Rahab

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Scripture References:

Joshua 2; 6:17-25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25

Her  Location and Status:

Joshua was the leader now in place of Moses. The Lord promised to be with Joshua as He was with Moses. (Joshua 1:5-8).

The Canaanites in Jericho had protection from mountains, the Jordan River and Mediterranean sea. They also had well fortified cities and peaceful trade with other countries. They were cultured, idolatrous and had commercial achievements. These were the kind of people Rahab lived among.

Rahab lived in Jericho.

Jericho was known as the strongest of the fortified cities of Canaan.

“This ancient ‘City of Palms,’ as it was known, was surrounded and protected by two walls about fifteen feet apart. The walls, though not high, were wide and sturdy, and houses made of sun dried bricks, supported by timbers, were built over the gap. Rahab’s house occupied a place on the wall.”           –Frances Vander Velde

Joshua sent two men to spy out the city of Jericho.

The two spies found refuge in Rahab’s home.

Rahab was a prostitute.

“Before Rahab became a believer in the One True God, she was an idolatrous Amorite. Ra was the name of an Egyptian god, and Rahab’s full name meant ‘insolent and fierce.’ Besides her less-than-positive name, the Bible reports that Rahab was a harlot.” –Elizabeth George

  

Her Faith

Read Joshua 2:1-11

Rahab truly came to believe in the God of Israel. She was attentive to what He was doing and placed her faith in the One True and Living God.

By hiding the two spies, Rahab showed what she really believed in.

James 2:25 NKJV

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

Rahab:

-knew God had given them the land

-heard about how God parted the Red Sea and led the Israelites out of Egypt

-claimed He was God in heaven above and on earth beneath

What are your personal statements of faith?

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

How is our faith increased?

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is needed to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Rahab is included in the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11…there are only 3 women mentioned (Sarah, Jochebed and Rahab).

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV

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

Rahab’s choices defined who she became.  Her choices defined who she was and enabled her to be a part of the “Hall of Faith”!

Sometimes we need to make choices that take courage and bravery. Our choices may be a risk in the beginning, but they are life in the end. In order for Rahab to preserve her and her family’s lives, she needed to risk her life! Then, she was spared later on. This is how true living works in God’s economy.

Luke 9:24 NKJV

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

Luke 17:33 NKJV

Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

**Are you making these kinds of choices so that your destiny is one that glorifies God?

Rahab showed, by risking her own life, that she feared God more than man.

Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.”

Psalm 40:4 NKJV

Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Psalm 25:2 NKJV

O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.

Psalm 31:19 NKJV

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

Day-by-day make choices that lead to a life of faith and victory.

Rahab had an evident call of God on her life. Jesus came to save the sinners. We must always remember that and avoid having any form of a pharisaical mentality. Sometimes we think we are more spiritually mature defined by the way we act and what we do. When true spiritual maturity is allowing God to reveal true motives of our hearts and walking in humility, considering others better than ourselves.

Rahab is an Old Testament “woman at the well” and God had a powerful call on her life to use her for His glorious purposes. God loved her just as much as every other woman.

  

Her Deliverance

Read Joshua 2:12-24

“That red token at the window was likewise a signal to the outside world that Rahab believed in the ultimate triumph of Jehovah…As that scarlet line, because of its color and sign of safety, speaks of the sacrificial work of Christ (Hebrews 9:19, 22), the ground of our assurance of salvation is not experience of feelings within, but the token relatives might not have felt safe within the house, but the same promise prevailed, ‘When I see the blood, I will pass over you’ (Exodus 12:13).” –Herbert Lockyer

“Rahab would be saved by letting down a scarlet cord. In these days, prostitutes would paint their windowsills bright red. Therefore, by hanging a scarlet cord over her red windowsill, Rahab would be forming a cross. The same image that saved the people of Israel in the Passover when they applied the blood to the top, sides and bottom of their doors, would save the pagans in Jericho. Whether to a Jew or a Gentile, the message is the same. It is the Cross that saves from destruction.”   -Jon Courson

You are not born pure. We are only made pure by the blood of Jesus.

*Psalm 51 –David wrote after falling in sin with Bathsheba

Her Acceptance and Heritage:

The Lord accepted Rahab. He called her His own and rescued her out of her land and it’s evil ways.

The Lord allowed her to have a new heritage and fresh start after she placed her faith in Him.

Rahab married Salman, a prince of the house of Judah.

Rahab was the mother of Boaz.

Did you know that Boaz’s mother was Rahab! Think of the godly man the Boaz was and the character he had. What a beautiful story of God’s redemptive and transforming work. I have a feeling that these are God’s favorite kinds of miracles to perform!

Remember that Christ calls the sinners to repentance, not those who have it all together.

Boaz and Ruth were the grandparents of David.

David is in the lineage of Jesus Christ Himself.

Read Matthew 1:5

Life Lesson:

Let your faith work its way out in your actions. Don’t let the fear of man keep you for taking risks for God.

James 2:25 NKJV

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

Discussion Questions:

1.     Tell what you can about Rahab’s background and life. How much did she know about God before the spies came?

2.     Show that Rahab had faith. What kind of faith did she have?

3.     Is there any symbolism in the scarlet thread that Rahab hung from the window?

4.     Does the story of Rahab shed any light on what our attitude should be toward converts? What is our present-day attitude toward them? What should it be?