No Going Back

Happy Mother’s Day! Today we celebrate the incredible women who birthed us, raised us, prayed for us, and somehow survived us. I once saw a quote that said, "Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she’s messing it all up." As a mom myself, that statement definitely feels true. So if you're a mom who has ever felt unqualified, underappreciated, or just overwhelmed, today’s message is for you. 

Now, here at the Vineyard we like to highlight holidays but we don’t typically center our entire teachings so this morning you might have come here thinking about what kind of Mother’s Day sermon you were in for…, you might’ve expect to hear about the Proverbs 31 woman— a woman who is noble, wise, organized, she rises early and sews her own clothes out of purple thread or Maybe you thought you might hear about Martha cooking for her family in the kitchen. But if that’s what you were hoping to hear today I’m sorry to say that I will not be meeting your Mother’s Day expectations. Because today… I am going to introduce you to a very different kind of woman in the Bible...

Her name is Rahab. And she’s probably not the first name you expect to hear today… she definitely was not on my radar. She didn’t sew. She didn’t lead a Bible study. She doesn’t have a clean past. In fact, she most likely ran a brothel. And yet despite her background or life choices—Rahab becomes one of the most important mothers in the Bible. 

To see why Rahab matters so much, we need to step back into Joshua 1 to understand the bigger story she steps into. Two weeks ago, Chris launched this new series we’ve titled No Going Back, and we’ve been walking through the story of Joshua. So far, we’ve learned that, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moses has died, and he’s passed the torch to a man named Joshua and Israel is finally on the edge of entering the Promised Land. God tells Joshua, “It’s time to move.”

In Joshua 1:6, God says:

“Be strong and courageous... You will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

So, Joshua 1 is a chapter of preparation. God is saying:

You can’t stay here. You can’t go back. It’s time to possess the promise.

Over and over, God tells his people, “Be strong and courageous.” But here’s what’s fascinating: in the very next chapter, the first person we meet inside the Promised Land is not who we would expect to be an example of what it means to be strong and courageous. Because the first person we meet is Rahab… she is not a warrior, king, or priest, or anyone of high standing. She is a prostitute. 

She lives in enemy territory. She’s a Canaanite and an outsider. But what we find out about her if we read her story is that she is an amazing example of what it means to be strong. She is shows us what it means to be courageous and her heart is already leaning toward the God of Israel. At the same time that God is preparing Joshua to move forward, He was also preparing Rahab to take hold of her inheritance.

So this morning, we’re hanging out in Joshua 2 to learn from Rahab’s story—and one of the main things we will discover is that one strong and courageous decision of faith has the power to change and impact generations. For herself. For her family. For generations to come.

So today, we’ll look at three aspects of Rahab’s faith: faith that leaves the past behind, faith that covers your household, and faith that steps into inheritance. The first thing we see in Rahab’s story is this: Faith that says yes to God gives you strength to leave your past behind. 

1. Faith That Leaves the Past Behind

Joshua 2:1–11; Hebrews 11:31

So let’s dive into our Bibles now to Joshua 2 and set the scene. The Israelites are getting ready to enter the Promised Land. Joshua sends two spies into the city of Jericho. They sneak in, and of all places, they end up at Rahab’s house—Joshua 2:2 Joshua instructs his men to,

”Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.

Okay so hold on a second because if you are like me—you are having a real problem with this verse… mainly because I feel like the spies going to “Rahab’s House of Hospitality” seems like a bit of a detour from their mission…, So giving them the benefit of the doubt that they aren’t just being naughty… so I starting digging into the question. “ why would they go to her house first” and as I studied I discovered that most of the Inns in cities at this time were ran and owned by women. So, it actually would not have been inappropriate for them to go to her house. But it’s sort of unfortunate that Rahab is an entrepreneur and she owns and Inn but she also must have a side hustle going on… and that’s all I’m really going to say at this point is thank you Jesus that you use imperfect women and men. Amen?

If we can get past her profession for a moment… What really matters is this: Rahab welcomes the spies into her home, she hides them from the king and her people, and then sends the Israelites away to safety. But why? Why would she risk everything to protect foreign spies? Because at this point Rahab is risking everything… her home, her family, her life…

Let’s jump down to verse 8 and read to find out. Verses 8 - 21 says…

Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea[b] when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed.[c] 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.”

15 Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”

17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. 20 If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way.”

21 “I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window.

sidenote: whenever you see the english word LORD in all caps it is actually the word Yahweh in Hebrew which is the name God gives himself when he talks with Moses at the burning bush back in Exodus. 

Okay so let’s pause and dig into verses 9 and 11 because that is where Rahab makes one decision that changes her life forever. when she acknowledges the the LORD has given them the land and that the LORD you God is God in heaven above and on the earth below… This is a pivotal moment… because Rahab has acknowledged the God of Israel Yahweh to be the one true God…This is no small thing. Rahab is a Canaanite. Her culture worshipped hundreds of gods and goddesses. But in this moment, she has made the decision to follow Yahweh.

She doesn’t just change religions—she puts on a new identity.

And from this point forward… There’s no going back.

