An Unlikely Recepient?

Grace in the Old Testament - Rahab: An Unlikely Recipient? Joshua 2:1-14 | January 28, 2023 Recently, it seems like more and more celebrities are coming out ... as Christians, that is. Back in December, 46-year-old Puerto Rican Rapper, "Daddy Yankee" retired from a very successful career to devote his life to his newfound faith in Christ. Back in November, tattoo artist and former reality TV star, Kat Von D - who apparently also practiced witchcraft - professed her faith in Christ and was baptized. While some of you may not be too familiar with these two, I am, and admittedly, they are two people that I was shocked to hear of their conversion and profession of faith. It reminded much of what we will be speaking of today. I would say that the two celebrities above are - on the surface - unlikely recipients of God's saving grace. But there's also a well-known biblical example that may be even more unlikely than these two - Rahab. Why would she be an unlikely recipient? Well, we'll read the account shortly, but the writer of Hebrews summed it up perfectly when he identified her in his great faith hall of fame in chapter 11 of his letter, simply as, "RAHAB THE PROSTITUTE." If you haven't been with us the last three weeks, we're in a series called "Grace in the Old Testament" where - you guessed it - we address the biblical doctrine of grace, using examples from the Old Testament. Until this morning, we've spent all of our time in the book of Genesis, but this morning, we get into the book of Joshua. So, now may be a good time to find Joshua, right after Deuteronomy. We'll be in chapter two this morning. I think it is wise, however, to at least understand the context of this section of Scripture, as it is important to understand this to understand what is happening in the text this morning, and Rahab's role and eventual impact on history. We left off last week with Joseph. Joseph was highly favored by the Egyptian Pharoah, and he brought his family into Egypt, where they eventually settled. However, we read in Exodus 1, that after Joseph died, and the Pharoah died, and a new Pharoah was installed, Joseph was forgotten and Pharoah became threatened by the nation, Israel, right outside of Egypt. This caused him to go into the land, and to take Israel into captivity and slavery. Eventually, God called Moses to deliver His people out of slavery and to take them into the land that was promised first to Abraham, then to Isaac, then to Jacob - later named Israel. However, because of Moses' sin, he would not be able to bring God's people into the promised land. Joshua, who became Moses' assistant would become Moses' successor after his death and would be the one to bring the Israelites into the promised land. There's one problem, however, that stands in the way. Other nations that occupy the land. This is where the Bible gets hard. Because we see war, death and destruction. It's difficult because it is difficult to understand the reason why this was necessary. Maybe this will help. We read in Deuteronomy 7:1-2: 1 WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD BRINGS YOU INTO THE LAND THAT YOU ARE ENTERING TO TAKE POSSESSION OF IT, AND CLEARS AWAY MANY NATIONS BEFORE YOU, THE HITTITES, THE GIRGASHITES, THE AMORITES, THE CANAANITES, THE PERIZZITES, THE HIVITES, AND THE JEBUSITES, SEVEN NATIONS MORE NUMEROUS AND MIGHTIER THAN YOU, 2 AND WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES THEM OVER TO YOU, AND YOU DEFEAT THEM, THEN YOU MUST DEVOTE THEM TO COMPLETE DESTRUCTION. YOU SHALL MAKE NO COVENANT WITH THEM AND SHOW NO MERCY TO THEM. You see, Joshua was a military leader, so it's no coincidence that he was chosen to succeed Moses, as he would have to lead the nation of Israel into battle to take what God had promised to them. All of these nations worshipped other gods and were enemies of Israel. They took the land that was already promised to them, and at this time in history, Israel was going to take what was rightfully theirs. Now, we can pick up in our narrative this morning, where we are introduced to Rahab who plays a significant role in this directive from God. Let's pick up in Joshua 2:1-14: 1 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." 4 BUT THE WOMAN HAD TAKEN THE TWO MEN AND HIDDEN THEM. AND SHE SAID, "TRUE, THE MEN CAME TO ME, BUT I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THEY WERE FROM. 5 AND WHEN THE GATE WAS ABOUT TO BE CLOSED AT DARK, THE MEN WENT OUT. