Rahab

The last few weeks, we’ve been learning about faith and some of the people often described as “heroes of the faith” that are named in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:31 “It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in the city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”

Joshua 2 & 6 Who was Rahab?

Rahab’s story is probably the most relevant for today’s time than any of the others up here. Rahab did not grow up in an Israelite household with a godly heritage. She wasn’t told bedtime stories about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob growing up. She wasn’t taught about Moses climbing a mountain to meet with God for instructions on how to live.

Rahab was a part of a pagan, corrupt, depraved culture.

Canaanites practiced ritualistic and temple prostitution in worship to their gods. It may very well have been that Rahab was “a religious prostitute”.

Some scholars disagree and believe she was only a business owner and only an “innkeeper who sadly, found other ways of bringing in revenue.” – Dr. Michael A Milton

In either case, she probably felt like she was the most unlikely person to be used by God.

The Bible tells us she was a prostitute and 2 spies for the Israelite army came to her house.

Like many times in history, inns, brothels, bars, and similar places became meeting places and clandestine hide outs.

This could have been a similar situation for the spies where they took up lodging at “Rahab’s place.”

As spies, the shadier part of town would have been the perfect place to go to collect information and keep a low profile.

The next morning, she had a choice to make.

She chose to hide them and told soldiers that they had already left. Once they were safe, she told them this.

Joshua 2: 9-11 9

“I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

Rahab Knew & Recognized – Israel’s God was the supreme God

The battles we fight and win in God’s name don’t only impact our lives; the bring testimony to others. Rahab was not in an ideal circumstance to come to faith in the one true God.

She just didn’t just fear him – she declared Him the Supreme God.

“For the Lord your God is the supreme God in the heavens above and on the earth below.” Joshua 2:11 Rahab believed what she heard was true – that Israel’s God was the true God

Knowing vs. Believing

It’s one thing to be informed about Jesus. It’s another to be transformed by Him. Rahab believed the “rumors” about the Israelite army and their God and believed it true.

Rahab probably thought – this God is powerful… far more powerful than all of mine. He is the supreme God, and I better turn to him or I’m toast.

Our beliefs don’t change because our circumstances change; our circumstances change because our beliefs change.

After Rahab made her declaration that she believed God to the supreme God she went on…

Joshua 2:12-13 12

“Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.”

Rahab could have turned to God and fled Jericho at any time, but she waited until the enemy was literally at her door.

Isn’t that human nature?

Why is it that it takes our lives falling apart before we finally turn to God?

Why is God our last resort? Rahab comes up with a plan.

They spies agreed to s