Amazing Faith
Notes
Transcript
Series: Joshua, Judges, Ruth
Title – Amazing Faith
Verses – Joshua 2:1-24
Subject – Faith
Central Theme – Genuine Faith
Objective Statement – Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
1. Rahab had faith in the midst of her imperfections (1-7)
2. Rahab had faith in the midst of fear (8-14)
3. Rahab had Faith that led to obedience (15-21)
4. Rahab had Faith while she was waiting (22-24)
The Bible demonstrates that God often uses flawed, unlikely people to accomplish His will. Abraham and Sarah laughed when God told them they would have a son in their old age. David came from humble beginnings, committed serious sin, yet God established an eternal covenant with him. Paul had persecuted believers before his conversion. Rahab — a Canaanite prostitute living in Jericho — is another unlikely person God chose to use.
Rahab was not who you would expect God to use. She was a Canaanite woman, a prostitute, living inside the walls of the very city Israel was sent to destroy. Yet she became one of Scripture’s most commended examples of faith. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s pattern is to work through unlikely people. The Bible is full of them: men and women who were broken, afraid, compromised, or overlooked. Yet God moved through them all. He still does.
As you prepare to lead this session, spend time reflecting on your own story. Think about times you have fallen short of what God called you to be, and then think about times when He used you anyway. Let those memories shape the way you lead your group. Pray that God will give you wisdom and humility as you open Rahab’s life before the adults in your study. Ask Him to show you and your group where He wants to use imperfect people — including each of you — right now.
Why does God so often use unlikely, imperfect people to accomplish His purposes?
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT (JOSHUA 2:1-24)
The time had arrived for the Israelites to enter the promised land. Moses had died, and the Lord had prepared Joshua to lead the people into Canaan. He had promised to be with Joshua just as He had been with Moses (Josh. 1:5). He had repeatedly charged Joshua to be strong and courageous. This new leader’s role as military commander would demand both.
With a name that means “Yahweh delivered” or “Yahweh is salvation,” Joshua would serve as God’s human instrument to give His people the land of Canaan. Following the leadership of his Divine Commander, Joshua had instructed the Israelites to prepare to cross the Jordan River. The people had encouraged their new leader to “be strong and of a good courage” (1:18).
To take the promised land, Joshua initiated a strategy of divide and conquer. His plan began with a central campaign focused on Jericho, a fortified stronghold at a strategic location between the Jordan River and the nearby hill country. An oasis in the surrounding wilderness, Jericho was known for its date palms.
Before leading the people across the Jordan, Joshua sent two spies to scout out Jericho and the surrounding area. Pursued by the king’s men, the spies took refuge in the house of a woman named Rahab (2:1-2).
Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
1. Rahab had faith in the midst of her imperfections (1-7)
1. Rahab had faith in the midst of her imperfections (1-7)
1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
(vv. 1-3) Rahab was not only a Canaanite — she was a prostitute. The king of Jericho received a report that Israelite spies had entered her home. He immediately sent a command for her to hand them over. But Rahab had already hidden the men. Her actions came before any negotiation.
The text does not suggest any immoral reason the spies came to her house. Her home likely served as a kind of public inn or gathering place, which made it a natural location for strangers to blend in and gather information. The spies were not there for sin — they were there for strategy.
4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
(vv. 4-5) Rahab told the king’s men that the spies had already gone out just before the city gate closed at dark. Her statement was false. She directed them toward the Jordan River, sending them away from the men she had hidden. Scripture does not justify her lie any more than it justifies her profession. What it commends is her faith.
6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
(v. 6) Rather than leaving the city, the spies were hidden on the roof beneath stalks of flax. Flat rooftops in that region were used for drying grain and linen fibers. The drying flax would have been a common sight on any roof — an effective and natural hiding place.
7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
(v. 7) The king’s agents believed Rahab and set out toward the fords of the Jordan. As soon as they left, the city gate was shut. Rahab had successfully misdirected the pursuit.
Application Point:
Following God often requires leaving one’s comfort zone and stepping out in faith.
Following God often requires leaving one’s comfort zone and stepping out in faith.
Read: As a volunteer reads Joshua 2:1-7, ask the group to listen for evidence of Rahab’s courage.
