Rahab the Harlot Essay Example

belong to the covenant people of God. She is an illustration of the truth of the promise that in the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (Genesis 22:18). Rahab’s first work of faith was letting the spies stay at her house, whose mission was to “view the land” (v. 1) or “search out the land” (v. 2).

Perhaps the spies felt that Rahab’s house would serve as an inconspicuous location, since it was frequented by strangers. (Who’s Who In the Bible) Somehow the news about them and what they were up to leaked out. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country. So the king of Jericho sent 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 country. ” Joshua 2:2-3 (NKJV) Why is it that Rahab believed and nobody else in Jericho did?

Was she better or smarter than everybody else? Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? ” (NKJV) The second work of Rahab’s faith was hiding the men. Joshua 2:6 says she brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. Next, she lies to the king's delegation by affirming: “Yes, the men came

to me, but I did not know where they were from.

And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them. ” (2:4-5) Rahab’s action of hiding the spies is commended as an act of faith. Harold J. Ockenga states it this way: Rahab stands as an evidence of salvation, of justification by faith. She believe when others did not. She chose the people of God and the God of Israel as her God. She dedicated her all to God and hazarded her very security upon this faith. (p. 1)

It is difficult to understand how the means by which that action was carried out, "namely lying," is not considered a sin. James 2:25 (NKJV) says: “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? ” Her actions were governed by faith - a desire to be with the Lord and his people. Rahab had become a believer before those spies ever showed up. She said to the spies after the king‘s delegation left: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og,

whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath (Joshua 2:9-11 NKJV). Rahab had heard about God, and she believed. Hebrews 11:31 says that those who perished in Jericho "believed not".

The word "believe" is pisteuo, which means: "to place confidence in, to trust. " As the inhabitants of Jericho ‘believed not’ it spoke of their disbelief manifesting itself in disobedience. Rahab does not act as we would expect her to act when she protects the spies. Self-interest alone cannot explain her commitment. For the risk of siding with an unknown force against one’s own people is too great to ascribe solely to that motive. Either faith or discernment, or both is required to explain such unproved loyalty.

This is a genuine profession of faith, just as the apostle Paul declares: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ” (Romans 10:10) Rahab demonstrated her faith by asking the men to spare her father, mother, brothers and sisters: Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Rahab believed they would take the city, so in exchange for their protection, an oath is extracted from the spies in the name of

the Lord. Oaths in the name of a deity or deities were in the ancient world. (Edward P. Blair) So the men answered her, Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.

And she said to them, Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way. So the men said to her We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home.

So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear. Then she said, "According to your words, so be it. " And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. They departed and

went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned.

The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us. (Joshua 2:14-24) Her faith was rewarded by God: And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, "Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her. And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. (Joshua 6:21-25) Rahab believed in the God of Israel, and because of

that, she was given eternal life. But had her faith not been strong, she would have died at Jericho. Her strong faith not only saved her from destruction, but it saved her family also. God honored this woman for her faith, not only by delivering her from judgment, but also by placing her in the Messianic line.

According to Matthew 1, Rahab became the mother of Boaz, who became the husband of Ruth, the great-great-grandmother of David. In conclusion, Rahab’s story represents commitment to faith which is not just expressed by a confession, a profession or creed, but is lived out in action. This action demonstrated the public declaration of her faith. The story of Rahab should speak powerfully to us as Christians that those who by virtue of their race, occupation, status, or gender, no matter whether Gentile or Jew, man or woman, free or slave, all are called to a relationship with God.

It is through Rahab’s courage and steadfastness that she and her family inherit a place in the faith community of Israel. Rahab is a heroine because she protected the Israelite spies, and as a consequence of the actions, contribute to Israel’s victory. Call her a “lady of the evening” if you like, or a “streetwalker,” yet the Bible calls Rahab worthy. She was delivered from her sin and given a place with Sarah in the roster of the heroes of faith, who were justified and declared righteous (Hebrews 11:13).