The Faith of Rahab | Part Three

Joshua 2

Her name was Rahab. But she is known primarily as Rahab the Harlot. That's how she's introduced in Joshua 2. That's how she's referred to in both Hebrews 11 and James 2. Rahab the Harlot.

Why is her occupation emphasized when others' occupations aren't mentioned at all?

Since her story provides a picture of saving faith; perhaps the repetitive references to her harlotry serve to emphasize God's grace toward defiled people.

So many tell me that they're good people when the subject of God comes up. No they're not. Neither am I. Neither are you. And we're not responsible for cleaning ourselves up to receive salvation. God does that through Jesus. The Doctor came for the sick, not the well.

Once Jesus was invited to a Pharisee's house (read: super religious guy's house). While He was there, a prostitute approached and began weeping in humble adoration at His feet. As she did, the Pharisee said, "If you knew what manner of woman this was you would have nothing to do with her."

Jesus knew what manner of woman she was, which brings us to the third reference of Rahab in the New Testament: Matthew 1. This is Jesus' genealogy, starting with Abraham. Then Isaac. Jacob. Judah. Perez, father of Zerah by Tamar. Hezron. Ram. Amminadab. Nahshon. Salmon, father of Boaz by Rahab...

The prostitute weeping at Jesus' feet was the same manner of woman as Rahab, humble and desperate for God's mercy. Such a woman as this was not only embraced by God; but was used to bring about His most precious promise: the birth of Jesus Christ.

God is glorified in saving sinners; not accepting the self-righteous.

The Faith of Rahab | Part Two

Joshua 2

There are three New Testament references to Rahab.

1) Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace."

This verse comes in the back half of the so called 'hall of faith' (Hebrews 11). Picture this chapter like a wax museum of faithful Old Testament men and women. As you walk down the quiet halls you see Abel, who offered the acceptable sacrifice; Enoch, who was caught up into heaven without dying; Noah, who built a giant boat before the world had ever seen a rain drop; Abraham and Sarah, who set out to an unknown land and gave birth to a child in extreme old age.

As you approach the end of the hall, you see statues of Isaac and Joseph. On the end there's Moses looking old and wise. And rounding the corner, you expect to see Joshua next; but to your surprise, there's a woman. The name plate says 'Rahab, the Harlot'...

Something about Rahab's faith is exemplary for us. Seemingly more so than Joshua's.

2) James 2:25 says, "In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?"

Rahab said that all the inhabitants of the land were afraid of the Israelites. So they all believed in God enough to be afraid. But as James 2:19 explains, the demons believe too. And they shudder.

Rahab's faith was different than the rest of the inhabitants' belief. Her faith was animated by works. Her faith was brought to life by action. She received the messengers and asked for mercy. She transferred her faith from Jericho's walls to Israel's God.

Rahab is an example of faith animated by works. Like Disney is able to make static drawings come to life on the big screen, Rahab's faith came to life in her actions.

Now that we see the picture of saving faith in Rahab's story; how does our faith compare? Does our faith look like this? Does our faith motivate us to seek mercy and participate in God's work in the world? Does our faith cause us to transfer our hope from all else to God's mercy through Jesus?

Or do we simply believe, like the other inhabitants of the land?

Is the picture still fuzzy to you? Check back for part three of this post in which we'll look at the third reference to Rahab in the New Testament.

The Faith of Rahab | Part One

Joshua 2

I believe that God is the perfect author, His work flawless. That being said, why is the story of Rahab in the Bible with such detail? He could have summed it up in one verse: "Joshua sent spies into the land and they returned with a favorable report". Instead, He used 24 to introduce Rahab, her occupation (harlotry), and actions.

In these posts, I will attempt to prove that the story of Rahab is included in the Bible because it is an especially accurate picture of saving faith. One that can help us evaluate our own faith.

First, let's get swept into the story itself:

Joshua is ready to respond to God's commission in chapter one. He sends two spies into the land, especially Jericho. Thought of as impenetrable, Jericho was surrounded by two 30 foot tall walls separated by acres of sharply inclined land.

Rahab’s house was built into the outer wall. The spies chose to stay with her, perhaps because it was good cover for two foreign men to stay with a harlot (probably happened all the time). Maybe Joshua even advised them to do this based on his experience spying out the land years earlier.

Somehow the king found out they were staying there and sent men to capture them. This is where it gets interesting. When Rahab opens her front door and is faced with the king’s officials, she lies to protect the spies. She lies to protect foreign invaders.

Then she approaches the spies where they're hiding (hearts pounding no doubt) and says: “I know that the LORD has given you the land..."

How unexpected this must have been! They surely were expecting to be among God's enemies, foreign people who would hate them and want them dead. And here's a pagan prostitute confessing, “[T]he LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath..."

God had said over and over again that He delivered Israel from Egypt with a mighty hand to show that He is God. Now these two spies are hearing the same testimony from a Jericho harlot, who then pleads for mercy.

She had saved their lives, so the spies work out a plan to save her life and the lives of her family. But it would be difficult to save one particular family during a huge battle; so they come up with a plan. Rahab would place a scarlet thread on her window. Israel's army would see the red over her window and pass over her house (sound familiar?).

So that's the story. How is it an especially accurate picture of saving faith? In the next post, we’ll let the New Testament writers explain it (they were inspired by the Holy Spirit after all).