Title Rahab
Content 5. Rahab
Joshua sent two spies. This shows that he relied on the promises of God. God did not tell us to send spies, but Joshua did this, relying on God's promise. However, this also served as an excuse for criticism to Joshua. This is because sending spies to inquire about God's promised land in advance could be misunderstood as an act of unbelief.
We must act by faith, not by seeing and knowing. Rahab's behavior toward the king of Jericho could not be praised by the Jericho people, but she was recognized as a woman of faith in God's work. Here, too, we see a process of God's amazing work. The God of grace knows in advance what will happen even in deep darkness and prepares for it. That is why He makes all the preparations so that we may not live in sin but live in the light.
Before blaming Rahab, you must first have the attitude to examine yourself. And it is necessary to have an attitude of heart where an innocent person first casts a stone. Here, too, we look at the lives of noble people of God.
1. There is Hearing
“The Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt” (verse 10), and the great and wonderful news of God’s deliverance was also heard in their ears. How can they believe what they have not heard? This makes them know that God's marvelous work must be told to men. The gospel must be preached. God's message must be preached. This strongly suggests that the gospel of Christ should be preached in the same way. God's work was not done in one corner, but in front of everyone.
We must preach the good news of God, and this is also our mission.
2. make a confession
“As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted” (v. 11), and what the Lord had done for His people became known. So they have two effects.
He brought pride and pride to His people, and surprise and fear to others. She spoke the truth, without pretense or falsehood. “The heart has melted...and the man has lost his mind” (v. 11), which was her candid expression and a sincere confession. No pride, no arrogance. The fact that their hearts melted shows the state of their hearts at that time.
3. Have faith
I know that the LORD has given you this land” (verse 9).
Fear of the Lord's work came upon them. But Rahabman had faith. Everyone was “dissolved” (v. 9), their hearts melted, and they lost their minds, but only Rahab had “faith” among them. Her faith is a belief that comes out of fear. But that faith, like the faith that comes out of love, brings salvation. The fear of the Lord is the beginning and the foundation of knowledge. Therefore, knowing the Lord is the very motive that leads to faith.
4. There is a prayer
“Therefore, I beseech you, I swear by the Lord now” (v. 12), she has faith and now hopes for the great blessings the Lord will accomplish for his people. This was too great a request for a prostitute to be condemned. But her faith made her make these amazing demands. Faith makes a person strong, bold, and demanding of great gifts.
The New Testament says, “By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace” (Hebrews 11:31). She had an amazing belief that no one else had, and she revealed it. Her request was not only for herself, but also for her "father's house." But her demands are not for everyone. And not as a pitiful man, but as a man of wonderful grace, she boldly asked for her request to be granted. Such a request is an expression of joy, but it also shows concern. A sign is something that everyone who believes can have (Hebrews 6:17). This is not a bad thing when we have it, but rather can add to our confidence.
But for the believer, when the spirit is alive and stirred, that is the greatest and most wonderful blessing and sign.
5. There is an answer
“We will even take your place with our lives… and we will treat you with kindness and truth” (verse 14). She now has an appointment. Even if this was a human promise, to her it was God's promise. Faith makes promises of God's Word. If people do not believe in Moses or the prophets, they will not believe in the Son of God who was raised from the dead. This is a wonderful process of faith that is done in the great grace of God. They answered in faith what had been done in faith. “I will treat you.”
6. Do the necessary work
“Rahab ran them down with cords from the spear” (v. 15), and James refers to these acts as evidence of faith in works (James 2:14). God's people need not only words, but also such works of faith. Her deeds revealed her beliefs in front of the people she had dealt with. This was a good opportunity to get to know her beliefs.
There is no faith without works, and there is no action without faith. She showed an act of faith and made known what a belief accompanied by action is. Faith without works is dead faith. We are justified by faith before God, and we show that faith by our works. Belief is what makes people do amazing things, and there they create amazing works that other people can't even imagine.
7. There is obedience
those people said “Your parents and your brothers and sisters… … Gather them together” (v. 18). Here is her answer. “You will do as you say” (verse 21). And she hung “a red string on the window.” Sailors rely on the wind to set anchor. Thus she depends on their words for the life of herself and her family. They do something like this very simply by saying "tie a string" rather than another word. So this shows how simple faith is. The life of faith is simple. It is done in obedience to the Word of God. We must have the attitude to depend on the Lord for everything we do and to put everything in His arms.
It is the precious blood of Christ that is our refuge. It is significant that Rahab had a “red string” hanging from the window rather than “another string.” The precious blood of Christ is the same color as the red stripes. According to this promise, she drew the line straight away.
8. There is a Victory
“Because Joshua spared Rahab the harlot and her father's family and everything that belonged to her” (Joshua 6:25), she received more than what she wanted or thought to get. It is revealed that she later became the wife of a prince of Israel. She became the mother of Boaz, who took the loving Ruth as his wife. This suggests that she received a greater blessing than she had hoped for. As a result, she did not take the place of the prostitute Rahab, but took a place in the genealogy of Jesus, the most precious and blessed in the history of Israel (Matt. 1:5).
Everyone who believes becomes sons and daughters of God and becomes his household. And they become partakers of God's marvelous blessings and, in turn, bearers of the privilege of enjoying heavenly blessings. Rahab was saved by her faith and was placed in the ranks of holy saints.
Faith is a blessing that cannot be exhausted no matter how much emphasis is placed on it.