Bulletin Articles
The Faith of Rahab
As the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river the first settlement the came upon was the city of Jericho. Joshua sent out two spies to search the land and when the spies came to Jericho they met a woman named Rahab, who was a prostitute. (Joshua 2). Rahab assisted these me and even defied the king of Jericho to protect these spies. Why did she do this and betray her own people? It was her faith!
Had she been with the Israelites and seen the work of God in parting the Red Sea, and in providing food, and a pillar of fire to guide the Israelites? No! She acted upon what she had heard! In her own words, "I know that the Lord has given you the land" Joshua 2:9. "We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you...and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites... whom you utterly destroyed...for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below" Joshua 2:10-11.
Isn't it amazing that the Israelite people who SAW God's work could not remain faithful (except for Joshua and Caleb while this Canaanite woman who had only Heard of this things developed a faith in a God of whom she was unfamiliar? Remember, the chief Canaanite god was Baal whose worship plagued the Israelite nation for years. This example is an answer to people today who state that they would believe in God only if the saw an actual miracle.
Yet, even then Rahab had more to do. She was told to tie a scarlet cord in her window to be safe from the destruction that was to come. Joshua 2:17-18. Now someone might wonder how a scarlet cord would provide protection when the city walls were falling, but Rahab again acted on her faith. So as the city was destroyed (Joshua 6), Rahab and her family were spared.
Such an example was Rahab, that hundreds of years after she lived and died, she was cited as an example or faith (Hebrews 11:31) and as an example of being justified by her works (James 2:25).
She is also included in the genealogy of both David and Jesus ( Matthew 1:5).
Are we able to emulate Rahab in our faith in God? Do we act upon our faith as Rahab did?
