Heb 11:31 Rahab's Faith
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
Faith in action
Rewards of our action in faith
Faith for someone inside Gaza right now,
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Rahab’s Faith
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
“31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
Today we will be studying the last person of faith that is mentioned specifically in this chapter of faith. Rahab is the last one in this long list of the Faithful Hall of Fame of Hebrews 11.
Let’s remember Hebrews 11 started by giving us a definition of faith. Do you remember this definition? Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seeing. Then for almost the entirety of this long chapter is example after example of people who lived out this robust Biblical faith. Let’s remember all the people that the author of Hebrews mentioned in this chapter so far. It started with Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua.
We considered last time the amazing faith of Joshua and the people of Israel as they followed God’s apparent crazy directions, and by faith, acted in obedience, kept their focus on God, and declared with their lips their confidence in God.
Now verse 31 shows us that not all the faith was outside the walls, but there was hope for someone even when her entire city was destroyed. The walls of Jericho tumbled down, except for a very small section of the walls where a scarlet rope was tied to the window. It was the rope, representing faith, that saved Rahab and her family.
Rahab’s faith was displayed by the same three actions of those outside the walls. Those outside and inside the walls of Jericho displayed three actions: Obedience, focus, and declaration. When we look at Rahab, we also see her faith displayed through her obedience, focus, and declaration.
Faith is displayed by our:
Obedience
Focus
Declaration
Let’s take a moment to consider the background of the story of Rahab. As we have seen before the generation of Israelites that came to Jericho was a new generation, the older generation perished in the wilderness because of their faithlessness and lack of trust in what God had promised. Moses at this time had passed away and was buried in a secret place in one of the valleys of Moab and Joshua was the new leader of the Israelites.
Several years before Joshua and Caleb were part of the spies that were sent to the promised land, and they were the only ones who gave a report of the land with faith, they didn’t just see the impossibility of the conquest, but they knew that God was able to deliver what He had promised, even when it seemed impossible.
Now Joshua is leading the people into the promised land and he sent two men. Likely, God-fearing, trustworthy men. Maybe Joshua was thinking of Caleb and himself and their adventure as he sent them out. Joshua, tells the spies what their mission was in Joshua 2:1-3
“And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”
The spies' mission was extremely dangerous because Jericho was a fortified city located in an open valley. Furthermore, the timing for their spying was very dangerous because the people, the Amorites, were on extreme alert. They were aware of the presence of Israel at the Jordan, which meant the Amorites were suspicious of everyone and everything.
We don’t know the names of these two spies, but we know that they had faith in God, otherwise, they would not have risked their lives. We also see that their faith in God was displayed by their obedience, focus, and declaration. First, they obeyed the command to go and spy on the city, they willingly put their lives at risk believing in God. Secondly, as they did obey their focus must have been on the God of Israel and the amazing things that God had done before. Lastly, even though they worked hard not to declare who they were and what they believed they couldn’t keep it a secret, even though that meant their lives were at stake.
It is very likely that the spies took careful precautions by removing anything that might appear to be Hebrew, disguising themselves as those of the land trying to imitate the people in their clothes and speech.
It is also likely that the spies did not approach the city from the shortest way, but they traveled north and then back to enter the city from the opposite direction. In that manner, they had the mountains and caves west of Jericho as a possible escape route.
Then they entered the city apparently unnoticed, and they tried to “get lost” in the city by hiding in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. If these men were godly why were they going to a prostitute? Lodging in such a place was typical for traveling merchants, and they thought they wouldn’t be noticed there.
As we know their attempt failed in two ways. First, someone saw them enter the city and was suspicious of them and followed them to Rahab’s house. Secondly, the prostitute immediately recognized their identity. From human terms, at this point, everything had fallen apart, and their mission and lives were lost. They could not escape, if they tried to run away the horsemen would easily run them down and catch them.
From their perspective, their mission and lives had come to an end. What they did not expect was the faith and good works of a prostitute. Someone who sold her body for money, someone who submitted to any man who crossed her doorway with cash. This was not a place or a person whom the spies expected to see faith.
However, “God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Cor 1:28-29)
Here God is talking about me, about you…
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:26-27)
Rahab gave implicit obedience as she did not oppose but helped the Israelite spies, who were acting in obedience to God. Furthermore, she was obedient in following the instructions that the spies gave her, by tying the scarlet rope on the window and staying inside the house with all her relatives that wanted to be saved. Her obedience was a contrast to everyone else in the city. It is likely that her relatives might have thought that Rahab had lost her mind in trusting in those who were going to destroy the city and everyone inside it. However, she remained steadfast in her trust and obedience to the true God of Israel.
Focus
Secondly, those outside the walls were to be silent for six days as they walked around the city and kept their focus on God. As the Israelites were silent, they only heard from their parade was the shofar announcing God’s presence and the Ark of the Covenant was in the middle of the procession, so that they would keep their focus on God who was able to do the impossible.
At the same time inside the walls is Rahab, trusting in the God of the Israelites. Day after day she rose and heard the trumpeting of the shofars as they announced God’s presence and maybe as she peeked through her window with the scarlet rope, she saw the Ark of the Covenant.
While the others inside the walls of Jericho were laughing, shouting, insulting, and cursing the Israelites Rahab kept her focus on the God of Israel and trusted in Him as she listened to the shofars announcing God’s presence.
