Rahab was a woman who hailed

Transcription

1 Faith in the Face of Impending Doom Rahab was a woman who hailed from a heathenistic people one who not only was not from God s chosen nation Israel, but was also of an ill-reputed background and occupation. The Bible calls her the harlot Rahab! Still, the Bible also has these amazing things to say of her: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31); Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25). Can the Bible be mistaken in these descriptions? Absolutely not! The Bible is infallible and perfect in every of its Hebrew and Greek words, for All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is therefore inerrant. Rahab s Repulsive Background But then, how can this be? How can such a woman be listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11? Besides Sarah (Abraham s wife), the only other woman mentioned by name in the Gospel s Hall of Faith chapter, is Rahab! Admittedly, it is so difficult and repulsive even to reconcile such a loose, wanton, immoral woman with a woman of God-honouring faith. The term harlot conjures up a picture of a shameless, wicked woman who has no qualms about luring men and breaking up families. All she cares about is sensual pleasure and money! She flatters with her words and her paths lead unto the dead. Her house is the way to hell (literally!), going down to the chambers of death (Proverbs 7:27). Many lives (directly and indirectly) can be ruined by a harlot. A harlot ruins her very own life as well. Many such women end up 18 BIBLE WITNESS

2 having sexually transmitted diseases; many despise themselves, become depressed and even take their own lives! Such a woman is certainly not a model of piety, let alone to be emulated for her faith or virtuous living. In fact, some Old Testament commentators tried to get round it by explaining away the Hebrew word (zonah) translated as harlot. They claim that it could mean an innkeeper or a landlady of a tavern. Well, let God s words speak for themselves; one should not read one s preconceived ideas into them. This Hebrew noun is derived from the root verb (zanah) which means to commit fornication, and is used consistently throughout the Old Testament to refer only to harlot. Any lingering doubt is eliminated by the New Testament writers using the Greek word porne, which comes from the root verb (porneuo) meaning to give one s self to illicit sexual relationships or activities. This Greek feminine noun literally gives the idea of a woman who prostitutes for gain. Hence, the King James Version faithfully and accurately translated it as harlot. In a word, take God s Word at face value. She, Rahab, had been a harlot, for sure. Doubtless, there probably were many harlots in the depraved city of Jericho in those days. But God s mysterious, undeserved, wonderworking grace must have been working in Rahab s heart for some time (perhaps even months) prior to the spying mission. She knew she was a despised character. Having sold herself out to the most degrading sin a woman can sink into, she had rejected her honour and virtue. It is not too farfetched to believe that over time, her soul must have grappled with qualms of regret and pangs of deep guilt because of her licentious life. Before repentance of soul, there must be a deep revulsion and conviction of one s sinfulness; a broken and a contrite heart, God wilt not despise (Psalm 51:17b). She wanted to get out of it all somehow, but did not know how to given the prevalent immorality and abominable perversions of her entire city (cf. Leviticus 18:27; 20:23) until she heard about a marvellous, God-honouring nation that was approaching her land Rahab s Amazing Reception of the Spies Hence this amazing commentary by the New Testament writer in Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab received the spies with peace, i.e. not to endanger them or turn them in to the authorities, but as their ally. This is most incredible! Nobody had done it before it is tantamount to being a traitor, exposing herself to being arrested and executed. She would be beheaded if caught. The king of Jericho would have no sympathy or leniency with a downright harlot, a filthy and despicable nobody in his eyes! But what she did was special and significant in God s eyes. Thus, Scripture deems it fit to record her act as a testimony of her daring faith to Bible-readers down through the ages. It is noteworthy that the same word received used by James has an added prefix hupo (which means under ) attached to the Greek verb. It has the idea of to admit under one s roof. This tells us that at great risk to her BIBLE WITNESS 19

