have little eternal consequence, things we do just because they are the right thing to do. But just as Rahab had no idea who and what her son would become, so we cannot know who or what a life we touch for Jesus will become.


Faithfulness to God, even in the little things of our lives, is so important. When we give a word of encouragement to a stranger we meet in a store or on the street, we cannot know the effect on that person. But it is the right thing to do as God places people into our path.

Today, is the job you hold boring? Look around you at the other people in your place of work – can you encourage them to know and trust Jesus? Watch the people around you to see whom you can encourage with a simple helping hand in something making them struggle.

Are you at home taking care of children? Train them to know Jesus, tell them about His love for them, show them His love through your own actions.

There is no unneeded job in God’s kingdom! But our job is never to seek our own way or fame or fortune; it is always to seek Jesus’ kingdom and encourage others to come to Him too.

Rahab learned the ways of God for her own life. Then she taught the ways of God to her children. While Boaz was growing up many of the people of Israel were already beginning to leave God’s way and seek their own ways and comforts in their new homes.

*When you see yourself being distracted by things of this world, how do you make yourself return to Jesus?