Be Strong and Couragous (2)
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The Faith of Rahab
The Faith of Rahab
1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”
6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)
7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,
18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.
19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”
21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them.
23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”
Intro: This study on the life of Joshua. But today we will look at the faith of Rahab. She is a big part of what would happen though the leadership of Joshua.
In a few weeks we will study the fall of Jericho.
Rahab was a very unexpected person to help the Israelites.
She was a prostitute. She was a Gentile. Amorite.
She had a lot going against her. But, as we will see, she had faith in God. She didn’t know the law, she didn’t know all the do’s and don’ts, but had heard about the God of Israel.
Her house was on the wall of the city, she could see people coming and going. And since she was a prostitute, she had a lot of men in her home and heard a lot of stories. Some of them about the Israelites and what God had done. This is where her faith came from.
She is one of the three women mentioned in Heb 11 (Hall of faith) Sara, and Moses mother.
James mentions Rahab
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
Rahab had courageous faith. VS 1-7
Rahab had courageous faith. VS 1-7
1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”
6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)
7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Joshua sends 2 spies on a recon mission. Not 12. 2 men he trusted. Men who could get the job done.
VS 1
“View the land, especially Jericho.”
So they come to Jericho, and they come to the house of Rahab, (the prostitute)
Why did they go the the home of a prostitute? Men went there all the time. It would just look normal.
God had a plan. He was going to save Rahab.
She would later join the Israelites. She would marry a man named Salmon. They would have a son named Boaz.
Boaz would marry Ruth. Their son, Obed, his son Jessie, his son David. Years later Jesus.
God always has a plan. It may seem strange to us.
“Lodged there”
But someone sees them go into her house. Maybe the King, (cites had Kings) was keeping a close eye on things since the Israelites were close by.
VS 2-3 READ AND ELAB
Maybe they were on guard duty.
They report to the King.
The King gives them orders.
4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”
6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.)
7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Rahab lied:
Was it okay? She lied to save lives.
During WW 2. Some Germans that hid Jews in their homes.
So is their a time when you can lie and still be in Gods will? I believe so.
God says do not kill (murder) David killed Goliath.
So she says she know where they were, but she had hid them.
She was a Prostitute, she was a lier. She was a sinner that needed to be saved.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Joshua sent the spy’s into the land to check out the land.
God sent them to save Rahab.
God sent someone to you so you would be saved.
God wants to send you to someone so God will save them.
Now, if they would have found these men on Rahab’s roof she would have been killed. So she had courageous faith.
What are you willing to do for your faith?
Can others see your faith?
Rahab confessed her faith. VS 8-11
Rahab confessed her faith. VS 8-11
8 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Rahabs faith was in God.
People put their faith in many things.
Money.
Job.
Government
Their selves. (Being a good person)
Our faith has to be in God. When you put your faith in God. All things are possible.
Look at Rahabs faith.
She believed Gods promises.
Joshua 2:9 (NKJV)
9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
She believed in Gods power
Joshua 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
She believed God was their God.
Joshua 2:11 (NKJV)
11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
She believed in the presence of God.
Joshua 2:11 (NKJV)
11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
God is everywhere.
He is with you where ever you go.
If Rahab was a pagan from Jericho, how did she hear about God.
Joshua 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
Maybe some of the men who had been in her home.
Elab on the stories that were told. (The Red Sea)
Destroyed great Armies.
Now they are coming this way.
She had faith in God because of what they had heard.
What was heard caused fear.
9 and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
Hearing about what God had done brought fear.
Fear mixed with faith brought Rahab to believe in God.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rahab had a concerned faith. VS 12-14
Rahab had a concerned faith. VS 12-14
12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,
13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
Her faith gave Rahab a concern for her family.
She says to them. Since I have shown you kindness, you show some to me. Not only me, but all my family.
She didn’t want to die when Jericho was destroyed.
Real faith in God gives you a love for others.
We can’t have the attitude, well I’m saves, I’m going to heaven and not care about others being saves and going to heaven.
Our salvation should be so great to us that we want to tell others.
The woman at the well.
28 The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men,
29 “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
The man of Gadara
38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
Rahabs faith gave her a concern for her family.
Rahabs faithful covenant. VS 18-24
Rahabs faithful covenant. VS 18-24
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear,
18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.
19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”
21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them.
23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”
VS 15
Elab the walls and the houses.
She lets them down with a RED ROPE
VS 16-24
Rahab and the spies made an agreement.
Hang this robe outside of your window. This would be the mark of her faith.
The walls would come down, but Rahab and her family would be saved.
This scarlet cord (rope) is a symbol of the blood of Jesus .
Elab of the death of Jesus and His blood shed for all who act out in faith and believe in Jesus.
25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
“This day” the time the book of Josua was written.
She was saved by faith, not of her works. But her work were shown by her faith.
God saves those who have faith in Him.
5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,
6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.
Her name is know because of her faith.
23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”