Rahab - Faith to Risk All

Introduction

So far in this series, we’ve examined:

John the Baptist

Abel

Noah - A Saving Faith

Abraham - An Obedient Faith

Moses - A Sacrificial Faith

Tonight we’re going to look at an interesting addition to the list. She’s the second woman mentioned, but there’s a greater difference between her and those surrounding her.

She’s not a Jew

For a book penned down by Jews, in a book directed toward the Jews, her not being a Jew yet being praised for her faith is significant.

Tonight we’re going to look at Rahab - a Faith to Risk All

In order to understand this, we want to go back and read some of the account of Rahab in Jos. 2.

(Tell the story:)

They escaped from Egypt

They wandered for 40 years

but now God is bringing them into the land of promise.

Joshua send 2 spies into the land and when they enter, this happens: (Read Jos. 2:1-21)

The first thing we see is Her Poverty

I. Her Poverty

A Social Outcast

Consider for a moment how a harlot would be treated by society.

Rahab was certainly not the belle of the ball.

She was not invited to all the dinner parties

She was somebody many would not thin twice about.

She was on the fringe of society if you will.

A Contemptible Soul

Contemptuous (def) worthy of contempt; one that deserves scorn or distain

Now I'm not saying that that's the way she should have been looked at but that's the way she would have been looked at.

This is a woman who sold her body for money. Mainstream society wouldn’t have just looked at her as invisible, but she’s the type of person people would shake their heads at.

So when you consider her life, it’s important to remember who this woman was. Why? Because God used this woman in a mighty way!

And if God can you a woman like that, God can use you!

We see her Poverty

Her Poverty

II. Her Position

Next it’s important to understand where she was.

In a War

Whether most realized it or not, Jericho was in a war. It was ever looming.

Rahab understood this: Joshua 2:10–11 “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. 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.”

Ask yourself this: Would Rahab reacted the same way if she didn’t know this?

Remember Rahab was risking everything that she had in diverting the soldiers, the king's men, and rescuing the spies. Would she have risked it if she didn't acknowledge what was going on?

Ask that question because the truth of the matter is we're in a war. Christians in America are in a war - and most know it not.

We’re in a war for the hearts and minds of our children & children’s childen.

We’re in a war for the soul and future of America

We’re in the midst of a cosmic battle between God and the forces of evil

Paul understood this and tried to admonish the church:

Ephesians 6:10–13 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Then speaks of the armour of the LORD)

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2 Timothy 2:3–4 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Peter said: 1 Peter 5:8–9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Do you think that you’d act differently if you truly understood that your feet were walking through a battlefield instead of the isles of Walmart? Or the halls of your school or office?

She was in a War

On a Wall

Rahab’s house positioned on the wall is significant for a few reasons - obviously that she could let down the spied from the window & have the scarlet thread hanging thereof. But it would also have been convenient for travelers and such coming into the city.

Because of her location, the spies had access to come by & enjoy the favor that Rahab showed them.

Which leads us to the truth that because of her location it put her into a position to make a difference.

Now she might have thought that she was in a position to better her life, to get more clients, or for whatever you might think - but the truth was, she was in a position to help the cause of God.

Church, no matter what your position in life - you may think that you’re there for your benefit or because you have to - but church you might just be there to be used of God in a great way!

Consider Esther: She’d ascended to the throne of the Kingdom, then her uncle came to her and said: Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

He said: “Hey, God may have put you there for this very purpose!” and we know by hindsight that’s exactly what was the case!

She was on the Wall

Willing

This is what's important. She was willing.

Church, you might be in the midst of a battlefield.

You might have just the right position to take down the enemy.

But if you're not willing to take the shot, none of that matters.

(Ill.) Imagine standing on a beach shore one day. You loose track of your child for a few moments. Next thing you know you hear screaming from the water - it’s your child, and they’re drowning. You try to get to them in time, but you can’t and they perish. When back on the shore you spot a lifeguard perched up on his stand. Turns out, he saw your child - he was in position to help and had the ability - yet did nothing! How would you feel?

What do you think God thinks of us “lifeguards” when He sees souls perishing all around us while we do nothing?

She was willing

Her Poverty, Her Position

III. Her Persuasion

Why did Rahab act? She was Persuaded. She had faith!

When speaking of Abraham, and his faith, Paul said Abraham was “fully pursuaded”.

Romans 4:19–21 “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

Rahab believed the LORD

She Believed in the LORD

Again church, it all goes back to faith.

Because she believed…

She Interceded

As we’ve already spoken of: She was willing to step in the gap - but it bears mentioning that the reason she did it was because she believed God!

TRUE FAITH CAUSES YOU TO ACT! A LACK OF FAITH IS THE REASON SO FEW DO!

But she interceded - she put her life on the line because she believed God.

She Implored

As mentioned, she didn’t have to lead the soldiers astray. But she did because of her faith.

Btw, God did not commend her for lying - He commended her faith. God can recognize one aspect of our lives without approving all of it. There’s a difference between recording what happened and approving it. She Implored the soldiers and risked her life because of her Faith

She Implored

She Instructed

The Spies Her Family

We noticed that she not only hid them but she was wise enough to give them instructions to hide out for three days before they went back, keeping them out of further trouble.

Then afterwards, she instructed her family to keep them from destruction as well.

She had Faith in instruct the spies and her family - strangers & kinfolk.

She Instructed

Her Poverty, Her Position; Her Persuasion

IV. Her Posterity

What was her end? What happened to Rahab?

God Rewarded her Faith

The COI would soon after come upon Jericho & march around the walls and after 7 days, the walls fell down flat. But there was at least one section that stood for a time:

Joshua 6:17 “And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.”

God rewarded her faith in Him, but not only that…

God Rescued her Family

Joshua 6:22–23 “But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.”

God used her to spare her entire family! What a blessing!

God rescued her family

God Remembered Her Feats

All those high society people who would have looked down their noses on Rahab have all been forgotten but God made sure to remember this woman - and her great faith!

She’s in the same conversation with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses… Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

God Remembered - and caused us to as well. What a legacy you can have when you have faith.

Remember - she was a nobody, the scourge of society - but not to God! God used her, and He can use you as well!

God remembered her feats

Conclusion