Joshua 2:1-14

Many people in the ordinary world would probably have some negative thoughts about prostitutes. With respect to Rahab, people are perhaps curious in their minds about how a prostitute could have faith or be a good example in Christ according to the story in the Bible? The Bible says that, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Nobody is righteous in God’s sight. Despite this, God still loves anyone including sinners like you and me. Therefore, God said to the thief on the cross, “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). As God so loves every man on this world, He also loved the harlot, Rahab, due to her faith and pure repentance.

The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1 includes the name of Rahab who was an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Rahab was named as one of the four most beautiful women the world has ever known, along with Sarah, Abigail, and Esther. She was, according to the Book of Joshua, a woman who lived in Jericho in the Promised Land and assisted the Israelites in capturing the city by betraying her people.

Hebrews 11:31 says “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace”. Rahab is described as an example of a saint who lived by faith yet was accounted righteous for her works. According to her faith, God has forgiven her sin. And she eventually was given salvation from the Lord“…for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” Romans 1:16.

In addition, biblical interpreters have viewed Rahab as a model of hospitality, mercy, faith, patience, and repentance in her interaction with Joshua’s spies. As a result, the harlot of Jericho became a champion of virtue.

Joshua 2:1-7 Joshua sent out two men to spy secretly in the land, even Jericho.

God had made the following promises to Joshua:

1. I, the Lord will be with you (Joshua 1:9);
2. Nobody shall be able to stand against you (Joshua 1:5); and
3. All the land will be given unto you and your people (Joshua 1:3-4).

The obligations we need to have are as follows:

1. Faith, like that of Rahab;
2. Keep and follow all the commandments of the Lord;
3. Teach our people to take heed and do God’s commandments;
4. Be strong and of good courage (God has emphasised this phrase three times in Joshua 1).

In Joshua 2:8-14, we read about faith and the good example of the harlot Rahab:

1. She believed that God was the Lord in heaven above, and in earth beneath (Joshua 2:11b);
2. She heard how the Lord dried up the Red sea for the Israelites, when they came out of Egypt (Joshua 2:10a). She had also heard that God utterly destroyed the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og (Joshua 2:10b);
3. Therefore, she was very confident to say that, “I know that the LORD hath given you the land” (Joshua 2:9a), because she had faith in God who was the Lord of heaven above and earth beneath

Isn’t this astonishing?

The Israelites had neither occupied the land nor come across the Jordan River yet. But this harlot Rahab had a strong faith that this land would be given to them (Joshua 2:9). In comparison to Joshua, even though God had already promised him that He would be with him and give this land to him and his people, Joshua still sent out two men to spy and view the land. This was to ensure that the Israelites would be strong enough to occupy the land. According to this observation, we can see a different level of faith in Joshua, a leader of Israelites, and the harlot Rahab.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The things for which we hope and things that we have not yet seen speak of the future. If we have strong confidence in things that we hope for that are unseen, like Rahab, that is a genuine faith. Things that we have already seen or received, do not need faith. Someone once said, “In every step of our journey, God doesn’t provide us the light to see ahead 100 or 1,000 feet, but He gives us light sufficient for us to travel foot by foot or step by step, otherwise we will walk according to our pleasure.” Certainly, there are many times that we will stumble over or go astray; as a result, we need to follow God’s steps and His guidance with our faith and trust in Him all the time of our lives.

Last but not least, Rahab still has another good example for us. Joshua 2:12-13 says, “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death”. These verses show the love and great kindness of Rahab.  She didn’t think only of herself, but asked for all her family to be saved from death. When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and then lived among the Israelites.

In Acts 16:25-31, the prison keeper asks Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (v.30b) and they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (v.31). As we have already been given salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a great privilege and duty to help our family and others who do not yet belong to the kingdom of God to come and receive the everlasting life from our Father in heaven. Hopefully, you will have faith like Rahab, and our faith will be a good example to bring many people to Christ, the only One True God. Amen.

Dn Wittawat “Boong” Atijatuporn

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