Title: STORIES OF FAITH: RAHAB

Focus: Rahab’s faith in action leads to salvation for her and her family. Rahab’s faith is a model for us to exemplify in our Christian pilgrimage.

Function: To encourage the people to welcome the good news, believing its power, and enacting upon the Christian faith, thus practicing the faith we profess. Text: Joshua 2:1-24; Hebr. 11:31

“In the midst of prostitution there was a pearl, in the mire there was burnished gold, in the mud there was a flower blooming with godliness.” So spoke a preacher of the gospel centuries ago (cf. Ancient Christian Commentary). He was talking about Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho.

Jericho is part of the land of Canaan, which God is about to give to his people Israel. The Canaanite population includes many people such as the Hittite, the Amorites, and the Philistines. They are very religious people; they worship many gods, and they practice many rituals that are an affront to the expressed will and law of God to Moses and the Israelites. Aside from placating and pleasing their gods with particular worship practices, the Canaanites do basically what is right in their own eyes.

Rahab is a Canaanite, and in her lifestyle and professional career she reflects Canaanite culture and pagan practice. She is known as one of Jericho’s prostitutes. Yet, by the grace of God, she is also known as a righteous person, a person of great faith. And as such she is a “flower blooming” in the mud of Canaan’s culture and religious practices.

Rahab lives in a house that is nestled in the city wall of Jericho. Most likely her house was close to the main road into Jericho, near the city gate. Travelers would recognize her house as a public place, an inn, for example, where lodging can be found, and prostitution practiced. And of course, city officials such as the king of Jericho and his officers would also recognize her house as a strategic place for travelers—and spies.

No doubt, the king and his men know of Rahab’s career--for they know where to go when they hear that Israel’s Central Intelligence Agency under the leadership of Joshua may have sent some spies to gather military intelligence. Where else would spies hide and do their gathering of intelligence but in a hostel or inn where travelers can rest and citizens carouse with prostitutes? It’s a perfect place for spies. Yet, it’s also the place for miracles, for “a flower to bloom” in the muck of Canaanite culture and religious idolatry.

You see, Rahab is our example today. Rahab teaches Christians something very important about faith. Rahab’s faith in action leads to salvation for her and her family; She put her faith in the Triune God of Israel. She practiced the faith she professed on that day when Israel’s spies gathered military intelligence to conquer the land of Canaan and to destroy Jericho and its citizens. A flower in the mud; a woman of faith—now there’s a story to take hold of!

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The inspired storyteller of Joshua 2 tells the story of Rahab in three movements: Vs. 1-7 makes up the first movement: Israel’s spies are in trouble; but Rahab comes to their rescue. The second movement is found in vs. 8-21: Rahab explains her actions and makes a deal with Israel’s spies. Vs. 22-24 constitute the final movement, where the spies tell Joshua and the Israelites the result of their mission and give them an encouraging report saying: “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

The flow of the story is clear and captivates our attention. But there may also be some initial hurdles to overcome before we are willing to consider Rahab’s faith as an example to follow today. Some readers today, for example, may conclude that Rahab is a traitor; she betrays her own people and country. Patriotism does not seem high on Rahab’s list. She’s a traitor and liar, some will observe. And in fact, others may conclude that Rahab should be shot for her disloyalty. Yet, she is a “flower blooming with godliness.”

Another hurdle to overcome for some listeners to Rahab’s story may be their conclusion that says: “Surely, Rahab is acting like a rat on a sinking ship. She runs away from Jericho to avoid destruction by the Israelites. Prostitutes do what is normal to them: they look out after their own interests and protect themselves from risks and dangers by their customers. It only comes natural for Rahab to leave the sinking ship called ‘Jericho.’” Yet, Rahab is a flower—a woman of faith, says Scriptures. Let me explain why.

Take note, first of all, of Rahab’s faith in action. When Rahab realizes that her two guests are spies and that therefore they are in danger of being discovered by the king of Jericho, Rahab hides them under the cover of stalks of flax on the roof of her house. That was an act of faith. Instead of showing hostility toward Israel’s spies, Rahab “welcomed them in peace” says the writer of Hebrews.

And when Rahab sent the king’s men on a “rabbit trail” running after the fugitives (so they thought), Rahab’s kindness to the spies saved NOT only the spies, but also Rahab and her family. Thus the text in Hebrews 11:31 says: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies (literally: because she received the spies in peace) was not killed with those who were disobedient.”

Rahab’s action of hiding the spies and lying to the king’s men points to Rahab’s faith in action. Thus the Apostle James also sees Rahab’s faith as an example for us to follow. James writes: (James 2:25,26 “…was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

Secondly, take note of Rahab’s profession of faith. At nightfall, before the spies went to sleep, Rahab looked them up and explained her actions. Here Rahab becomes very vulnerable; she shows her “cards” to the spies, so to speak. They aren’t quite sure what to make of this Canaanite woman. Can you trust her? Why is she protecting and hiding them from her own countrymen?

But Rahab reveals her heart to them and says: “I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.” And then Rahab points to the source of the Canaanites’ fear of Israel. She mentions the exodus event—that is, Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and the drowning of Pharaoh’s soldiers. And then she points to Israel’s defeat of the Amorites and the deaths of Sihon and Og—who are known among the Canaanites as fearless rulers and ruthless fighters.

