FAITH STORIES: RAHAB

Joshua 2:7–14

7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land 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. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea 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. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her.  

Joshua 6:16, 24-25

The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.

24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Romans 10:17 tells us that “Faith comes from hearing…”

Rahab reminds us that hearing God’s truth can be enough to begin faith. 

James actually points to Rahab as an example of living faith,  because biblical faith is never just intellectual agreement. 

James 2: 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 

Real faith moves. Real faith obeys. Real faith risks. 

Rahab chose sides before Jericho fell. 

‘Hebrews 11:31 

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

You are loved so much that no matter what you’ve been through, no matter what you’ve done, if you believe in Jesus, you’ve also been made right and put in the lineage of Christ.

Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, and our belief in him, we are adopted into his family.

Jesus is the ultimate example of someone who took action because of their faith. He died on the cross for our sins. He rose again three days later. He ascended in Heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

:::RESPONSE:::

What is one step of faith God is asking you to take?
Will you trust God with what you cannot control?

Will you give God your ‘YES’?