Discuss: In what ways did Rahab demonstrate boldness in these verses? What risks was she taking?
Ask: What is the relationship between boldness and faith?
Say: The spies were not there for immoral purposes. Her home would have been similar to a tavern or inn, a place where people of the town gathered. It was a natural place for travelers to go unnoticed and gather information about the city.
Pray: Affirm that Rahab stepped out of her comfort zone to help the Israelite spies. Invite volunteers to share an area in their own lives where they need courage to step out in faith. Close that part of the session in prayer.
Transition: Scripture does not justify Rahab’s lying any more than it justifies her life as a prostitute. However, in His sovereignty, the Lord could protect the spies any way He chose — and He chose to use Rahab. What Scripture commends is not her deception but her faith.
Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
2. Rahab had faith in the midst of fear (8-14)
2. Rahab had faith in the midst of fear (8-14)
8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
(vv. 8-9) Before the spies fell asleep, Rahab went up to them on the roof. Her opening words reveal the foundation of her faith: I know that the LORD hath given you the land. She did not say “I believe it might happen.” She spoke in the certainty of the past tense. What God had said was, in her mind, already done.
Every citizen of Jericho was afraid. That was not unique to Rahab. What was unique was what she did with that fear. The other inhabitants were paralyzed. Rahab was moved toward faith.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
(v. 10) Rahab cited two specific acts of God as the foundation of her conviction: the crossing of the Red Sea and the defeat of Sihon and Og, two Amorite kings east of the Jordan (see Num. 21:21-35). These were not private stories — they had spread. Rahab had heard them, and she believed them.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
(v. 11) The phrase our hearts did meltdescribes the collapse of morale — a loss of the will to resist. But the pinnacle of verse 11 is Rahab’s confession: the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Coming from the lips of a Canaanite woman, this is an extraordinary declaration. She affirmed God’s reign over all creation. She implicitly rejected the gods of her own people. She had altered her entire worldview based on what she had heard and believed.
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
(vv. 12-13) Having shown the spies kindness, Rahab asked for kindness in return. The Hebrew word here is hesed— a word loaded with covenant meaning. It refers to steadfast, loyal, faithful love. Rahab was not simply negotiating. She was invoking the character of the God she was coming to trust. She requested that her father, mother, brothers, and sisters — her whole household — be spared.
Application Point:
We can be encouraged that God’s acts will always demonstrate His character.
We can be encouraged that God’s acts will always demonstrate His character.
Discuss: Contrast Rahab’s reaction to God’s works with the other residents of the land. What made her different? What does her confession in verse 11 tell us about how genuine faith works?
Share: Rahab knew about the way God had parted the Red Sea decades before she was born. She knew about Israel’s more recent victories over Sihon and Og. As a result, she embraced Israel’s God as the one, true God. The same reports that filled her neighbors with despair filled her with faith.
Ask: How should what we believe about God impact the way we treat others?
Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
3. Rahab had Faith that led to obedience (15-21)
3. Rahab had Faith that led to obedience (15-21)
15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
(v. 15) Rahab helped the spies escape by lowering them by a cord through the window. Her house was built into the city wall — possibly in a casemate structure where chambers between double walls served as living spaces. The arrangement gave her direct access to the outside of the city. This is an important detail: Rahab’s obedience cost her something. She was actively aiding the people who were coming to destroy Jericho.
16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
(v. 16) Rahab instructed the spies to hide in the mountain — the hill country to the west of Jericho, opposite the direction the king’s men had gone. She told them to remain there three days until the search was abandoned. She was thinking ahead, protecting them with both action and counsel.
17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. 20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
(vv. 17-20) Before leaving, the spies laid out the conditions of their oath. Rahab must: (1) keep silent about their mission, (2) tie the scarlet thread in the window through which she lowered them, and (3) bring her entire household into her home when the conquest began. Violation of any of these conditions would release the spies from their oath. The scarlet thread would identify her household to the Israelite army as one to be spared.
Some have seen a connection between the scarlet thread and the blood applied to doorposts at the Passover in Egypt — both serving as visible signs that marked households for deliverance from judgment. While Scripture does not state this typological connection explicitly, the parallel is striking. Both require faith expressed in visible, obedient action.
