Introduction
Rahab’s story truly is one that highlights that God is the God of second chances, the God who delights to save anyone who will believe on Him and indeed the God of grace. Although the discussion which follows below briefly gives a few thoughts Rahab’s faith in action, it includes a link to a really good audio message concerning a contrast to faith – unbelief. You may think ‘hang on a minute, how does that tie in with this topic?’ Take a listen – may it encourage, challenge and edify you as much as it did me when I first listened it. The details of the link are given at the end but first, let’s consider the woman of the moment from whom there are, perhaps surprising to some, things which may edify and encourage.
Overview on Rahab.
The relevant Scripture passages concerning Rahab for the purposes of this discussion are found in Joshua 2, Joshua 6:17 & 22-25, Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. From these passages we learn that:
- Rahab was a woman with “a reputation” – she was a harlot (Joshua 2:1);
- she lived in a land doomed to be destroyed, namely Jericho (Joshua 6);
- she was quick-thinking and wise – she knew which way the wind was blowing and seeing destruction coming made the right choice (Joshua 2:4b);
- she was gutsy – it must have taken a bit of pluck to hide the spies and brazen it out with the King of Jericho’s messengers demanding to know their whereabouts (Joshua 2:2-4);
- she was kind-hearted – thinking not only of her own escape but that of her father’s household. (Joshua 2:12-13);
- she believed that the LORD, the God of Israel is the one true and living God (Joshua 2:9-11);
- her faith saved her and her father’s household from destruction of Jericho ( Joshua 6:17 & 22-25);
- The LORD gave her a place amongst His people Israel (Joshua 6:25);
- she became the great great grandmother to king David and so part of the lineage of Yeshua the Messiah (Matthew 1:5);
- She became an example of faith – Hebrews 11:31 & James 2:25, even to this day by all who read the bible.
Even though she would never quite live down the fact that she had been a “woman of ill repute” – she was known as “Rahab-the-harlot” even in the New Testament records – yet, through her act of faith, she would come be remembered more for that faith than her unfortunate choices before coming to know the God of Israel.
Rahab’s Legacy
It is my own personal belief that Rahab was a gusty woman. I am not sure that there is any society or culture in which a woman known as “a harlot” would not face some form of social exclusion or censure. Even in today’s society in the UK there is still some stigma attached to being even considered a harlot. That gutsy attitude may have helped in her “life choices” but would be absolutely useless for what faced her and all her fellow residents in Jericho. Nothing she had or had thus far relied on was going to save her. There was only one way and that was what she believed about the God of Israel.
Faith made the way where for the most part there seemed to be no way. Let’s consider how this faith played out in Joshua chapter 2:-
- Rahab believed what God had done in the past (Joshua 2:10) and believed what the LORD could do concerning Jericho (see verse 9).
- At Joshua 2:11 is her spoken declaration of what she believed in her heart that “for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” She believed what she had been told about the power of the LORD God of Israel on behalf of His people.
- On the basis of what she believed Rahab:
- hid the men Joshua had sent,
- protected them from the king of Jericho’s messengers;
- made her plea for her father’s household and herself before them;
- helped the men to get out of the city safely;
- obeyed exactly the conditions of her and her father’s household’s deliverance (Joshua 2: 17-21);
- obtained that deliverance out of the destruction of the city (Joshua 6:22-23); and
- gained a place among the people of Israel (Joshua 6:25)
Recall Joshua 2:11 states that the rumours of impending destruction reached Jericho before the Jewish spies did. From the beginning of those rumours until Rahab spoke with the spies about possible deliverance there was no hope. All in Jericho lost hope and courage yet God saw something different in Rahab’s heart and granted His merciful intervention. Even as “a woman of ill-repute” in a land of sinners that was on course for destruction, we learn in Hebrews 11:31 that “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.”
The wonder of Rahab’s story is the awesome view of God’s graciousness in the manner in which He chose to honour her faith. Consider: the objective of Rahab’s faith was that she and her family not perish in the destruction that was to come upon Jericho. It is not unreasonable to imagine that there must have been at least moments of very real questions – the “what ifs?” – not knowing the outcome as that time. But her faith prevailed. God revealed to Rahab that He is the limitless God, going even beyond saving her and her father’s household. The LORD showed Rahab that He is indeed the One who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that she could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20) in going beyond her hope to give her a place amongst His people Israel. In addition, her descendants would later become the royal lineage through great-great grandson King David!
Someone who may come to read this may be in a season where there is a sense of being stirred inwardly by the Holy Spirit to take a step (or another step in an on-going situation) of faith beyond that which may have previously been considered. You will know deep within that it is not a step being prompted by a mere fancy but that which is the leading of God – but maybe there may be a struggle with temptation to doubt? Isn’t it the case that for each one of us, there are some areas in our lives in which we sense the grace of God much more easily enabling us to walk in faith with no difficulty and yet in other areas, if we are honest, we sense a real tussle with “what ifs?”
Amongst the treasures that Rahab’s story has left for us to consider, is a “torch” which shines a light on the word of the LORD through His prophet Jeremiah, saying:
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27)
Consider for a moment the word “anything” concerning that which our Lord would seek to accomplish in and through our lives that our heavenly Father may be glorified.
As we listen to the audio message, let us seek to open our spiritual ears what the Holy Spirit may stir in our hearts again. Let us also beware of mistaking conviction for condemnation but rather remember at all times who we are in Christ.
Conclusion
As those who have obtained saving faith in Lord Yeshua the Messiah by the grace of God we know that the time is short but the work for God’s kingdom continues until His return. Now is the time to exercise the faith God has given you that in Yeshua, His grace might work through you to accomplish His will both in your life and for His Kingdom to the glory of His name.
‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and from throughout the whole earth,
to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.’
2 Chronicles 16:6
I would encourage to listen to the audio sermon message Limiting God by Charles Haddon Spurgeon available (as at 2020) on the following links:
Link for audio message: https://www.spurgeongems.org/audio/200chs.mp3
Link for written sermon: https://www.spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs272.pdf
God bless you.
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