Rahab

Rahab the harlot as she has been deemed through out the Word to identify this faith-filled woman who loved God. The name Rahab means insolent and fierce, the Ra part of her name comes from the Egyptian god Ra. Besides the fact that her name was of negative term the Bible also reports that she was a harlot.

Rahabs story begins in Joshua chapter 2. Rahab's future in her homeland of Jericho was quiet dark. There had been rumors that the Israeli army was going to take over and acquire possession of Jericho.

Joshua 2:1 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. 2:2 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." 2:3 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."

The providence of God directed the spies to the house of Rahab. God knew where there was one that would be true to them, though they did not. Rahab appears to have been as well an innkeeper. It was by faith that Rahab received the spies with peace, against whom her king and country had war. Such a faith has set her above the fear of man. Those only are true believers, who find in their hearts to venture for God; they take his people for their people. And this is exactly what Rahab did. The spies were led of God, and Rahab entertained them out of regard to Israel and Israel's God, and not for gain or for any evil purpose.

Joshua 2:4 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. 2:5 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." 2:6 (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.) 2:7 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.

There have been commentaries that have said that Rahabs action were not Godly, she lied, she deceived the guards etc, etc. And indeed she did but Rahab had heard of and learned to love the God of Israel. Rahab had heard of the miracles the Lord brought forth for Israel. She believed that his promises would certainly be fulfilled, and his threatens were not idle; and that there was no way of escape but by submitting to him, and joining with his people. The conduct of Rahab proved that she had the real principle of Divine faith.

Joshua 2:8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 2:9 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. 2:10 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. 2:11 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.

PONDER THIS:
Every church and ministry has a statement of faith. As well every woman of God should have a statement of faith. Know what you believe in and why you believe it. Let's look at Rahab's statement of faith. Rahab spoke to the two spies and gave her statement of faith.
SHE SAID: I know that the Lord has given you the land. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
THEREFORE: She knew God and acknowledge His plan. She had learned of and believed the almighty power of God. She recognized the one true God.
Rahab in her statement, clearly reveals her knowledge of God, His plan and His desires for His chosen people. Ladies what does your statement say. Sit down and think about or even write what your statement of faith reads. Ask yourself if others can see your statement through your life example.

Our story of Rahab does not end here it continues on to say so much more.
Joshua 2:12 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, 2:13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." 2:14 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." 2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 2:16 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." 2:17 So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 2:18 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.

Through her faith in the God of Israel Rahab bold-fully asks for mercy for herself and her family, The spies agree to grant her mercy when the time comes and tell her what she needs to do. Sister in Christ, Do you have the faith that Rahab had? Do you have confidence that you can go boldly to the throne of God? The scarlet cord, like the blood upon the doorpost at the passover, recalls to remembrance the sinner's security under the atoning blood of Christ; and that we are to flee thereto for refuge from the wrath of a justly offended God. The same cord Rahab used for the saving of these Israelites, was to be used for her own safety.
Joshua 2:19 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. 2:20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear." 2:21 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. 2:22 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. 2:23 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. 2:24 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."

A Lesson in Faith
In Hebrews chapter 11 we have the Faith Hall of Fame . Here the writer speaks of those who had unwavering faith. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Among all of those who had great faith and had the honor of being mentioned in the Faith Hall of Fame only three women were mentioned there, and one was Rahab.
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

When we look at Rahabs life we see it is a life of choices. Rahab had no Godly background. She didn't have believing parents who had taught her the ways of God. She did not have a devout husband. HER choice to serve the one true God qualified her to join the ranks in the Faith Hall of Fame. By the choices she made, she herself was saved as well as those of her family.

PONDER THIS:
The choices Rahab made affected her human and eternal destiny. Think now of the choices you have made and how they will effect your destiny. Let's take an overview of Rahab's Life
Before she had faith she was a prostitute in Jericho.Her acts of faith were: Helping the spies, she secured the promise of protection from the spies. Then she acted on the promise by placing the thread in the window. The outcome of her faith was she was saved both physically and spiritually, she had a new place of residence Israel! She later married Salmon Matthew 1:5, became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth, who bore Obed whose son was Jesse the father of King David, through whose line came Jesus Christ our Messiah!

Beloved Sister in Christ can you put your faith in action? Can you allow faith to guide the choices you make? Our blessing's of course will differ from those of Rahab and others. But let us remember Rahab and the choices she made through her faith in God. Let us remember the changes made in her life. Let us also be generous to those who are strangers to us. Let us take this Sister's example and walk in faith and make our choices accordingly.
NLŠ2000