F a c e to F a c e. with. Rahab. Her Story

Transcription

1 F a c e to F a c e with Rahab First Day Her Story But all of us who are Christians have no veils on our faces, but reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. We are transformed in ever-increasing splendor into His own image, and this is the work of the Lord who is the Spirit. (II Corinthians 3:18 PHILLIPS) The story of Rahab gives us one of our greatest clues to the fact that God honors faith and that He is a God of grace. Rahab was a prostitute! But, when she put her faith in God and acted on that faith by helping His people, God saved not only Rahab, but also her entire family. There are two highly notable things about Rahab: 1) She is included in the lineage of Jesus Christ; and 2) She is one of only two women mentioned in the Hebrews Hall of Faith. We will begin by looking at what Scripture tells us about Rahab. This is her story. This week s study will require a lot of reading! We will be looking at Joshua 2 & 6. Read the verses listed below and summarize the events described there: Joshua 2 verses 1-6 verses 7-14 verses verses

2 Joshua 6 verses 1-3 verses verses What was Rahab s trial? What was her response? What did she learn? Second Day Her Manner Who is She? Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to selfcontrol perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. (II Peter 1:5-7) Rahab s name means Storm, Arrogance, Broad, or Spacious. Today we will be looking at the character of Rahab. We know that she was a Gentile and we know that she was a prostitute. Reread the Joshua 2 account and use the following words to describe her: o Her strength o Her weakness 2

3 o Her courage o Her influence Rahab was a prostitute who came to believe in the God of Israel and who acted on that belief by aiding Israel in taking the sinful Jericho. She could never go back and change the fact that she had been a prostitute and, in fact, Scripture never tries to cover up that fact. Although she couldn t change her past, considering our verse for this day of study, II Peter 1:5-7, what could Rahab do? o In practical terms, what does this mean? II Peter 1:8 says, For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider Matthew 1:1-6a and share the fulfillment of this promise in Rahab s life. What does Rahab s salvation and her part in God s plan of redemption for the world teach us? I Corinthians 1:26-29 o What does Rahab teach you? Third Day Her Hope And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. (Luke 1:45 NAS) From what you have studied about Rahab this week: What was her need? What was her hope? What was God s promise? 3

4 Rahab s testimony is not unlike most of ours. Look at Joshua 2:9-11 and share her testimony using her own words: o What did she know? v.9 o What did she hear? v.10 o What did she believe? v.11 Romans 10:9-10 and 17 give a sort of formula for salvation. Read these verses and see if you can make a connection with these verses to Rahab s testimony. Memory Verse: When Rahab sent the spies off, she immediately put the scarlet cord in her window, and began gathering her family together so that none would be lost. Our memory verse this week adds depth and width, breadth and height to the promise of salvation offered to both Rahab, her family - and to us! Speaking of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Hebrews 7:25 says, Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him This is our memory verse this week begin memorizing it today! One of the lessons that comes through Rahab s story perhaps like no other is that salvation is not dependant on human goodness but rather on God s abundant and abounding grace! Our God is a God who saves to the uttermost! One commentator put it this way: The deeper the need, the greater the grace. God s Word puts it this way: But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20b). A 19 th century hymn writer put it this way: His love has no limit; His grace has no measure; His pow r has no boundary known unto men. For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again! (Annie Johnson Flint) o What was your need when you first heard of Jesus? o Are you in need of grace today? Share with God your need and ask Him for His grace. 4

