Heb 11:30-31 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Why is Rahab in faith’s hall of fame?
In Florida, some of our women were involved in a woman’s prison ministry. One woman, (we’ll call her Lucy) made a profession of faith. She had been a prostitute like Rahab. The life she described to me was not glamorous, not in the least. She had AIDS, and knew she would never see her child grow up.
Our church accepted her, even embraced her. But no one suggested that she was a shining example of faith.
The woman’s name was Rahab, and she appears in Joshua, 2:1-2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
This story occurred just before the Israelites finally crossed over into the Promised Land. Joshua needed reconnaissance before they entered the land, so he sent spies to scout the town of Jericho. Jericho was the largest city in Canaan and was directly between them and the rest of the land. It had an enormous wall that protected it from g invasion.
The two spies decided that the safest place for them to hide was in a house of prostitution. Though this appeared morally objectionable, from a military standpoint it made sense. Israel’s enemies knew that they did not approve of prostitution, though it was acceptable among the Canaanites, so a house of prostitution would be the last place they would look. Besides, a house like that would be a good place to pick up information.
Rahab was common, though successful harlot. She had her own house in a prestigious part of town, next to the city wall. She had money, she had no respect, any more than she would today.
We certainly would not approve Rahab’s way of making a living. But we have to ask, why why would this woman be thought worse than other kinds of sinners? Should she be treated as an outcast while other women did the same thing in the pagan temples, and were treated as priestesses. The respected the women who gave themselves to men in the name of a pagan god were no better than she. In fact, in our eyes they would be worse, since the practiced both prostitution and idolatry.
God does not rate sinners. He treats all sinners the same. If a sinner, no matter how wicked repents, then they can find forgiveness from Jesus. It did not matter what Rahab had done in the past, she could be forgiven.
Last week we talked about two kinds of faith-saving faith and living faith. Moses exemplifies that living faith. But Rahab exemplifies saving faith—which is the belief that even the worst of sinner can find forgiveness through the mercy of God.
There is good in all people, and there is evil there as well. Everyone who ever lived is the sa,e mixture of God’s breath and Adam’s mud. The person we don’t want to pass on the street may be closer in God’s eyes than a deacon in church or a pastor, if we knew their heart. We cannot judge others according to our standards. In Rahab’s case, a pagan woman in a horrid profession is treated with more honor than a thousand saints. .
How can God do this? Because it is not what we do, but what God does that saves. Faith makes the difference. It is not whether fail or whether we succeed, but whether we have faith to believe God can shine His mercy on both the just and the unjust. The only thing that saved her among all other people in her city was that she believed God.
Rahab had heard stories of the approaching Israelites. The king and the leaders of the land feared the Israelites numbers and military might. Rahab knew better than that. She knew it was not the military might of Israel that made them invincible, but Israel’s God. Here is what she said about them.
Josh 2:9-11 "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 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. 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.
Here is a common prostitute speaking to the spies in her house of prostitution. Yet she mentions three times the true name of God, which even the priests fear to mention. She realizes that the success of the Israelites had nothing to do with the numbers or skill in battle, but was because of the power of their God.
Do we really look to God’s power or to our own? Can we follow Rahab’s example?
We have something in common with the ancient citizens of Jericho. God’s wrath may well be coming on us very soon. We cannot look at the world today without seeing a cataclysm ahead. The Old and New Testament speak of the day of wrath. When that day comes, there will be little difference in what we we did before. The only difference will be who we will trust to get us through. If we trust in our own strength or cleverness, we are doomed to fail. But if we put our trust in the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus, who was sent to rescue us from death, then we will escape the day of wrath.
Imagine you were in a store in Japan in the great earthquake and tsunami. . Some of the survivors make it to the roof, and wait for rescue. All kinds of people wait—church deacons, gamblers, schoolteachers, prostitutes, gay people, straight people—all kinds.
A helicopter appears over our heads. Someone throws down a ladder. “Come up,” the pilot says. “Catch the rope.”
Will the helicopter pilot say “all you good people come up. You sinners stay down?” No, the offer of rescue would be to any and all who will take hold of the ladder. Those who trust will travel.