21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
(v. 21) Rahab’s response was immediate: According unto your words, so be it. And she bound the scarlet line in the windowat once — before the conquest, before the army arrived, before there was any visible reason to do so. This is faith in action. She did not wait to see if it would be needed. She obeyed.
Application Point:
Relying on God’s grace leads to security, even in difficult times.
Relying on God’s grace leads to security, even in difficult times.
Ask: Why does genuine faith in God always lead to obedient action?
Transition: Rahab and the spies had come to trust one another. What’s more, they trusted God, and committed to protect one another in a way that would honor Him.
Every person can understand the nature of genuine faith by observing 4 ways Rahab exhibited her faith.
4. Rahab had Faith while she was waiting (22-24)
4. Rahab had Faith while she was waiting (22-24)
22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
(v. 22) The spies followed Rahab’s instructions. They hid in the hill country for three days while the king’s agents searched for them. The pursuers came up empty and eventually returned to Jericho. Throughout this time, Rahab was inside her house, waiting, with the scarlet thread already in the window. She was trusting a promise she had no way to verify yet.
23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
(vv. 23-24) The spies returned to Joshua and delivered their report: Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land. The conquest had not yet begun, but the outcome was already certain. God had gone before Israel. Rahab had believed this before the spies ever confirmed it. Her faith preceded the evidence.
Hebrews 11:31 includes Rahab in the great catalogue of faith:
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
She is not remembered for her profession. She is not remembered for her lie. She is remembered for her faith — a faith that acted, that waited, and that held.
Application Point:
We can be assured of God’s work in our lives by regularly reflecting on what He has done in the past.
We can be assured of God’s work in our lives by regularly reflecting on what He has done in the past.
Ask: What are some signs or evidences in your own life that remind you of God’s grace?
Share: Emphasize that believers can trust God to work in their lives as they walk in faith before Him. Note that God used Rahab — an imperfect person from outside the covenant community — to accomplish His purposes for His people. Affirm that He still uses imperfect people today, including the men and women in this room.
Group Activity Option
Object Lesson: Signs
Before class, prepare a short piece of red cord or ribbon for each adult. During the session, discuss the significance of the scarlet thread in Joshua 2. Ask: What was Rahab required to do with this cord? What did it represent? Ask: How can this cord serve as a reminder this week that God keeps His promises and extends grace to those who trust Him? Encourage adults to use the cord as a bookmark in their Bibles.
CHALLENGE
Summarize: Review the four application points from the session:
Following God often requires leaving one’s comfort zone and stepping out in faith.
We can be encouraged that God’s acts will always demonstrate His character.
Relying on God’s grace leads to security, even in difficult times.
We can be assured of God’s work in our lives by regularly reflecting on what He has done in the past.
Discuss: Guide the group to discuss how both Rahab and the spies encouraged one another to trust in God. Ask adults to consider: who in their lives needs that kind of encouragement right now? Why is it important to pursue God’s grace together rather than alone?
Challenge: This week, share an example of God’s grace in your life with at least two people. It does not have to be a dramatic story. Just tell someone what God has done.
Pray: Close in prayer, thanking God for His faithfulness to work in and through imperfect people. Thank Him for the grace we have received because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sin.
AFTER THE SESSION
During the week, send the group a text or message with the memory verse, Hebrews 11:31. Lead them to consider how they are stepping out in faith or displaying genuine faith in God this week. Encourage them to share any opportunities they had to tell someone about God’s grace in their lives.
KEY DOCTRINE: Grace
Only the grace of God can bring any person into His holy fellowship and enable him to fulfill the creative purpose of God. (See 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Titus 2:11-14.)
BIBLE SKILL:
Focus on a key word to gain a better understanding of a biblical text.
Look up the word “kindness” (Hebrew
Look up the word “kindness” (Hebrew hesed) in a Bible dictionary (Josh. 2:12). What special significance does this term have in the Old Testament? Read Exodus 15:13 and 2 Samuel 16:17 where the term is used. How did Rahab show loyalty to the spies? How did the spies demonstrate loyalty to her?