3 life, Rahab had entertained the 2 spies sent from Joshua hospitably. She not only played host, but also provided protective shelter for the 2 spies when their cover was blown and guards from the king of Jericho came pursuing them (Joshua 2:3-4). Though she misdirected the pursuers with a lie, the Bible does not justify lying. It must be noted that she was not justified by her lie, but by works (James 2:25a), i.e. by her daring step of being identified with the God of Israel and His people. Hers was still an immature faith. Her faith, though decisive and commended by Scripture, still needed to grow. Though there was a 180 o -turn in her convictions and values, there were still old ways of set thinking and deep-seated attitudes that needed to be changed over time. One such instance was her misguided view that the end justified the means. In fact, there was no need to tell a lie. God could easily intervene supernaturally (by distracting the pursuers or causing them to look another way), since it was His express will that the 2 spies should succeed in their mission in order for Joshua to go ahead to conquer the land (cf. Joshua 1:2). Rahab s Astonishing Confession of Faith Rahab actually alluded to God s supernatural intervention when she furnished the 2 spies with vital information on enemy morale, or rather the lack of it. She acknowledged that all the inhabitants of the land faint For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed (Joshua 2:9b-10). The parting of the Red Sea in the exodus, and the comprehensive victories over the 2 fearsome kings, together with the capture of the latter s 60 highly fortified cities (cf. Deuteronomy 3:4-5), were nothing short of miraculous. She had heard and believed all these great exploits God had accomplished on behalf of Israel, which must have come from reliable news sources (such as travelling merchants). While everyone else s heart did melt (i.e. became discouraged and demoralised) so that there remain (no) more courage (or spirit) in any man (Joshua 2:11), Rahab s heart was buoyed by a gleam of hope. She had never heard of such a wonderful God before, who had such righteous laws and sanctified requirements for His people. The 10 commandments one of which is Thou shalt have no other gods before me ; and another of which is Thou shalt not commit adultery would have resonated with her wretched soul! To her, Israel s approach spelt hope, though it meant impending doom to her wicked people. Hence her astonishing confession of faith: the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath (Joshua 2:11b). Now, the 2 spies chanced appearance at Rahab s house was, in effect, God s providential opportunity for her to realise God s message of doom and yet hope if accompanied by repentance. Since the spies almost immediately had to hide for their lives, they hardly had any opportunity to spy out the land. Yet in God s providence, they had been used of 20 BIBLE WITNESS

4 God to bring salvation to Rahab. Thus, James fittingly described the 2 spies as messengers, for they were like bearers of good news to Rahab! She was so grateful that she was prepared to risk her life for theirs. Furthermore, by sending them out another way (James 2:25b), she facilitated their undetected escape back across Jordan to Joshua and the waiting Israelites. But not before she secured their agreement to make provision for her family s deliverance, by token of a scarlet cord in the window (Joshua 2:12-13, 18). Her astonishing faith was not only shown by her sombre confidence that Israel would destroy Jericho by the LORD s doing, but was also manifested by her obedience in binding the scarlet cord in the window, as instructed by the 2 messengers as a means of easy visible identification. Now, this certainly served as an outward sign of being separated in Rahab s case. Yet at the same time, it posed a potential danger as it could be easily spotted and marked out by the returning pursuers, thereby arousing her own countrymen s suspicions. She could have been tempted to delay binding the scarlet cord in the window until a more convenient time. But she did it immediately after the spies departure, though she had no idea when they would return. It could be days, weeks, or even months! Not wanting to be caught unawares at the imminent coming of Israelites, she was prepared to take the risk, trusting that God could overrule and even intervene supernaturally. She thus showed an increased maturity in faith, in marked contrast to the earlier episode when she had to resort to telling a lie. Rahab s Decisive Motivations Why did Rahab risk her life with seemingly no loyalty to her own nation? Her own confession in Joshua 2:11b gave a clue as to her inner motivations: the LORD is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. She realised that one cannot have blind loyalty with total disregard to the truth; there is a God in heaven to whom she must give account. She wanted to have a clean break from her bondage to sin. She yearned for a new lease of life not a mere physical, existential life of eat, drink and be merry! Not sensual pleasures, not the pleasures of life, not riches of this world! All of a sudden, she (being given the eyes of faith) could see beyond this present earthly life, and (like Abraham and Sarah) desired a better country, that is, an heavenly (Hebrews 11:16). Rahab s story did not end here. Though after Israel s conquest her name was not mentioned again in the Old Testament, she later became married to Salmon, who begat Boaz, who in turn begat Obed, grandfather of David (cf. Matthew 1:5-6). Amazingly, she became part of King David s genealogy and thus the Messiah s lineage. Truly, Rahab s story is a classic case of a heart of faith being matched by some decisive step in faith. One can never tell how much may hinge on just one step, especially in the face of impending doom. Indeed, sometimes the whole course of one s life as in Rahab s case may be changed by just one decisive step of faith! BIBLE WITNESS 21

5 Gethsemane Church Building Project your prayers and generous support are most needful and greatly appreciated Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Cheque may be made payable to Gethsemane B-P Church. (Please indicate Church Building Project on the reverse of the cheque and send your love gift to Gethsemane B-P Church, 510 Geylang Road, #02-06, Singapore )