Jesus is God’s rescue operation. He came to earth to save sinners. Any who will trust Gun will be saved. Our previous lives do not matter. The only thing that matters is whether we are willing to hold on to Christ and His grace.
When Rahab saw these spies, she saw an opportunity to save herself and her family.
Josh 2:12-13 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 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."
The spies agreed on two conditions—the same two conditions God makes today.
First there has to be a public confession
,Josh 2:17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down
Rahab needs to have a sign that this is her house. This sign has to be public.
God wants to rescue us. But God insists that that rescue be open and visible. He does not rescue people in secret. We must be willing to confess Him publicly.
Jesus said Luke 12:8-9 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”
To be saved has implications in every area of life. It is to become new person with new ideals and new interests. It is impossible to be a new person and keep it secret from everyone else. If we try, it will forever hinder us from being what God wants us to be, and prevent us from following Jesus where He leads. For that reason, we must make our decision for Him public.
Second, we must reconcile with others.
18-20 “and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
In our culture, single women do not live with their parents forever. But in Joshua’s day it was different. Single women lived with their families forever.
So why isn’t Rahab’s family already in her house? Her profession as a harlot kept her from either living with her parents, or having her parents live with her.
To save her family she had to make peace with them. It was probably not easy.
Jesus said in Matt 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We must reconcile with others to be reconciled to God.
Rahab did everything the spies told her. So she and all her family were saved. More than that she became only one of five women who were mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.
Faith is not just for good people. It is for all people. All of us must lay hold of faith.
Today, our time is getting shorter. Whether or not Jesus comes in our time, we know that our lives on earth can end at any moment. It’s time to take hold of the rescue ladder of fath. Don’t worry about what you have done in the past, all that matters is that you have faith in Jesus today.
Mercy is not easy. It is not cheap. Mercy can be a desperate rescue effort. Mercy may require that we swallow a lot of pride and that we suffer a lot of pain. W must we willing to go after them not just sit back and let them come to us.
Why is Rahab in faith’s hall of fame?
In Florida, some of our women were involved in a woman’s prison ministry. One woman, (we’ll call her Lucy) made a profession of faith. She had been a prostitute like Rahab. The life she described to me was not glamorous, not in the least. She had AIDS, and knew she would never see her child grow up.
Our church accepted her, even embraced her. But no one suggested that she was a shining example of faith.
The woman’s name was Rahab, and she appears in Joshua, 2:1-2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
This story occurred just before the Israelites finally crossed over into the Promised Land. Joshua needed reconnaissance before they entered the land, so he sent spies to scout the town of Jericho. Jericho was the largest city in Canaan and was directly between them and the rest of the land. It had an enormous wall that protected it from g invasion.
The two spies decided that the safest place for them to hide was in a house of prostitution. Though this appeared morally objectionable, from a military standpoint it made sense. Israel’s enemies knew that they did not approve of prostitution, though it was acceptable among the Canaanites, so a house of prostitution would be the last place they would look. Besides, a house like that would be a good place to pick up information.
Rahab was common, though successful harlot. She had her own house in a prestigious part of town, next to the city wall. She had money, she had no respect, any more than she would today.
We certainly would not approve Rahab’s way of making a living. But we have to ask, why why would this woman be thought worse than other kinds of sinners? Should she be treated as an outcast while other women did the same thing in the pagan temples, and were treated as priestesses. The respected the women who gave themselves to men in the name of a pagan god were no better than she. In fact, in our eyes they would be worse, since the practiced both prostitution and idolatry.
God does not rate sinners. He treats all sinners the same. If a sinner, no matter how wicked repents, then they can find forgiveness from Jesus. It did not matter what Rahab had done in the past, she could be forgiven.
Last week we talked about two kinds of faith-saving faith and living faith. Moses exemplifies that living faith. But Rahab exemplifies saving faith—which is the belief that even the worst of sinner can find forgiveness through the mercy of God.
