Josh (09-14-08)
Sept 14, 2008
“Faithful Rahab” Josh 2:15-24
As we found out last week Rahab / & all of Jericho .. heard of Israel’s God ( the God of Abraham / Isaac / Jacob ) & she not only believed / while other did not but then .. to solidify her faith she then .. acted upon her belief
( This is the same path to salvation today )
when we hear the Gospel of J.C. we must not only believe but we must also trust Christ so as to act .. according to His Will [1]
Before the two spies left Rahab’s house they made a covenant with her …
a covenant is an agreement / promise a contract / oath between two or more parties with certain conditions laid down for all parties to obey [2]
There are many covenants within God’s Word for instance .. God made covenants with
· Adam ( Gen 2 )
· Noah ( Gen 9 )
· Abraham ( Gen 12:1–3 & 15:1–20 )
· Israel ( Ex 19–20 ) [3]
· David ( 2 Sam 7 )
· Blood of J.C. ( Matt 26:28 & Heb 12:24 )
You also find .. human covenants such as the agreement between
· David & Jonathan ( 1 Sam 18:3 & 20:16 )
· David & Israel ( 2 Sam 5:1–5 ) [4]
And this promise / covenant / oath with Rahab & the spies .. was just as binding as they swear / make an oath with her v17-20
& she acts upon their promise to her in v21 by keeping her end of the covenant / oath ( she tied the scarlet cord to her window )
Often in biblical covenants ( apart from the blood of an animal ) God gave some “symbol” to remind the people of what had been promised
· With Israel / it was blood on the doorposts
( Ex 12 )
· With Abraham / circumcision ( Gen 17:9–14 & Rom 4:11 )
· with Noah / the rainbow ( Gen 9:12–17 )
· with J.C. / the bread & wine symbolized His body & blood shed for them / us ( Luke 22:19–20 & 1 Cor 11:23–26 )
So here .. in the case of Rahab the spies said .. hang a scarlet cord out of the window of your house & have all stay within the home for their safety [5]
Perhaps the color of the cord is significant because scarlet reminds us of .. blood …
Just as the blood on the doorposts in Egypt marked a house that .. the angel of death was also .. to pass over … & so v19 the spies promise .. to pass over Rahab’s home .. & spare her family as well [6]
( Please hear this now )
this is important to note …
Rahab & her family were saved all right
( but think with me .. saved by what )
not by .. faith in the scarlet cord but .. saved by faith .. in the God of Israel
Why is that so important for us to consider
You see .. hanging the cord from the window showed us her faith …
just as the blood of the slain lamb put on the doorposts in Egypt proved that the Jews believed God’s Word
Faith in the Living God / & His Word gives us salvation & faith in His covenant / promises gives us .. the assurance of our faith
but faith in the symbol of the covenant becomes religious superstition & can give neither salvation nor assurance ( let me explain ) [7]
The Jews depended on circumcision to save them .. it was the symbol of their faith but they ignored the true spiritual meaning of that important rite
Paul teaches us so in Rom 2:25-29
v25 for indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law .. but if you are a transgressor of the Law / if you’re a sinner .. then your circumcision has become .. uncircumcision
v26 so if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision
v27 & he who is physically uncircumcised if he keeps the Law .. will he not judge you who tho having the letter of the Law & circumcision .. are a transgressor of the Law
v28 for he is not a Jew .. who is one outwardly nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh
( wow .. that is key .. listen to v29 )
v29 but he is a Jew .. who is one .. inwardly & circumcision is that which is .. of the heart by the Spirit .. not by the letter & his praise is not from men .. but from God
( God honors our faith / trust in Him )
Deut 10:12 & v16
v12 now Israel what does the Lord your God require from you
( this is a great question .. we ought to take note )
( we’re required to ) .. fear the Lord your God to walk in all His ways & love Him & to serve the Lord your God ( how much ) .. with all your heart & all your soul
v16 ( therefore God says ) .. circumcise your heart & stiffen your neck .. no longer
Many people depend upon their salvation thru baptism or church or communion … but this kind of faith .. is worthless its not what we do .. but who He is that saves us
Rahab placed her faith in the Lord & in the covenant promises He had made thru His servants .. & she proved her faith by hanging the scarlet rope from the window [8]
When the Jews captured Jericho they found Rahab & her family in her house & they rescued them from the judgment ( Josh 6:21–25 ) [9]
21) they utterly destroyed everything in the city both man & woman .. young & old & ox & sheep & donkey with the edge of the sword
22) listen now .. Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land go into the harlot’s house & bring the woman & all she has out of there as you have sworn to her / their covenant / promise
23) so the young men who were spies went in & brought out Rahab & her father & her mother & her brothers & all she had they also brought out all her relatives & placed them outside the camp of Israel
24) they burned the city with fire & all that was in it only the silver & gold & articles of bronze & iron they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord
25) however .. Rahab the harlot & her father’s household & all she had Joshua spared .. & she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho
You see .. Rahab not only brought hope to Israel but she also gave great hope to her family [10]
You see .. the spies report to Joshua is entirely different from the spies who went into the land some 40 years ago … it is not a question of whether or not they will go into the land ( they are going in .. because Rahab reported )
“all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you” v9 [11]
( Here is a sad commentary of Jericho ) like the people of Egypt … if the king / or the people of Jericho had turned to God they too could have been spared if they had .. just believed in God [12]
Verses:
Adam ( Gen 2 )
Noah ( Gen 9 )
Abraham ( Gen 12:1–3 & 15:1–20 )
Israel ( Ex 19–20 )
David ( 2 Sam 7 )
Blood of J.C. ( Matt 26:28 & Heb 12:24 )
David & Jonathan ( 1 Sam 18:3 & 20:16 )
David & Israel ( 2 Sam 5:1–5 )
Rom 2:25-29
Deut 10:12 & 16
Josh 6:21-25
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[1]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[2]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1993). Be strong (Jos 2:15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[12]McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary. Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic ed.) (2:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.