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE MEN WENT. PURSUE THEM QUICKLY, FOR YOU WILL OVERTAKE THEM." 6 BUT SHE HAD BROUGHT THEM UP TO THE ROOF AND HID THEM WITH THE STALKS OF FLAX THAT SHE HAD LAID IN ORDER ON THE ROOF. 7 SO THE MEN PURSUED AFTER THEM ON THE WAY TO THE JORDAN AS FAR AS THE FORDS. AND THE GATE WAS SHUT AS SOON AS THE PURSUERS HAD GONE OUT. 8 BEFORE THE MEN 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, AND THAT THE FEAR OF YOU HAS FALLEN UPON US, AND THAT ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND MELT AWAY BEFORE YOU. 10 FOR WE HAVE HEARD HOW THE LORD DRIED UP THE WATER OF THE RED SEA BEFORE YOU WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF EGYPT, AND WHAT YOU DID TO THE TWO KINGS OF THE AMORITES WHO WERE BEYOND THE JORDAN, TO SIHON AND OG, WHOM YOU DEVOTED TO DESTRUCTION. 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. 12 NOW THEN, PLEASE SWEAR TO ME BY THE LORD THAT, AS I HAVE DEALT KINDLY WITH YOU, YOU ALSO WILL DEAL KINDLY WITH MY FATHER'S HOUSE, AND GIVE ME A SURE SIGN 13 THAT YOU WILL SAVE ALIVE MY FATHER AND MOTHER, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND ALL WHO BELONG TO THEM, AND DELIVER OUR LIVES FROM DEATH." 14 AND THE MEN SAID TO HER, "OUR LIFE FOR YOURS EVEN TO DEATH! IF YOU DO NOT TELL THIS BUSINESS OF OURS, THEN WHEN THE LORD GIVES US THE LAND WE WILL DEAL KINDLY AND FAITHFULLY WITH YOU." Rahab's story and the story of the conquering of Jericho take us through chapter 6, but following this event, Rahab makes a deal with the spies for her and her family to be spared. Then, the Israelites cross the Jordan river, they make a memorial to God commemorating this moment in history as they go to claim their land. They have a circumcision party, observe Passover, and Joshua is visited by the Commander of the Lord's Army, which was likely a preincarnate appearance of Christ. Then, most of us are familiar with the account of the walls of Jericho falling, which of course gave Israel a tactical advantage to destroy Jericho. Finally in Joshua 6:22-27, we read: 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. 26 JOSHUA LAID AN OATH ON THEM AT THAT TIME, SAYING, "CURSED BEFORE THE LORD BE THE MAN WHO RISES UP AND REBUILDS THIS CITY, JERICHO. "AT THE COST OF HIS FIRSTBORN SHALL HE LAY ITS FOUNDATION, AND AT THE COST OF HIS YOUNGEST SON SHALL HE SET UP ITS GATES." 27 SO THE LORD WAS WITH JOSHUA, AND HIS FAME WAS IN ALL THE LAND. So, there you have it. The story of Rahab. But the question remains: WHAT CAN WE LEARN ABOUT GOD'S GRACE FROM RAHAB? First, let's begin with the main idea: My sin does not disqualify me from God's grace. Now, to be clear, repentance is a part of that saving faith, as a response to God's grace. Paul clearly reminds us of that in Romans 6, where he warns us not to continue in sin. But notice that Rahab became part of the nation of Israel through her actions. In fact, James, the Lord's brother, said that she was justified by her works. Back in chapter 2, we read that Rahab knew the Lord. What's really neat about how she addressed God was that she used His personal name, Yahweh. She heard of Him, and she knew that He was the Lord of Lords, even in her pagan environment and even through her sinful lifestyle. What we see here is that she put her faith before her nation and her profession. She decided to align herself with God and His people, even before her own people. How can we be sure this was the right decision? If nothing else, because her name recorded in Matthew 1, where we read Matthew's genealogy account. Here's what verses 5-6 says: 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 ... Rahab, one of five women, was named in the genealogy of Jesus. A gentile. A sinner. A prostitute. Many people believe that their sin is too much to be forgiven. I look back at my past. I've sinned. A lot. I was reading earlier this week in Romans 8, where Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing can separate us from His grace. Anytime we look at our lives and think that we're not good enough for His grace, read Joshua 2 again. Rahab the prostitute helped the nation of Israel. She and her family were spared. She was taken into the nation of God, she was blessed with being directly associated with Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. No sin is too big for God. So, returning to our question from earlier. Here are three things we can learn from Rahab: * I must know the Lord (2:9-11) o From Exodus 7 we know that Moses was 80 years old when he and Aaron spoke to Pharoah. At the end of Deuteronomy, we learn that he died at 120 years old. o This means that