There is good in all people, and there is evil there as well. Everyone who ever lived is the sa,e mixture of God’s breath and Adam’s mud. The person we don’t want to pass on the street may be closer in God’s eyes than a deacon in church or a pastor, if we knew their heart. We cannot judge others according to our standards. In Rahab’s case, a pagan woman in a horrid profession is treated with more honor than a thousand saints. .
How can God do this? Because it is not what we do, but what God does that saves. Faith makes the difference. It is not whether fail or whether we succeed, but whether we have faith to believe God can shine His mercy on both the just and the unjust. The only thing that saved her among all other people in her city was that she believed God.
Rahab had heard stories of the approaching Israelites. The king and the leaders of the land feared the Israelites numbers and military might. Rahab knew better than that. She knew it was not the military might of Israel that made them invincible, but Israel’s God. Here is what she said about them.
Josh 2:9-11 "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 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. 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.
Here is a common prostitute speaking to the spies in her house of prostitution. Yet she mentions three times the true name of God, which even the priests fear to mention. She realizes that the success of the Israelites had nothing to do with the numbers or skill in battle, but was because of the power of their God.
Do we really look to God’s power or to our own? Can we follow Rahab’s example?
We have something in common with the ancient citizens of Jericho. God’s wrath may well be coming on us very soon. We cannot look at the world today without seeing a cataclysm ahead. The Old and New Testament speak of the day of wrath. When that day comes, there will be little difference in what we we did before. The only difference will be who we will trust to get us through. If we trust in our own strength or cleverness, we are doomed to fail. But if we put our trust in the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus, who was sent to rescue us from death, then we will escape the day of wrath.
Imagine you were in a store in Japan in the great earthquake and tsunami. . Some of the survivors make it to the roof, and wait for rescue. All kinds of people wait—church deacons, gamblers, schoolteachers, prostitutes, gay people, straight people—all kinds.
A helicopter appears over our heads. Someone throws down a ladder. “Come up,” the pilot says. “Catch the rope.”
Will the helicopter pilot say “all you good people come up. You sinners stay down?” No, the offer of rescue would be to any and all who will take hold of the ladder. Those who trust will travel.
Jesus is God’s rescue operation. He came to earth to save sinners. Any who will trust Gun will be saved. Our previous lives do not matter. The only thing that matters is whether we are willing to hold on to Christ and His grace.
When Rahab saw these spies, she saw an opportunity to save herself and her family.
Josh 2:12-13 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 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."
The spies agreed on two conditions—the same two conditions God makes today.
First there has to be a public confession
,Josh 2:17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down
Rahab needs to have a sign that this is her house. This sign has to be public.
God wants to rescue us. But God insists that that rescue be open and visible. He does not rescue people in secret. We must be willing to confess Him publicly.
Jesus said Luke 12:8-9 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”
To be saved has implications in every area of life. It is to become new person with new ideals and new interests. It is impossible to be a new person and keep it secret from everyone else. If we try, it will forever hinder us from being what God wants us to be, and prevent us from following Jesus where He leads. For that reason, we must make our decision for Him public.
Second, we must reconcile with others.
18-20 “and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
In our culture, single women do not live with their parents forever. But in Joshua’s day it was different. Single women lived with their families forever.
So why isn’t Rahab’s family already in her house? Her profession as a harlot kept her from either living with her parents, or having her parents live with her.
To save her family she had to make peace with them. It was probably not easy.
Jesus said in Matt 6:14-15 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We must reconcile with others to be reconciled to God.
Rahab did everything the spies told her. So she and all her family were saved. More than that she became only one of five women who were mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.
Faith is not just for good people. It is for all people. All of us must lay hold of faith.
Today, our time is getting shorter. Whether or not Jesus comes in our time, we know that our lives on earth can end at any moment. It’s time to take hold of the rescue ladder of fath. Don’t worry about what you have done in the past, all that matters is that you have faith in Jesus today.
Mercy is not easy. It is not cheap. Mercy can be a desperate rescue effort. Mercy may require that we swallow a lot of pride and that we suffer a lot of pain. W must we willing to go after them not just sit back and let them come to us.
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