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Day 290

Psalm 87:4a "I will make mention of Rahab..."

Day 290 – Psalm 87

“I will make mention of Rahab…” Psalm 87:4a

MIGHTY FOES

Israel had many powerful foes. Time and again these foes threatened the existence of the nation. How did Israel survive? The sons of Korah contemplated this question and gave a cryptic answer in the following text.

“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me;
Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia:
‘This one was born there.'”
Psalm 86:4

1. “I will make mention”

a) The Lord will make reference to His dealings with these nations.
b) The prophets of God recorded how God dealt with them.

2. “Rahab”

a) This is not a reference to the historical Rahab in the days when Joshua conquered Jericho (Joshua 2).
b) Who was this Rahab?
i) Isaiah the prophet identified this Rahab.
ii) God’s full name for Rahab was Rahab-Hem-Shebeth (Isaiah 30:7; “Rahab sits idle”).
iii) In the context of Isaiah’s prophecy Rahab was the nickname of Egypt.
iv) Rahab was a known mythological monster in the ancient days.
v) Despite the formidable reputation of Rahab, God easily defeated Egypt.

3. The destruction of Rahab (Egypt)

a) Egypt imprisoned the children of Israel and caused them to suffer greatly (Exodus 1).
b) God humbled Egypt at the hands of Moses (Exodus 4-14).
c) He did not need an army to destroy mighty Rahab; He took a humble shepherd to do this.

REMEMBERING HOW GOD DEFEATED THE EGYPTIANS

Moses was inspired to compose a special song of praise celebrating the mighty power of God revealed to the children of Israel (Exodus 15). God’s victory over Egypt (Rahab) was mentioned in a number of Psalms (Psalm 78:12-14; Psalm 105:23-38etc).