Maybe as her relatives were protected in her house, they were wondering and asking Rahab who this God was that she was trusting. We don’t know how long Rahab was able to interact and talk with the two spies, but it is possible that they also told her about the amazing things God had done. However, she knew of God even before the spies came because she said this to the spies in Joshua 2:9-11:
“I know that the Lord has given this land to you.… 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Joshua 2:9–11)
Therefore, her focus was on the true God of Israel. However, her faith was not only displayed by her obedience and focus but also by her declaration.
Declaration
Her faith was not private, even though everyone else in the city would oppose her faith. We don’t consider how counter-cultural her faith was, but at a minimum, the whole city of Jericho would have considered her a traitor.
As we have seen she had declared her faith to Israel’s spies. She also had to declare and tell all her relatives that there was one way to be saved. She couldn’t force people to stay in her house, but she spoke what she knew and believed, and some stayed with her, and they were saved.
The point is we are not worthy of the salvation that God provided so that His name and His glory would be displayed. In the same manner, Rahab was a prostitute, but because she turned to God in faith and obedience she was included in the Faithful Hall of Fame of Hebrews 11, along with Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
“31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
It is significant that the final person to be mentioned is a woman, a Gentile, and a prostitute. Remember Rahab is mentioned after Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. It is significant that the faith of a prostitute is mentioned as an example for anyone who desires to have true biblical faith.
Especially for those who are outcasts or those who know they are not worthy, those who are well aware that they are sinners but have a deep desire down in their hearts to turn to God but feel like they are too much of a lost cause. God can rescue and change anyone no matter how deep in sin we are. God can save the worst of sinners and put them in the Faithful Hall of Fame alongside Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua.
In order to be on the list of the Faithful Hall of Faith we need to have faith like all these men and women. Furthermore, our faith will be displayed by our obedience to Jesus, our focus on God, and our declaration to the world that there is one way to be saved, that is through Jesus Christ.
If we have a true biblical faith, it is a faith in action. As we have seen our faith will be displayed in our actions, but we also see in Rahab that her faith had at least three rewards: encouragement, salvation, and glorification.
Faith Rewards: 1. Encouragement
Encouragement
First, because of Rahab’s faith in action, Israel was encouraged.
Joshua 2:23-24 “23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”
The children of Israel were encouraged through Rahab’s great confession of faith (Joshua 2:9–11). They were uplifted by the positive report that the spies brought back, and they were strengthened by the miraculous deliverance given to the two spies through a random unknown prostitute inside the Jericho walls.
When we live out our faith we encourage others to walk in obedience and faith. Heb 10:24-25 says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
We need one another, especially as we get closer and closer to the end, we need the encouragement of knowing that there are other crazy people who follow Jesus. We need the encouragement of being together, God designed us to have fellowship, pray for one another, and stir up one another to love and good works.
The second reward of Rahab’s faith was her own salvation.
Faith Rewards:
2. Salvation
Salvation
This came initially as physical salvation, as Joshua 6:22–25 records:
22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Rahab did not initially have saving faith in the spiritual sense, but as she joined with Israel she completely believed and became a full member of God’s covenant people. Ultimately, Rahab’s faith saved her in every way.
In the same way for us today, if we have true biblical faith, a faith that is displayed by our actions it will lead to our salvation. For those who are trusting only in Jesus for this life and for eternity, the reward is going to be eternal salvation. There is a day coming, and we are one day closer when we will die or Christ returns, and then our faith shall be sight, and we will receive the eternal reward of being in God’s presence for eternity.
Faith Rewards:
3. Glorification
Glorification
The third reward of Rahab’s faith may be spoken of as her “glorification.” Here her story becomes poetic—an “impossible dream.” Not only did Rahab live in Israel for the rest of her life, but she married an Israelite and became an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus bears out the incredible truth. Turn with me to Matthew 1:4-6
“4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.”
And Christ came from David’s lineage! Nahshon, Rahab’s father-in-law, was one of the twelve princes who made a special offering at the raising of the Tabernacle. Numbers 7:12 says, 12 He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah”
Nahshon was a great prince of Judah, and so was his son Salmon, who married Rahab. How unutterably beautiful! The Gentile prostitute became a believer and then the wife of a prince of Judah. Rahab was a princess and ancestor of Christ!
Predictably, but nevertheless amazing, some have been uncomfortable with Rahab’s being in the genealogy of Christ. Josephus tried to make her out to be an “innkeeper”, and some have referred to her as a “landlady” or “formerly a fallen woman.” As we have seen, she was a prostituteand nothing else. I think it is wonderful that she belongs to Christ’s bloodline. In fact, it fits perfectly, for the whole human race is guilty of spiritual prostitution! Furthermore, all of us have had our lapses into sin. Jesus did not come from a sinless human line. Every person in it was a sinner in need of salvation, including Rahab and the Virgin Mary!
Anyone who looks down on Rahab had better beware, for it is obvious that such a person has a defective doctrine of sin and does not understand the depth of human iniquity or heights of the grace of God. All of us stand in Rahab’s place in front of a holy God. And many of us are worse because she had such little knowledge. We must at least be as wise as Rahab, who though she understood little did understand that she was under God’s judgment and sought redemption.
Even in the worst possible scenario, inside the walls of a city coming down, there is hope and a future if our eyes are fixed on Jesus. You might not be facing a city that is falling upon you, but different circumstances in your job, family, or health that you feel like your world is falling upon you, know that if you are trusting in Jesus there is hope and a future.
Furthermore, if we act like Rahab and repent and turn to the Living God. He forgives us, redeems us, and adopts us. God will give us His Kingdom, and we will be glorified by receiving Resurrected bodies like Christ, completely separated from sin, not able to sin anymore, perfection for eternity, with perfect love for God and one another.