Rahab heard of what God did in Egypt nearly 40 years after it occurred. o Many of us don't like the fact that she lied. Many of us don't like the fact that she had a sin-filled profession, but we have to remember that she was not living under God's Law. o I think it is clear from this passage that Rahab knew God. I also believe it is clear from Hebrews 11 and James 2 that she was converted. o But, likely, it was not until she became a convert to Judaism, that she began to follow the Law, the Law that was designed to make God's people set apart and to point them to the need of a Savior. o This reminds us that God's saving grace is transforming. o A simple knowledge of God is not enough, saving faith requires action. o That's what James was talking about in James 2, faith and action. o You've probably caught on to this already during our series, and Pastor Pat did mention it last week, but the more we've studied this, we see that when God's grace is poured out on us, we are to do the same to others. Rahab displayed that when she saved the spies. o Next, we can learn from Rahab to ... * Ask for God's grace and mercy (2:12-13) o Rahab was bold. o She told the spies: I know your God. I know what He is capable of. Please, ask Him to spare me and my family. o Rahab was not afraid to ask the Lord for what she knew He was capable of doing. o How instructive is that for us? o How may times have you failed to pray for something because you weren't sure that God will do it? o Rahab teaches us that we cannot be afraid to ask. o Jesus Himself taught us this in Matthew 7:7-8 when He said: 7 "ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU; SEEK, AND YOU WILL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT WILL BE OPENED TO YOU. 8 FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES, AND THE ONE WHO SEEKS FINDS, AND TO THE ONE WHO KNOCKS IT WILL BE OPENED. o James again, when warning about seeking the flesh stated something similar to his brother in James 4:3: 3 YOU ASK AND DO NOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE YOU ASK WRONGLY, TO SPEND IT ON YOUR PASSIONS. o James nailed it on the head, sometimes we do ask, but ask wrongly. o Rahab knew that her actions were going to make Israel successful, that it was part of God's will, so He granted her request. o Don't hold back on your requests before God. If it's His will, He will bless you. o Finally, Rahab teaches us to ... * Align yourself with the Lord (6:25) o As I thought about Rahab's story more and more, I realized that she sacrificed a lot to align herself with God and His people. o Think about it. She turned her back on her people. Knowing that doing so would lead to their death. o She turned her back on her profession, her home, and her people's idols. o Unironically, Joshua closed his book asking God's people to choose. He says it this way in Joshua 24:14-15: 14 "NOW THEREFORE FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM IN SINCERITY AND IN FAITHFULNESS. PUT AWAY THE GODS THAT YOUR FATHERS SERVED BEYOND THE RIVER AND IN EGYPT, AND SERVE THE LORD. 15 AND IF IT IS EVIL IN YOUR EYES TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS YOUR FATHERS SERVED IN THE REGION BEYOND THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." o Rahab had to make a choice. Continue to serve her false gods and live her sinful lifestyle, or to align herself with Yahweh, the One true God. o And she begged for God's grace and mercy over her life and the lives of her family. Because, somehow, she knew what we stated earlier, that ... My sin does not disqualify me from God's grace. I've known people who have been concerned and afraid that they were simply not good enough to receive God's grace. His offer of salvation to those who believe. We don't have to get cleaned up before we seek God, because we'd never be clean enough. I've said it before, but it would be like complaining that there are too many sick people at the hospital, or too many out of shape people at the gym. You may think that you are an unlikely recipient like Daddy Yankee, Kat Von D, or Rahab. But that's the beauty of grace, we are all unlikely recipients. Jesus died at the appointed time, while we were still sinners, and declared that anyone who confesses with their mouth that He is Lord, they will be declared clean before a holy God. What will you choose today? Do you need to make a choice of aligning yourself with God over the culture around you? Maybe today, you need to make a choice of following Jesus for the first time. What will you choose today? Let's pray. 2