A Crowd of One

In 1986, when I was a teenager, I went with a group of friends—most of them older than me—to see
the movie Hoosiers. I’ve always loved playing and watching basketball, so seeing this inspiring film
about a small-town high school team defying the odds to reach the Indiana state championship was
thrilling. When Jimmy Chitwood sank the game-winning shot, I nearly jumped out of my seat in
excitement.

After the movie ended, we all made our way out of the theater, and I was shocked by the
conversation around me. One friend said, “Well, that was boring.” Another quickly chimed in with a
similar comment. Before long, the whole group was complaining about the movie. Wanting to fit in, I
kept my opinion to myself. But as time has passed, my instincts have been confirmed—Hoosiers is
one of the greatest sports movies of all time.

Have you ever felt like the only person in a group who saw things differently? Peer pressure is
powerful. It’s hard to hold a position that goes against the crowd, especially when you want to belong.
Joshua 2 tells the story of a courageous woman who dared to stand alone in faith. Rahab, a
Canaanite, hosted two Israelite spies in her home. She told them that everyone in her land had heard
about how God miraculously parted the Red Sea to save Moses and the Israelites. Speaking of that
event, she said in verse 11, “And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit
left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the
earth beneath.”

This miracle had happened years earlier and miles away, yet it was so extraordinary that word of it
spread throughout the region. The entire Canaanite people heard about it—but only Rahab
responded in faith. She stopped worshiping false gods and put her trust in the one true God. In the
end, her willingness to step out alone saved not only her life but also the lives of her family.
Rahab’s story reminds us that faith sometimes requires standing alone. She was such a significant
figure, she became one of only five women listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1). It’s not
always easy, but when we choose to follow God, even against the grain, He blesses that faith. This is
an area our kids struggle with, so make sure you share with them examples of times you stepped out
alone in faith. The opinions of the crowd may shift, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Standing for the right thing might mean standing alone.