Rahab's Faith

Intro

Text - Joshua 2.1

Joshua 2:1 NKJV

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.

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Background

Rahab is known for 2 things -

in Jewish history, she was the heroine who helped in the conquest of Canaan by hiding the 2 spies that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

in Christ’s genealogy, she is 1 of the 4 women included in Christ’s ancestral history, whose reputations were “suspicious” at best

Ruth was a moabitess who s”seduced” Boaz

Tamar prostitued herself to her father in-law, Judah

Bathsheba had illicit relationship with king David before she became his wife

Rahab was a prostitute

The story -

Joshua sent 2 men to spy out the land of Canaan and Jericho.

The 2 spies went into the house of an harlot named Rahab.

Jericho is alarmed at the presence of the spies and went after them, but Rahab hid the 2 men on his rooftop.

Rahab confessed her faith to the 2 men -

Jericho’s response to Israels’s arrival

her faith in the God of Israel

Rahab sends away the 2 spies by a rope through the window

The 2 spies promised safety for her and her family on 2 conditions -

there must a scarlet rope on her window that the army can see

her family must inside the house at the time of the conquest

The main point

Genuine faith is not a self-centered belief in God, but a conviction that allows a person to work in harmony with God and His present work.

genuine faith acknowledges the work of God

genuine faith contributes to the work of God

genuine faith brings others into the fold

Rahab’s Faith in action

Rahab acknowledged God and His works

by hiding the 2 spies from the no less than the king of Jericho!

Joshua 2:2–6 NKJV

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.)

She confessed her faith

Joshua 2:9–11 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. 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.

Rahab became a believer of God by news from outside the city!

Jesus said - If you cannot believe me, believe the works…

John 10.37-38 “37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.””

work vindicates faith

James 2:25 NKJV

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

She asked for nothing but the safety of her and her family

Joshua 2:12–13 NKJV

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.”

Rahab listened to the instructions of the 2 spies

Joshua 2:17–21 NKJV

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.

Instruction #1 - bind this scarlet cord in the window

the scarlet cord marked her house on the city wall

while the army of Israel marched around the city, they saw the window of the house where a believer of God lives

the scarlet cord symbolized the blood of Christ

the walls of Jericho fell down flat (Joshua 6.20) but the part where Rahab’s house was built somehow did not fall!

Instruction #2 - bring in your loved ones into your house

Rahab must have testified her faith to her family

Rahab’s house of harlotry because of a house of faith!

Listen to your “spies”

these 2 men were the only “preachers” that Rahab ever met, and she listened to them!

that preachers are “spies” is not coincidental -

they know many things from God

they preach as if they know our lives!

they are observing the land to warn people of impending judgment from God

genuine faith respects the role of the “spies” in their lives

Conclusion

Rahab’s faith acted in harmony with what God is doing in her time - conquest of Canaan.

She did not resist - she acknowledged

She did not question - she obeyed

Rahab’s faith contributed to the progress of the work of God

the 2 spies were able to finish their work

Joshua receive the information he needed for his conquest

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