The Faith of Rahab Helps our Faith
The faith of Rahab condemns the Israelites and many Christians. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We need to continue to walk our life journey in faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11: 1-40
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3
Rahab had a faith in the LORD God. She did not grow up in the knowledge of Him, and she did not know anything about Jesus Christ. Yet there was faith that the LORD is who He said He was. Just like Hebrews 11:6 says; “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Rahab knew that the LORD had given the land to the children of Israel. She knew that her people were afraid of them because they had heard how the LORD had dried up the water of the Red sea for them when they came out of Egypt. They knew what the children had done to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of Jordan and that Sihon and Og were utterly destroyed. The LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Here was Rahab who knew the power of the LORD and was convinced she could trust the LORD and these two messengers from the LORD. She asked the two men to swear to her by the LORD that they would save her family and all they had. She asked the men for a true token. It is interesting that she trusted the LORD only after hearing the stories of what He had done in the land of Egypt.
Hebrew 11 give Rahab a place of honor when it said; “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab finds herself in the company of Noah who became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Through Abraham, Sarah and Isaac whom received the promise of the LORD through their faith. Also mentioned was Jacob, his son Joseph, Moses. It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell down and that brings us to Rahab.
Rahab was also given honor in the book of James; “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:24-26). James is speaking of Rahab showing her faith by her works.
Understanding the story of Rahab brings up the questions of how it was that she had faith in the LORD God when many of the Israelites and many Christians do not. Does her faith condemn these Israelites and Christians who have been given the knowledge of the LORD God? They lived in the presence of the LORD God they were there when the LORD God showed His power and glory to the children of Israel. They were there when the LORD parted the Red Sea. Yet they did not believe.
Christians of today have the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. They have been taught and they have had the opportunity to accept Jesus and believe through faith. Yet they do not accept fully the promise. A Christian must have faith that the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for the redemption of their sins. There is nothing a person can do to save himself from sin. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and his crucifixion and resurrection, that a person can receive salvation. When a person receives the promise of salvation, he receives the promise that he will be forgiven of all sin, be judged innocent, and saved from the judgment of eternal damnation. Yet when times are tough many Christians loose the faith of Jesus and they resort to their own vices for their salvation.
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:19-26)
It is easy to claim having faith in an unseen Jesus Christ. The question then comes with do you have the courage to stand by that declared faith when times get tough? We need substantiate the genuineness of our faith by our courage. Once we know that we are protected by the LORD God then we have to have faith that we are protected. Once we have been taught that the teachings of Jesus Christ are the same teachings of the LORD God because the LORD God and Jesus Christ are one. Then we must accept those teachings. Jesus went to His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed to His Father. It is the most power prayer about us you can ever read. If you read this prayer found in John 17: 1- 26 you will KNOW through faith that you belong to Jesus Christ.
It is the certainty of our faith that we can stand unshaken when life throws us a curve ball. It is the statement I belong to the family of the LORD God that gives us the strength to put one foot in front of the other and continue on our life journey for the Glory of the LORD God and in the name of Jesus Christ. We did not choose Jesus; Jesus chose us. We did not ordain Jesus we were ordained by Jesus.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16)
The faith of Rahab reminds the two spies that the LORD God is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath. This conviction and confession of the superior, power, authority, and Glory of the LORD God is a noble example of the strength of faith and leaves no room for any other god to be considered. Little gods such as money, lust, self-power or even person can stand in the presence of such a mighty LORD.
Paul in 1 Timothy writes about Jesus; “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1Timothy 6:14-19).”
There are times in our life when the world loves to make believing faithful Christians stupid because we embrace of an unseen LORD. They try to confidence the believer that they should have faith in the world or themselves rather than in and unseen LORD. This is simply one of the tricks and lies of satan. Matthew 11:25-30 gives the perfect proof of this lie. “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ” (Matthew 11:25-30)
Rahab was rewarded because she “by faith … received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31). The life of faith in the LORD God and Jesus Christ does not go unrewarded. Rahab was rewarded with physical protection. We also know from Matthew 1:5 that Rahab is recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. What a reward that is.
We also are rewarded for our faith with the peace of the LORD God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever comes our way we have the faith and knowledge that we do not go through it alone but we have a Savior that is there with us. We are justified by faith that is we are rendered righteous by faith. (Romans 5:1-15).
There are responsibilities that come along with having faith. Faith is given to us by the grace of our LORD. We must continue to walk obediently by our God given faith. Jesus Christ is the means of eternal life for mankind. We must be in Him or we perish. Faith is the requirement of believing. We all must face judgment and face Jesus Christ for judgment. Those baptized will join Him in heaven for judgment, those unbaptized believers will be resurrected from their grave at a certain time and receive their last judgment. (Hebrews 9:26-28).
True faith in Christ changes our lives. If we truly believe in Jesus, we cannot go on living as we did before. Rahab believed and was spared, and that changed her life. She did not go on with her harlotry life. She continued her journey among the people of the LORD God in Israel that she had put her trust and faith in. We also need to continue to walk our life journey in faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
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MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Faith of Rahab Helps our Faith:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2284 ,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “The Faith of Rahab Helps our Faith:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2284 ,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Faith of Rahab Helps our Faith:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2284 , (accessed).
