Bible Character Studies: Rahab. Pt. 3
Good morning...
Psalm 51: 2,3 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
We probably know how the conquest of Jericho unfolded in Joshua 3-6. Israel crossed the Jordan, the people were circumcised and prepared for an unusual battle strategy. Their army would march around the city walls once per day for 6 days led by the priests. They were to make no noise. The priests would have trumpets and the ark would be carried in the front of the procession.
On the 7th day the army of Israel would march around the city 7 times and on the last time the priests would sound the trumpets and the people would shout with a great shout. Jehovah then caused the walls to collapse.
Rahab knew that her city and her people were going to be conquered. She also had faith that the 2 spies would keep their word and save her family from destruction. God caused the walls to fall except for where Rahab's home was located.
A scarlet thread or rope showed Israel where Rahab lived.
It is of interest to note that the thread or rope she hung from her window was the color of blood, scarlet. It reminds us that all sin has to be paid for and how Christ ultimately shed His own blood to pay for all sin in order to redeem those who believe the gospel. The scarlet thread runs all the way from Adam and Eve right up to the cross of Christ.
Joshua 6:23-25 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
The spies were two young men and they entered the city after the walls came down and brought Rahab and her family to safety within the camp of Israel. The inhabitants of Jericho were defeated and the soldiers gathered the silver, gold, brass and iron and put the metals into the treasury of the house of Jehovah as He commanded.
The text goes on to say that Joshua saved Rahab and her family and all their possessions alive and that she dwelt with the Israelite's until her death. The reason for this mercy was because she protected the messengers who came to spy out Jericho.
Rahab is not mentioned again in the the Old Testament text; however, her name is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament.
Rahab was spared because she had faith in Jehovah.
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Rahab is listed in the catalog of those who lived a life by faith, believing the promises of God. Her faith in Jehovah caused her life to be spared. Her faith in Jehovah was accompanied by the reverential fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.
She could have turned the spies over to the kings soldiers and been rewarded handsomely but she chose to protect them and show kindness to the people of God.
Rahab's faith was active and fruitful.
James 2:25-26 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James tells us that the faith of Rahab was active and proven by the works that she did. He reminds us that a profession of faith without any works, or we might say faith without fruit, is simply dead faith. If we are truly born again then our lives and our actions will be impacted by our faith.
Rahab was put into the line of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:5-6 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Notice the most amazing aspect of Rahab's new life of faith. She married and Israelite man named Salmon. She gave birth to a son named Boaz, a mighty man of integrity who eventually married the Moabite woman named Ruth. Ruth gave birth to Obed who fathered Jesse the father of King David.
Thus, this woman who used to be a harlot in Jericho found faith in Jehovah, found a new life living with the people of God and found happiness in marriage as God intended it to be.
Jehovah placed her right into the genealogy or ancestry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Matthew's genealogy above proves that Jesus Christ is related to Abraham and David and that He had legal claim to the throne of David.
Points to Ponder...
Psalm 51: 2,3 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
We probably know how the conquest of Jericho unfolded in Joshua 3-6. Israel crossed the Jordan, the people were circumcised and prepared for an unusual battle strategy. Their army would march around the city walls once per day for 6 days led by the priests. They were to make no noise. The priests would have trumpets and the ark would be carried in the front of the procession.
On the 7th day the army of Israel would march around the city 7 times and on the last time the priests would sound the trumpets and the people would shout with a great shout. Jehovah then caused the walls to collapse.
Rahab knew that her city and her people were going to be conquered. She also had faith that the 2 spies would keep their word and save her family from destruction. God caused the walls to fall except for where Rahab's home was located.
A scarlet thread or rope showed Israel where Rahab lived.
It is of interest to note that the thread or rope she hung from her window was the color of blood, scarlet. It reminds us that all sin has to be paid for and how Christ ultimately shed His own blood to pay for all sin in order to redeem those who believe the gospel. The scarlet thread runs all the way from Adam and Eve right up to the cross of Christ.
Joshua 6:23-25 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
The spies were two young men and they entered the city after the walls came down and brought Rahab and her family to safety within the camp of Israel. The inhabitants of Jericho were defeated and the soldiers gathered the silver, gold, brass and iron and put the metals into the treasury of the house of Jehovah as He commanded.
The text goes on to say that Joshua saved Rahab and her family and all their possessions alive and that she dwelt with the Israelite's until her death. The reason for this mercy was because she protected the messengers who came to spy out Jericho.
Rahab is not mentioned again in the the Old Testament text; however, her name is mentioned 3 times in the New Testament.
Rahab was spared because she had faith in Jehovah.
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Rahab is listed in the catalog of those who lived a life by faith, believing the promises of God. Her faith in Jehovah caused her life to be spared. Her faith in Jehovah was accompanied by the reverential fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom.
She could have turned the spies over to the kings soldiers and been rewarded handsomely but she chose to protect them and show kindness to the people of God.
Rahab's faith was active and fruitful.
James 2:25-26 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James tells us that the faith of Rahab was active and proven by the works that she did. He reminds us that a profession of faith without any works, or we might say faith without fruit, is simply dead faith. If we are truly born again then our lives and our actions will be impacted by our faith.
Rahab was put into the line of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:5-6 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Notice the most amazing aspect of Rahab's new life of faith. She married and Israelite man named Salmon. She gave birth to a son named Boaz, a mighty man of integrity who eventually married the Moabite woman named Ruth. Ruth gave birth to Obed who fathered Jesse the father of King David.
Thus, this woman who used to be a harlot in Jericho found faith in Jehovah, found a new life living with the people of God and found happiness in marriage as God intended it to be.
Jehovah placed her right into the genealogy or ancestry of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Matthew's genealogy above proves that Jesus Christ is related to Abraham and David and that He had legal claim to the throne of David.
Points to Ponder...
- Rahab was a pagan prostitute who came to know Jehovah.
- She exercised faith in the God of Israel and protected the spies.
- She was rewarded for her faith by having her life and her family spared.
- She began a new life with the people of God and bore a son in the line of King David.
- Rahab's story and life reminds us that God is always working in people's hearts and that He wants all people to come to repentance and salvation.
I hope that the study of Rahab's life is a blessing to all of us. I am encouraged to reflect on Jehovah saving a woman who was in a morally bankrupt culture and who used her body to make a living. God can save the most vile person if they truly repent of their sins and turn to Christ as their only hope.
Rahab was a woman that would be shunned and looked down on by many people. Yet, God revealed Himself to her in such a way that her life was radically changed. She was counted faithful and was included in the Hebrews hall of faith. She was incorporated into the line of Jesus Christ. All of this is another story of amazing grace extended to an undeserving sinner like you or me!
May we praise Jehovah for always making a way for sinners to have a relationship with Him through faith. May we rejoice in how God has changed our lives through the new birth. May we be used of God to tell others about His saving grace.
Bob
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