Josh (09-07-08)
Sept 7, 2008
“A Woman of Faith” Josh 2:1-14
Today we shall come upon a woman who made .. a huge impact upon the Nation of Israel … her name is Rahab ( who happens to be a Gentile ) & when one hears her name they usually add to it .. 2 other words ( do you know what they are ) … “the harlot”
& yet .. only 2 women are honored in Heb 11 what is commonly called / God’s hall of faith ( & they are )
1) Sarah .. the wife of Abraham ( v11 )
2) Rahab .. the harlot of Jericho ( v31 ) [1]
Sarah .. was the wife of Abraham who is the founder of the Hebrew race ( & she gave birth to Isaac )
while .. Rahab .. was a Gentile harlot who worshiped pagan gods ( & sold her body for money )
From a human point of view Sarah & Rahab have nothing in common … but from divine viewpoint .. Sarah & Rahab shared the most important thing in life
( & that is )
they both had exercised saving faith in the One true & living God [2]
( Listen to this ) .. not only does the Bible associate Rahab with Sarah
But in James 2:21–26
the Bible also associates her with Abraham
James used .. both Abraham & Rahab to illustrate the fact .. that humanly speaking true saving faith .. should always be proved by seeing .. ones good works ( James 2:21-26 ) [3]
v21 was not Abraham our father justified by works .. when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar
v22 you see that faith was working with his works & as a result of the works .. faith was perfected
v23 & the Scripture was fulfilled which says & Abraham believed God & it was reckoned to him as righteousness & he was called the friend of God
v24 you see .. that a man is justified by works & not by faith alone
v25 in the same way .. was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works .. when she received the messengers & sent them out by another way
v26 for just as the body without the spirit is dead so also faith without works is dead
I was taught long ago that the Bible uses the words .. “you see” ( v22 & v24 )
so that .. we can see .. a person’s good works so that .. we can see .. their true salvation …
but not so with God .. because He sees our hearts .. & all He needs to see is that J.C. .. is in us …
but .. for us to see true salvation we need to see .. “the fruit” “fruit” .. that true salvation brings out of us
when we see fruit / deeds it reveals ones heart
But there is more … the Bible not only associates Rahab with Sarah & Abraham …
But it also places her in the company of our Lord & Savior .. J.C.
When we read the genealogy of J.C. in ( Matt 1:5 ) we find Rahab’s name along with other famous O.T. saints who form the Messianic line
Matt 1:1 & v5
v1 the record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham
v5 Salmon was the father of Boaz .. by Rahab Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth & Obed the father of Jesse
Rahab has certainly come a long way from being .. “a Gentile pagan prostitute” to being .. in the line of the Messiah / J.C.
but we shouldn’t be surprised because we are told in Rom 5:20 [4]
“… where sin increases / abounds grace / God’s favor .. abounded all the more”
You see .. regardless of her lifestyle the most important thing about Rahab was her … life changing faith
That is .. the most important thing about any one of us .. our faith ( Heb 11:1-6 )
Heb 11:1-6 states about faith
1) now faith .. is the assurance of things hoped for its .. the conviction of things not seen
2) for by it / faith .. men of old gained approval
3) by faith .. we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible
4) by faith .. Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, thru which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous God testifying about his gifts & thru faith tho he is dead .. he still speaks
5) by faith .. Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death & he was not found because God took him up .. for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God
6) & without faith .. it is impossible to please Him
( & without faith .. it is impossible to please Him )
for he who comes to God must believe that He is & that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him
( for without faith it is impossible to please God have you placed your faith in Him )
We’ll see that Rahab had put her faith in God long before the spies ever arrived in Jericho
She was like the people in 1 Thes 1:9
who had “… turned to God from idols to serve the living & true God”
& she was nothing like the people of Samaria who is said in 2 Kings 17:33 that they
“… feared the Lord / but at the same time they .. served their own gods …”
You see .. in reality .. a person cannot truly serve 2 different interests
Because Matt 6:24 tells us this plainly
no one can serve 2 masters / because for either he will hate the one & love the other or he will be devoted to one & despise the other you cannot serve God & wealth
( or .. a person cannot serve 2 different interests / masters )
v1-8 she told the king .. an outright lie to protect these men .. ( & in doing so ) she actually jeopardized her own life
Now why would she put her life on the line ( you know ) .. she didn’t have to why did she lie to her own people & protect their enemy [5]
Before we see the answer to that question let me raise another question … ( is it possible to condone Rahab’s action )
We all know that scripture is very clear on the fact that we .. as children of God are to obey authority & those who rule over us
As we can read .. Rahab certainly did not do that … so .. what should we surmise from this is there an explanation that we ought to consider
True .. a believer should certainly obey the authorities & those who have rule over us
In reality .. a Christian should be the most law-abiding citizen in the land
But .. when the laws of the land conflict with God’s revealed Will then the Christian has no choice but to obey .. the command of God
This was the experience of Peter & John when the Sanhedrin .. tried to silence them in their witness for Christ .. remember [6]
Acts 4:16-20
v16 they said .. what shall we do with these men ( the apostles ) .. for the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place thru them .. is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem .. & we cannot deny it
v17 but so that it will not spread any further among the people .. let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this Name ( in the Name of Christ )
v18 & when they had summoned them they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus
v19 but Peter & John answered & said to them whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God you be the judge
v20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen & heard
You see .. always 1st .. we are to obey the Word of God .. rather than the word of man ( that should be our attitude as children of God )
Now .. let Rahab answer the 1st question of why she lied to protect the enemy v8-13 [7]
8) now before they lay down / the 2 spies she came up to them on the roof
9) & said to the men .. I know .. that the Lord has given you the land & that the terror of you has fallen on us & that all the inhabitants of the land have melted 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 & what you did .. to the 2 kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to Sihon & Og .. whom you utterly destroyed
How long ago was it that God dried up / parted the Red Sea … ( it was about 40 yrs ago )
In fact for generations / over 420 yrs God was giving the people of Canaan ( really the world ) ample time to decide whether or not they would turn to Him / as Rahab did
The true question is … how many years will it take you to believe … ( & for those of us who do believe ) … how long .. after we believe will we finally give our hearts fully to God
God is patient / slow to anger / merciful how much longer do you want Him to give us He has been giving the world / us ample opportunity to turn to His Son / J.C.
v11 Rahab head / believed / knew that their God was .. the One true God ( listen to Rahab’s testimony )
when we heard it .. God drying up the Red Sea our hearts melted & no courage remained in any man any longer because of you for the Lord your God He is God in heaven above & on earth beneath
& yet .. not everyone turned to God
There are all kinds of people today who know as a historical fact that J.C. died / buried / rose from dead but they are not saved … why because they won’t believe
v12-13 Rahab not only believed but she is acting on her belief … this is her reason for putting her life in jeopardy to protect enemy spies
She heard / believed / acted upon her belief .. ultimately … to save herself & her family v12-13
So this woman trusted the fact that God was going to give Israel the land
& turned to the living & true God Heb 11:31
by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient after she had welcomed the spies in peace
v14 so the spies promise to spare Rahab & her family / for saving them
so the men said to her .. our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly & faithfully with you
Verses:
Heb 11:11 & 31
James 2:21-26
Matt 1:1 & 5
Rom 5:20
Heb 11:1-6
1 Thes 1:9
2 King 17:33
Matt 6:24
Acts 4:16-20
Heb 11:31
----
[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:6-7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[6]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[7]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.