Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son – this tells the story of Herod Agrippa II. He inherited the effects of generations of powerful men with flawed personalities.  Each son followed his father in weaknesses, mistakes, and missed opportunities.  Each generation had a confrontation with God [Wall], but each failed to realise the importance of the decision.  Herod Agrippa’s great-uncle, Herod Antipas, actually met Jesus during his trial, but failed to see Jesus for who he was.  Agrippa II heard the gospel from Paul, but considered the message mild entertainment.  He found it humorous that Paul actually tried to convince him to become a Christian.

Like so many before and after, Agrippa II stopped within hearing distance of the kingdom of God [Wall]. He left himself without excuse.  He heard the gospel but decided it wasn’t worth responding to personally.  Unfortunately, his mistake isn’t uncommon.  Many who read this story will also not believe.  Their problem, like his, is not really that the gospel isn’t convincing or that they don’t need to know God [Wall] personally; it is that they choose not to respond.

What has been your response to the gospel? Has it turned your life around and given you the hope of eternal life, or has it been a message to resist or reject?  Perhaps it has just been entertainment.  It may seem like too great a price to give God [Wall] control of your life, but it is an even greater price by far to live eternally apart from him because you have chosen not to be his child.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Last of the Herod dynasty that ruled parts of Palestine from 40 B.C. to A.D. 100
• Continued his father’s success in mediating between Rome and Palestine
• Continued the family tradition of building and improving cities

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Was not convinced by the gospel and consciously rejected it
• Carried on an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice

Lessons from his life:

• Families pass on both positive and negative influences to children
• There are no guarantees of multiple opportunities to respond to God [Wall]

Vital statistics:

• Occupation: Ruler of northern and eastern Palestine
• Relatives: Great-grandfather: Herod the Great. Father: Herod Agrippa I.  Great-uncle: Herod Antipas.  Sister: Bernice, Drusilla
• Contemporaries: Paul, Felix, Festus, Peter, Luke

Key verse: “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ “ (Acts 26.28).

Herod Agrippa II’s story is told in Acts 25.13 – 26.32.

Rahab was a prostitute in the city of Jericho. As a prostitute, she lived on the edge of society, one stop short of rejection.  Her house, built right into the city wall, provided both lodging and favours to travellers.  It was a natural place for Israelite spies to stay, as they would be mistaken for Rahab’s clients.

Stories about the Israelites had been circulating for some time, but now it was evident that the Israelites were about to invade. Living on the wall, Rahab felt especially vulnerable.  Yet while she shard the general mood of fear with the rest of Jericho’s population, she alone turned to the Lord for her salvation.  Her faith gave her the courage to hide the spies and lie to the authorities.  Rahab knew her position was dangerous; she could have been killed if she were caught harbouring the Israelites.  Rahab took the risk, however, because she sensed that the Israelites relied on a God worth trusting.  And God rewarded Rahab by promising safety for her and her family.

God works through people – like Rahab – whom we are included to reject. God remembers her because of her faith, not her profession.  If at times you feel like a failure, remember that Rahab rose above her situation through her trust in God.  You can do the same!

Strength and accomplishments:

• Relative of Boaz, and thus an ancestor of David and Jesus
• One of only two women listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11

• Resourceful, willing to help others at great cost to herself

Weakness and mistake:

• She was a prostitute

• Lesson from her life:
• She did not let fear affect her faith in God’s ability to deliver

Vital statistics:

• Where: Jericho

• Occupations: Prostitute/innkeeper, later became a wife

• Relatives: Ancestor of David and Jesus (Matthew 1.5)

• Contemporary: Joshua

Key verse: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11.31).

Rahab’s story is told in Joshua 1 and 6.22, 23. She is also mentioned in Matthew 1.5; Hebrews 11.31; and James 2.25.