Rahab Heroine of Faith

Transcription

1 Rahab Heroine of Faith By Mark Mayberry 5/17/2009 Introduction Rahab, whose story is related in the book of Joshua, is commended in the New Testament as an example of obedient faith (Heb. 11:31; James 2:24-26). Considering her background, Rahab s faith is remarkable; she was the product of a very corrupt culture (Gen. 15:12-16; Lev. 18:24-30). Yet, despite her obvious moral shortcomings, she was prepared to trust in the might and mercy of Jehovah. Manifesting active faith, she helped the Hebrew spies, hiding them from danger, and sending them safely away. Accordingly, through her courage and conviction, through her faith and fidelity, she and her family were saved from destruction. Additionally, Rahab is included in the Messianic lineage, which is an additional memorial to her faith (Matt. 1:5-6). Hebrews 11: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. James 2: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Genesis 15: Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete. Leviticus 18: Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. 25 For the land has become defiled, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so the land has spewed out its inhabitants. 26 But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you 27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); 28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. 29 For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Thus you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice 1

2 any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourselves with them; I am the Lord your God. Matthew 1: Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. Historical Account In Joshua chapter 2, verses 1-14, one reads of the faith that was manifested by Rahab; verses record the conditional promises made to Rahab. Chapter 6 sets forth their fulfillment, and also describes additional blessings that she and her household subsequently enjoyed (cf. vs. 17, 22-25). Faith Demonstrated by Rahab (Josh. 2:1-14) Joshua 2: Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land. 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land. 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them. 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death. 14 So the men said to her, Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you. 2

3 Promises Made to Rahab (Josh. 2:15-24) Joshua 2: Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way. 17 The men said to her, We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear. 21 She said, According to your words, so be it. So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us. Promises Kept to Rahab (Josh. 6:17, 22-25) Joshua 6: Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times. 16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. 17 The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. 19 But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord. 20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city. 21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. Joshua 6: Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the harlot s house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her. 23 So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel. 24 They burned the city with fire, 3

4 and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Rahab s Former Life of Sin Rahab is identified as a harlot four times in Scripture (Josh. 6:17, 25; Heb. 11:31; James 2:25). Harlotry was a sinful and shameful practice, whether symbolic (Exod. 34:11-17; Lev. 17:7; 20:6; Num. 25:1-3), or actual (Lev. 19:29; Deut. 23:17-18; Prov. 6:24-35; 7:6-23; 23:26-28; 29:3). Joshua 6: The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. Joshua 6: However, Rahab the harlot and her father s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Hebrews 11: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. James 2: In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Exodus 34: Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. 12 Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. 13 But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim 14 for you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God 15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, 16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. 17 You shall make for yourself no molten gods. Leviticus 17: They shall no longer sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they play the harlot. This shall be a permanent statute to them throughout their generations. Leviticus 20: As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. 4

5 Numbers 25: While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel Leviticus 19: Do not profane your daughter by making her a harlot, so that the land will not fall to harlotry and the land become full of lewdness. Deuteronomy 23: None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God. Proverbs 6: To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress. 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids. 26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned? 28 Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched? 29 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor s wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished. 30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry; 31 But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house. 32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it. 33 Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out. 34 For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts. Proverbs 7: For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice, 7 And I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense, 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house, 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the middle of the night and in the darkness. 10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart. 11 She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home; 12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner. 13 So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him: 14 I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows. 15 Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt. 17 I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses. 19 For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home. 21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him. 22 Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, 23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life. 5

6 Proverbs 23: Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways. 27 For a harlot is a deep pit And an adulterous woman is a narrow well. 28 Surely she lurks as a robber, And increases the faithless among men. Proverbs 29: A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth. Rahab s New Life of Faith By identifying herself with Israel, Rahab became accountable to the Mosaic Covenant, for the same standard applied to the native Israelite and also the stranger, i.e., proselyte (Exod. 12:18-20, 48-49; Lev. 16:29-31; 17:15-16; 18:26-29; 20:2; 24:16; Num. 15:30-31). Exodus 12: In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. 20 You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread. Exodus 12: But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you. Leviticus 16: This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; 30 for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute. Leviticus 17: When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean. 16 But if he does not wash them or bathe his body, then he shall bear his guilt. Leviticus 18: But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments and shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the alien who sojourns among you 27 (for the men of the land who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become defiled); 28 so that the land will not spew you out, should you defile it, as it has spewed out the nation which has been before you. 29 For whoever does any of these abominations, those persons who do so shall be cut off from among their people. 6

7 Leviticus 20: You shall also say to the sons of Israel: Any man from the sons of Israel or from the aliens sojourning in Israel who gives any of his offspring to Molech, shall surely be put to death; the people of the land shall stone him with stones. Leviticus 24: Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. Numbers 15: But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him. The Legacy of Rahab Consider the enduring example of Rahab: She is honored as an ancestor of Christ, and the mother of a good and godly man (Matt. 1:5-6). She is honored as a heroine of faith (Heb. 11:31). She is also honored as an example of works (James 2:24-26). Matthew 1: Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. Hebrews 11: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. James 2: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Conclusion Faith in God changes people: It can make a saint out of the lowest sinner. Finally, consider also the example of Hosea, whose harlot wife was guilty of infidelity and immorality (Hos. 1:1-2; 2:1-7). Yet, Hosea lovingly received her back, upon the conditional requirement that she demonstrate renewed faithfulness (Hos. 3:1-5). In like manner, God will receive us back, if we bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matt. 3:7-10; Eph. 5:6-14). Hosea 1: The word of the Lord which came to Hosea the son of Beeri, during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. 2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord. 7

8 Hosea 2: Say to your brothers, Ammi, and to your sisters, Ruhamah. 2 Contend with your mother, contend, For she is not my wife, and I am not her husband; And let her put away her harlotry from her face And her adultery from between her breasts, 3 Or I will strip her naked And expose her as on the day when she was born. I will also make her like a wilderness, Make her like desert land And slay her with thirst. 4 Also, I will have no compassion on her children, Because they are children of harlotry. 5 For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, I will go after my lovers, Who give me my bread and my water, My wool and my flax, my oil and my drink. 6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her way with thorns, And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her paths. 7 She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, I will go back to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now! Hosea 3: Then the Lord said to me, Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. 2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley. 3 Then I said to her, You shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man; so I will also be toward you. 4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and without ephod or household idols. 5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days. Matthew 3: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father ; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Ephesians 5: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. 8