Prayer: I will not tolerate anyone who secretly slanders his neighbors; I will not permit conceit and pride. I will make the godly of the land my heroes and invite them to my home. Only those who are truly good shall be my servants. But I will not allow those who deceive and lie to stay in my house. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of God from their grip (Psalms 101:5-8, TLB). In Jesus I pray name and for His glory, Amen.
Main Scripture: Read Hebrews 1:31.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Associated Scriptures:
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king (Matthew 1:1-6, NKJV).
"I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Seab for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below (Joshua 2:8-11).
And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho(Joshua 6:25, NKJV).
Correlative Quotes:
Rahab was an unlikely candidate for the faithfuls' hall of fame. For one thing, she was a prostitute. For another, she was a Gentile, and a Canaanite at that. She was, in fact, an Amorite, a race that God had long before marked for destruction (Genesis 15:16). Yet that is how God's grace works. His mercy is open to all who will receive it, and His grace has always been wider than Israel, even in Old Testament times.[1] – John MacArthur
If, as seems probable, there were a few Gentiles in the church that received this letter, they could take comfort from the experience of the prostitute Rahab, a Gentile who was spared when Jericho was conquered.[2] – John Walvoord
Rahab is certainly a rebuke to unsaved people who give excuses for not trusting Christ. "I don't know very much about the Bible" is an excuse I often hear. Rahab knew very little spiritual truth, but she acted on what she did know. "I am too bad to be saved!" is another excuse. But Rahab was a condemned heathen harlot! Another excuse is, "What will my family think?" Rahab's first concern was saving her family, not opposing them. She stands as one of the great women of faith in the Bible.[3] – Warren W. Wiersbe
Some of the ancient Jewish fathers who held her in high reputation reckoned that she was the wife of Joshua himself, but in the royal genealogy of Jesus, Rahab is referred to as being the wife of Salmon, one of the two spies she sheltered. In turn, she became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth from whose son, Obed, Jesse the father of David came, through whose line Jesus was born (Matthew 1:5). Salmon was a prince of the house of Judah, and thus, Rahab, the one-time heathen harlot, married into one of the leading families of Israel and became an ancestress of our Lord, the other foreign ancestresses being Tamar, Ruth and Bathsheba. The gratitude Salmon felt for Rahab ripened into love, and when grace erased her former life of shame he made her his wife.[4] – Herbert Lockyer
Study:
The bible clearly teaches that we have all sinned and fallen short of the perfection that is required for eternal life (Romans 3:23, 6:23). None of us have lived the exemplary life that is required by God’s law.
In Matthew 19:16-22 Jesus is asked a simple, straightforward question, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ the man inquired. Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yourself’ ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
It may seem strange that a prostitute was chosen for faith’s hall of fame. However, Rahab was an exception to the rule; she had exceptional faith. It is fortunate for all of us that God looks on the heart and not at the person.
With her response to the spies (Joshua 2:8-10), Rahab’s words communicated her faith in the One True God. She had heard of how God had rescued Israel from the Pharaoh, led them through the Red Sea on dry land, and had executed incredible victories over superior enemies. Now she requested guarantees from that same God that she and her family would be saved from the impending battle. The fact that she was so sure of the imminent loss, shows her great faith in the God who was leading Joshua and His people.
Oh, the battles we could win in our own lives if we only would demonstrate the same faith that is shown in the prostitute Rahab.
Summary Statement:
Rahab is a wonderful example of a sinner turning to Jesus and receiving the gift of eternal life. As a result of her faith and the actions of that faith, the spies were spared death. She, single handedly, led the way for God’s plan of attack against Jericho. As a result, her faith saved, not only herself but, Rahab’s entire family. When she had everything to lose, Rahab turned to God in her faith and she was rewarded with salvation through that faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Rahab did not allow the fear of local reprisal, or the concern of what others might say or think of her stand in the way of her faith. Her actions were a result of her faith and not of her fear.
Lesson within the Lesson:
What does Rahab tell us about the strength of women in the Bible?
How did Rehab’s actions express her faith? Read especially Joshua 2:1-7.
What does the account of Rahab tell us about faith? Read Joshua 2:8-11 again.
How did family enter into Rahab’s reaction to the spies? Read and comment on Joshua 2:12-14?
Is there any sin so great, other than blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-29), that God will not forgive? Read and comment on Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9.
[1] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007.
[2] John F. Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries, Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.
[3] Warren W. Wiersbe,The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
[4] Herbert Lockyer, All the Women of the Bible, © 1988 Zondervan. All Rights Reserved, biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Rahab.