5 Fourth Day Her Gifts In today s portion of the lesson we will be looking at the subject of gifts: what they are, the practical ways we use them, and God s purpose in giving them. We will sometimes look at the spiritual gifts mentioned in the books of the New Testament, but also in a broader sense, we will consider the practical talents and abilities that enhance our everyday life. James 1:17 tells us: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights Whether spiritual or practical, every gift is from God, and we have the responsibility to find out what gifts we have been given and use them to the best of our ability not to do so would not only keep us from reaching our full potential, but it would also deprive others of the contribution and blessing God wants us to be in their lives. o Identify the gift(s) you see operating in Rahab s life. A look at different translations of Hebrews 11:31 points out that Rahab received the spies with peace (NKJ); she welcomed them (NIV); she gave a friendly welcome (NLT), meaning that she looked after their needs and saw to their safety. Once again we see hospitality displayed for the benefit of God s people and exercised through the gift of faith. What must Rahab have felt as she watched from her window as the Israelites gathered and marched around the wall of her city? Surely she wondered if, during the heat of battle, these mighty warriors would remember the scarlet cord tied to her window. For seven days she waited to see if her faith would be rewarded and her family would be saved. Could God have accomplished His purpose by some other means, through some other individual? Of course He could! But in His rich mercy He offered grace to a woman who was lost and she grabbed hold of that anchor of faith, securing herself to the only One who could spare her and her entire household. Rahab had a statement of faith: For the Lord your God, He is God Upon what (or whom) was her faith based? She knew the Lord had given the Israelites the land. She knew the Lord had dried up the water of the Red Sea when His people came out of Egypt. She knew the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Her own statements reveal her knowledge of God and what He had done for His people. Selah (pause and think for a moment and write down what first comes to mind) What is your statement of faith? 5

6 Who do you believe God to be? What do you know of His character? What do you know of His dealings with His people? It s important to know what you believe before declaring it to others. Romans 10:17 says, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. What is your personal goal for growth in your faith this year? Rahab knew very little about God but she acted on what little she did know and the outcome of her faith was life! Maybe you don t know much yet about the Bible, perhaps you only possess a little truth. What s important is that you act on the truth you do know and the results will astound you. How are you acting on your gift of faith? (Give examples) Share the results of your obedience it could mean an answered prayer, a greater understanding of the Word, or a deeper devotion to God. Doubt sees the obstacles. Faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night. Faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step. Faith soars on high. Doubt questions, Who believes? Faith answers, I. 6

7 Fifth Day Her Legacy For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4) Keep in mind that while you are examining the legacy of the women in your lesson each week, you are leaving imprints of your own. The chapters of their lives are history now, but yours are still being written. How will you be remembered? How would you like to be remembered? What will you leave behind of benefit for others? What you do and say today will leave a pattern of behavior to be viewed by others in the years to come. Taking a closer look No one would expect a woman with the notorious reputation of a prostitute to be listed among the honor roll of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, but there we find Rahab along with the great heroes of the Bible. Matthew 1:5 records that her faith allowed her legacy to place her in the genealogy of Christ! She became highly regarded by both Jews and Christians alike for her acts of faith. o What makes Rahab memorable to you? o Why do you think God would use a woman like Rahab to accomplish His will? Taking a personal look o Are you willing to take the risk your faith may require you to take in order to follow Christ? Share an example. o Have you discovered the role God has for you in His plan of salvation? Have you ever thanked Him for it? Passing it on o Knowing God enlisted the help of a prostitute to accomplish His purpose, what does that tell you about whom God may want to use today to further His kingdom? o How might you use this insight to encourage someone else? 7

8 Sixth Day Your Prayer Each day this week you have examined up close face to face a woman of the Bible: her story and manner; her promise and hope; her gifts and legacy. Throughout the process, as you learned about her, you also learned about yourself. Now the focus shifts to Your Prayer. Each week during your group time you will have the opportunity to pray in agreement with the other ladies for the things you write down on this personalized page. Keep an updated account in the Praise list each week as God answers your petitions. Let s begin this year by coming boldly to His throne and learning to pray the BIG PRAYER with expectancy! The only prerequisite for such boldness is being humble and real in His presence. Prayer: Prayer: Write out your prayer for each of the following I praise God for (an aspect of His marvelous character) I confess to God I thank God for I ask God for Promise: Promise: Write out this week s promise in the space provided and learn this year to pray these promises from Scripture. Praise: Praise: If God has answered a prayer request for you this week or fulfilled a desire of your heart, please write it out and date it as a stone of remembrance. 8

9 Notes 2001 Janis Vance and Linda Osborne, Harvest Women's Bible Fellowship, 6115 Arlington, Riverside, CA

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