Personalities in God's Amazing Plan-Message 5 Rahab the Prostitute

Hebrews 11:31

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

As we think about our continuance of the Personalities in God’s Amazing Plan, I put our Sunday night group on the spot and asked them if they knew Bezalel. Of course, no one knew who I was speaking of and may I admit that had I not run into his name in y daily Bible study, I’m sure I would have missed the name as well.

As I shared with the group, I chose that name because Bezalel was a man that was gifted with his hands to serve the Lord. He was a craftsman, a person gifted to perform great workmanship with wood, metals, etc. He was commissioned of the Lord to aid in the building of the tabernacle and all of the decorative s and symbolism's of the articles in the tabernacle.

Our aim in this study by reflecting on the many different personalities of God’s Amazing Plan is not that they were tremendously heroic based upon their skill sets, their educational levels, their strength, their fortitude, but people that surrendered to the Lord and in the power of God accomplished great things.

As we think about the Faith Hall of Fame recorded in Hebrews 11, tonight I want to discuss what might be the most inconspicuous individuals that we might consider as a hero. Definitely, from her background, we would not term her a hero, but more accurately a harlot.

With God in the equation, we see a heathen harlot that God called to make a hero of the faith and today is in heaven serving Him. Amen.

You namely read about Rahab in the book of Joshua Chapters 2 & Chapters 6 along with Hebrews 11:31 & James 2:25.

What can we learn from Rahab and these events leading up to her intervention and the things that took place?

The theme of Joshua-victory comes through faith in God and obedience to His Word.

Joshua-means Yahweh is salvation. Even though his name is symbolic of Israel’s leader, the Lord is the Conqueror. They were not going to win through three major military campaigns and 30 enemy armies based upon military or numerical superiority, but due totally on the faith that God would bring the victory.

You know that at this place in the Word of God, Joshua is now leading the people of God. They are at the point of crossing the Jordan River ( in Chapter 1-three days before crossing).

The Reubenites, the Gadites & the half tribe of Manasseh were rooted where they were staying on the present side of the Jordan, but they were to help with occupying the Promised land.

and Joshua has appointed two men to go into Jericho and spy out the area to report back.

Great Movements of God can come with Uncomfortable and Insecure Beginnings

Joshua 2:1-3 “1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.””

From both vantage points, there must have been a very uncomfortable awkward feeling come over both those two men along with Rahab. Jewish men to even associate with a pagan Gentile woman was unheard of. The fact that it was a male/female situation even more so, and then to evidently by dress, appearance, or the way she carried herself, they must have known she was a harlot, a prostitute. I guess in one sense, for Rahab, men coming over was not an uncomfortable, but a very normal type of situation. But I have to assume that only by God’s divine will and direction did these two parties succumb to this decision they made to allow these men to stay over there.

Furthermore, the situation becomes more bizarre when Rahab commits treason against the king by hiding out the spies that he requested she turn over to the people. All i can imagine is that Rahab sensed that these men walked with God or the Holy Spirit divinely poured into her spirit that something in life is better than where she was in life.

The very story of Israel leaving Egypt and their gripes and complaints and at times when they wished they were back in Egypt reflects that there will be times that you struggle trusting God.

I believe this was one of those times for both the two spies as well as Rahab. For both parties, there were dangers at every turn.

Ill. FBI show last night. The risk of finding evidence within seconds of the criminals coming back to their apartment. This must have been the tenuousness of both parties as this was taking place.

Oh dearly beloved, I would love to tell you that when you commit and you surrender to the Lord’s will for your life that at every single turn there will be blessing. You can almost rest assured that at least initially it will be a strain. Not everyone will find your commitment practical,some will be jealous over the fact that your new commitment will infringe on their relationship with you, your time, your values will change and it may cost you certain friends.

Others may not understand how you could give up such a good job to serve the Lord in missions or how you could volunteer to work a day or two a week for the Lord vs. play.

It is safe to say that initially there will be some risks taken, but in the end the rewards are greater.

The question must be asked: what would cause both parties to take such a risk?

“View the land”. Is the place you find yourself residing right now where you want to be? Now let’s be clear on what I am not asking or encouraging. I am not attempting to stimulate covetousness or jealousy. I am not discussing a comparison against someone’s pocketbook or the size of their home, or the newness of their cars. I am discussing real contentment, real peace, at peace with your juncture in life.

Psalms 127:1 “1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.”

Oh dearly beloved, until you cone to the fact that the only life to build upon is Jesus, one will not know real peace. These men and Rahab knew that real peace in Christ comes with a price. Yes, it is a free gift, He paid the price, but to enjoy the real change of life in Him, some changes must take place.

The question tonight. What risks do you need to take to see the land in Jesus as better?

The TV series, 1883, is a show with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill based on the story of James Dutton going west post the Civil War to build a life out west. The gain was worth the get.

Great Movements of God Come when honest and Engaged Listening takes place as to what the Lord is really saying

Joshua 2:8-11 “8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”

Listen closely, God will not bring His best until He has broke you down. When God works in our lives and we peel back, sometimes it can be very ugly before we see the beauty of God. The closer you draw to God, the more sin you see in you the more righteousness and holiness He exhibits. In other words, when we are in communion with God, we must see our estate for what it is to desire something better that Christ offers. Rahab was brutally honest with these two men who at that moment represented the face of God, the deliverer in her life.

She was saying as a people group, as a family group and of her personal life, we are beat down, we are discouraged, the choices we have made to this point have not been the right ones. We surrender to you Lord.

Verse 11 is the most beautiful picture of a penitent heart. One surrendered to the Lord.

Luke 18:13 “13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”

It was the comparison of the Pharisee and Tax Collector; a comparison of the outward vs. the inward. Where are you on the inside?

The psalmist describes himself in this manner when he comes into conviction in the Lord:

Psalms 22:14 “14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.”

Great Movements of God Must Give Up Something to Gain Greater

Joshua 2:12-14 “12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.””

A great movement could be said to happen when there is a calling out, a confession, the real change comes about. Rahab made the honest assessment of her present condition. He was honest before them men as to where she was in her spiritual condition and she realized that something had to be given over to gain.

The gift of salvation is free for the taking but it calls for commitment to enjoy God’s best.

She realized that her new life would not come without some risk, some ridicule, some people asking why?

A key verse is verse 14:

Joshua 2:14 “14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.””

Jesus gave His life for ours.

We study Sunday in Luke 9:23 “23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

What must you give up to gain with Jesus? Is there an overzealous focus on self and your desires vs. what God desires for you? Are you too financially driven? To play driven, too selfish with your time to have time for the Lord? You can not lay down your former life? You want to be loved by the world and be in church as well?