And maybe today, you’re standing at that same crossroad. Your past may not say "prostitute," but maybe it says addiction, or dysfunction… maybe your story has shame or regret attached to it… But I think Rahab reminds us today: that you can break away from your past. And move boldly into your future. Because God isn’t looking at the your label… he is looking at your potential and your heart. you can say YES to the LORD because he sees you differently… I feel like today God is inviting you to throw off the past… the labels… the titles… the lies and start walking in strength and courage. With you head up and your eyes on Jesus…  And What I love about Rahab’s faith that leaves the past behind is that it wasn’t just personal—it was powerful enough to change the circumstances for everyone around her. And we see that her faith begins to impact generations. This leads us to our second point which is that Rahab’s story shows us that: Faith Covers your household. Rahab’s story doesn’t end with her. It reached beyond her and covered her entire family…

2. Faith That Covers Your Household

Joshua 2:12–21; Joshua 6:22–25

 So, in verse, 13 we see that Rahab doesn’t just ask for her own rescue. She says, “my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

The spies agree and they tell her to: “Hang a scarlet cord in your window. Get your family inside. When we return, everyone in that house will be protected.”

Now this red cord wasn’t magic. It was a symbol. A sign of faith and trust. It’s a reminder of the Passover story in the book of Exodus And it foreshadows the blood of Jesus in the NewTestament, which saves all people who take refuge in Him.

And in Joshua chapter 6 when the walls of Jericho fall, Rahab’s house which chapter 2 told us was built into the town wall is by the grace and mercy of God… still standing.

And I love this part of the story because before the Israelite army even stepped foot into the ruins of Jericho God has already proven to Rahab he is the real deal and he is the only one by whom her salvation will come. And we see that her faith in the LORD saves her entire family. One woman’s faith covers her household for generations.

If you’ve ever questioned whether or not your choice to follow Jesus is worth it, know this… Your prayers, your obedience, your sacrifice—it covers your home. It blesses your children and your families. Your faith can stop the destruction and start the blessing. Even if your kids, or grandkids, or step kids aren’t perfect. Even if it feels like or looks like your family and your house are the crumbling walls of Jericho…

Never underestimate what God can do through one faithful person… one surrendered heart… one faithful man or woman who—stands in the gap on behalf of their families. And I feel like the Lord is saying be strong and courageous! For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Be bold in your prayers… be intentional.

Rahab reminds all of us: we have spiritual authority and influence. And through prayer and fasting You can cover: your friends, your nieces, your nephews. You can cover your neighbors, your coworkers, your spouses and siblings. It takes one faithful woman or man…

We are all called to be strong and courageous and lead in faith—to provide spiritual shelter and intercession in your home, at your job, and in your community. Rahab reminds us all—whether you're a single parent, a grandparent, a college, high school, or middle school student—that faith isn’t about your past; it’s about your faithful ‘yes’ to God right now…

Rahab was a woman who led her family to salvation and what she show’s us is that One person’s faith can impact generations and can change the atmosphere of an entire household.

And the truth is that God has plans and purposes for our lives… Rahab story doesn’t stop with protection over her family— She may not have ever seen it this side of heaven but we can see through the rest of the Scripture how God redeems her and her family to the fullest measure.. Rahab’s story teaches us that faith doesn’t just save you from something—it calls you into something. Into a new identity. Into a promised land and inheritance.

FAITH THAT STEPS INTO INHERITANCE

Matthew 1:5; James 2:25

If we continue to track Rahab’s story we see that After Jericho falls, Rahab doesn’t return to her past. She becomes part of God’s people. She marries a man named Salmon, and together they have a son named Boaz—and if we follow the family we learn in the book of Ruth that Boaz is the man who marries Ruth. And if we jump to Matthew 1:5 and read through the chunk of genealogy we usually skip we learn that Rahab was the Great Great great great grandma of King David… and the great great great great great great grandma of King Jesus… and if you are wondering no… I have no idea exactly how many greats she would have been in Jesus’s family tree because I don’t fully understand the lineage lingo but what i do know is that God changed her life in such a way that she goes from Rahab the prostitute to Rahab the strong and courageous grandmother of the Messiah. And this is encouraging because

God is not concerned with where you started. He is focused on what He can do with your surrendered heart.

By human standards, Rahab the prostitute, was imperfect and the epitome of what it means to be living in sin, but God knew her heart… he knew her worth and value. And he called her and pulled her up… so much so that even the Book of Hebrews sets her in what scholars call the Hall of Faith… and her name is there alongside other heroes of the Bible like Moses, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and David. 

Rahab is strong and courageous… Rahab

By faith walks away from her past.

By faith she covers and protects her whole household.

By faith she stepped into an inheritance she never imagined.

And by faith… so can you…

Your faith can impact generations…

I don’t know how you walked in here today… maybe you feel like you’ve made too many mistakes. Maybe your house is an utter disaster—not just literally (like mine), but emotionally, or spiritually.

But no matter how you walked in here today I hope you hear this:

God doesn’t need your perfection. He just wants you to be strong and courageous and in all things full of faith. Resting in the truth that his plans and purposes for your life and for the lives of your family are good.

Rahab made one decision—and it changed everything.

Her faith made an impact on generations to come 

Yours can too!