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Book of Chapter 2

Rahab: From the House of Shame to the Hall of Fame

This chapter is the story of a harlot named Rahab and how the Lord changed her life completely. Grace has the power to transform a life. Nature forms us. Sin deforms us. The world conforms us. Education informs us. But only the grace of God transforms us. Rahab was a heathen woman living in spiritual death and darkness. She was a Canaanite destined for sure judgment. But by grace she was saved and later became the great, great grandmother of King David. She became a part of the family tree of . When you read the in , you will find the name of Rahab. She pictures the spiritual history of every believer in Christ:

1. She was a sinner. In her case it was prostitution, but the fact is that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Three times in the , Rahab is called a “harlot” (2:1; 6:17, 25). She lived alone in a house built on the city wall of (2:15). Her window faced outside the wall. It was a good location for her “business” as a prostitute. never makes any attempt to call her anything else but a harlot. Many people would assume that a person like Rahab would never be interested in God. We must never say “No” for someone who may say “Yes” to God. Don’t assume that a person has a hard heart. Their heart may be softer than you think. We can’t gauge a person’s interest in God at the moment by his lack of interest in the past. We can’t assume that a person living in sin doesn’t want to find a way out. We must not assume that a person who loves the world can’t begin to love the Lord.

2. She was under condemnation. The city had already been set aside for judgment. It was just a matter of time before judgment came to everyone in the city. Everything in the city would be destroyed, whether the people “felt” condemned or not. Jericho is a picture of the world today. They felt confident inside their high walled city, but death and judgment were imminent.

3. She was given a period of grace. For many years God’s judgment threatened to fall on Jericho, but God is extremely patient (2 Pet. 3:9). He waited 120 years in the days before the flood, and he waited 400 years before He sent judgment upon the Canaanites (see Genesis 15:13-16). Jericho had heard about Israel’s escape from Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea (2:10), which had taken place 40 years earlier. And God still gave Rahab a few more days before He overtook the city. Why did those two spies go to the house of Rahab the harlot? From a human standpoint, it would have been a good place to hide (they would seem to be customers). It was also an ideal place from which to escape because it was on the city wall. From a divine standpoint, it was exactly where God wanted them to go. God set up a divine appointment. God knew that Rahab’s heart was prepared to receive them. Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

4. She believed the truth about God. She had some understanding of the work and will of God (2:9-11), and she expressed her with these words: I know (vs. 9), and we have heard (vs. 10). Rahab expressed her faith, not in a general god, but in a specific God. She used the term “LORD” which is Jehovah, the special covenant name for God. The Bible says in Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. What was it that convinced her? She heard what God had done for His people. Rahab was amazed at God’s power. She knew He was no ordinary god and His people were no ordinary people. This was a fulfillment of the song of Moses in Exodus 15:15-16 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. This was also predicted in Deuteronomy 2:24-25 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. What the world needs is not a better definition of the Gospel, but a better demonstration of the Gospel (see Rom. 1:16).

5. She proved her faith by her actions. She risked her life, took a stand against the king of Jericho, hid the spies, then helped them escape, told them where to go and how long to hide. She identified herself with God’s people, not the people of Jericho. James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Notice that the “spies” are called “messengers” because they were spokesmen for God. We are saved by grace through faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. Faith without works is dead. Rahab is one of only two women mentioned in the Hall of Fame in . The other is Abraham’s wife, . Rahab is mentioned in James 2 as a sterling example of faith. The other person is Abraham. It doesn’t matter who you are. God honors faith because faith honors God. God is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of faith. What about Rahab’s lie? Was it justified under the circumstances? No. The Bible plainly says that lying is a sin. Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. She was saved in spite of her lying, not because of it. God commended Rahab for her faith, but not for her lying. We should tell the truth at all times and allow God to take care of any situation.

6. She was concerned for her family. Her only request was that the Jews show kindness toward her family when they attacked the city of Jericho. She asked for “kindness” and “a true token” of assurance (vs. 12). Rahab gathered all her family together because she loved them and wanted them to be saved. God wants families to be saved together. We read about the salvation of Cornelius and his house in Acts 10. We read about the salvation of the Philippian jailor and his family in Acts 16.

7. She was saved by a special mark of identification. The spies told her to tie the scarlet thread or cord in her window (2:17-21). A scarlet woman was saved by a scarlet cord tied in a window. She agreed to do exactly what they said. That is the essence of faith (vs. 21, according unto your words, so be it). As soon as she sent the spies away, Rahab tied the scarlet line in the window. She didn’t wait one minute. Just 18 days from the time the spies left her house, the city of Jericho fell. How many days do you have? The scarlet cord is a beautiful symbol of salvation. It speaks of salvation by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is part of that scarlet thread of redemption that runs all through the Bible. The black thread of sin and judgment. The golden thread of God’s glory. And the scarlet thread of blood redemption. The spies made a promise that whoever was inside the house marked by the scarlet cord would be spared on the day of judgment. This was like the day of Passover when God said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” Rahab and her family were saved and delivered on the day of judgment (6:22-25). Her house was on the wall of Jericho and the wall fell down flat, but somehow Rahab and her family were spared. The city was set on fire, but Rahab and her family got out safe.

Points to Ponder:

• Rahab’s life proves that God can save anybody. There is no one too bad they cannot be saved and no one so good that they need not be saved. Her life magnifies the grace of God. His grace is all about unmerited favor and blessing. She had absolutely nothing about her life to commend her to God. Like the thief dying on the cross, grace was her only hope.

• Rahab believed and obeyed the truth she had. She didn’t know much about God, but what’s important is that she believed what she knew. The spies gave her a very simple requirement to put the scarlet cord in the window and make sure all her family as inside, and she obeyed what they told her. She obeyed the Lord and her whole family was saved. We know so much more than Rahab, but do we believe and do we obey?

• Rahab’s past did not limit her future. Who would ever believe that a sinful woman could be saved and be part of the family line of Jesus! With God’s grace anything is possible. In Christ every has a past and every sinner has a future. Had you asked Rahab to give her testimony, she might have said something like this: “I’m not what I ought to be, and I’m not what I’m going to be, but thank God, I’m not what I used to be.” She was the mother of , who later married and she became the great, great grandmother of King David. God’s grace took her from the house of shame to the hall of fame (see Hebrews 11:31).

Book of Joshua Chapter 2

Rahab: From the House of Shame to the Hall of Fame

1. She was______

2. She was______

3. She was______

4. She believed______

5. She proved______

6. She was______

7. She was______

POINTS TO PONDER:

• Rahab’s life proves______

• Rahab believed and______

• Rahab’s past______