Now you might say that the citizens have good reason to be afraid of the Israelites, for nothing can stop them: Sihon and Og tried; so did Pharaoh and his soldiers. “But,” you ask, “would you, pastor, conclude that such observation is a sign of faith?” No, not really. Israel’s success in her battles against the Egyptians and the Amorites are simple, observable facts. So, why then does the Scripture tell us that Rahab is a woman of faith?

Well, the citizens of Jericho do not see what Rahab sees: behind the military successes of Israel, Rahab sees the hand of Israel’s God. She says, “I know that the Lord has given this land to you….” And then, in vs. 11 she expresses her faith again when she says: “…everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”

Here Rahab professes her faith in Israel’s God. She renounces her faith in the gods of the Canaanites. The hooker of Jericho has come to a pivotal point in her life: she hooks off her gods and she seeks refuge with the God of Israel and his people: “I know that the Lord has given this land to you….” Rahab has begun a new life; she recognizes the impotence and uselessness of Canaan’s many territorial idols and nature gods; she flees to Israel’s God whom she acknowledges as “the God in heaven above and on earth below.”

And that leads me, thirdly, to the miracle in this story: Rahab has a change of heart. The God of Israel is bringing rebirth—new life to this pagan woman; God reaches out and takes her blindness away. He makes her see—with the eyes of faith, and thus she can say: “I know that the Lord has given this land to you.” The citizens of Jericho did not know, did not see—with the eyes of faith—that the Creator of the universe, the God of Israel—is to be worshiped and obeyed, for he subdues his enemies and gives his people strength and victory over the Egyptians and the Amorites—and soon also over the citizens of Jericho.

How does Rahab know? It is because Israel’s God has gone before the spies into Jericho, into Rahab’s house, into Rahab’s heart. And there, in the core of her soul, God works faith and rebirth and hope and life in this woman who is known as Jericho’s prostitute. The spies were to gather military intelligence. They got what they sought. They observed the great fear by the Canaanites; what they did not seek—and yet found—was faith in the living God—a faith professed by a woman in the mud of Canaanite idolatry and culture. They found a “flower blooming with godliness.” A miracle indeed!

Rahab’s faith in action leads to salvation for her and her family. Thus Rahab teaches us to welcome or embrace the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Creator of us all and the Redeemer of all who—like Rahab--put their trust in him.

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So what shall we do with this story of faith? What’s there that is instructive and formative for Christians and non-Christians alike? At least three things:

(1) The Christian faith crosses all geographical boundaries: When you become a Christian by turning to Christ and welcoming him into your life, you shift your allegiance and loyalties. Christians become part of God’s people, the church. Christians become part of Christ’s kingdom; Christians have their citizenship in heaven; their loyalties are with Christ. Christians are ambassadors of Christ the king.

What comes first, then, is neither I, me, myself, my family, nor my country of birth, but rather the kingdom or rule of God. Rahab recognized that the rule of Israel’s God is more important than the rule of Jericho or Canaan or the impotent gods of Canaan. When you profess faith in the God of the heavens above and on the earth below, you are crossing geographical boundaries. Our loyalties shift. What matters most is God’s heavenly kingdom here on earth.

(2) Let Rahab’s story of a Gentile sinner becoming part of God’s people resonate with you and me. Most, if not all of us, are brothers and sisters of Rahab. We are Gentiles; Like Rahab, God has grafted us into the vine called “Israel.” Even though you and I may not have the blood of Abraham running through our veins, yet God’s Word calls us—and all others who turn to Christ—“sons and daughters of Abraham. This is only possible because of Jesus’ work on the cross and in the tomb and in our hearts today.

The early Christian church (especially Gentile Christians) spoke of Rahab as a type of the church of Christ. God called Rahab—a Gentile sinner—out of the muck of pagan idolatry and gave her new life—a faith that led to her salvation, and a privilege of belonging to God’s people.

So great was God’s grace to Rahab that Rahab would become one of the ancestral mothers of Jesus. For Rahab gave birth to a son, Boaz. And Boaz gave birth to a son called Jesse. And Jesse gave birth to a son called David. And out of David’s family line, God called forth his very own, eternal Son, Jesus. He took on our flesh, so that he could take our place, bear our sin, pay the wages of sin, die, and rise again that we may live.

If God’s love and mercy can save a sinner like Rahab, so God can save you and me. If God’s grace can reach Rahab in mysterious ways, then surely God’s grace can also reach us and change us and shape us for service in his kingdom. Do like Rahab: welcome the good news that God, in Christ—saves us. Do not fight God’s grace; do not reject God’s love; do not turn your back to God’s Son, the Lord Jesus. Rather, seek refuge in him.

One final application: Open your mind and heart every day to the possibility that God’s Spirit has gone before you in places and in people’s heart.

That means that we may pray for God’s Spirit to do his work of regeneration in the hearts of the people around us. And in the mean time, we can go forth and speak the name of Christ and share the good news with anyone who is willing to listen.

Many may reject the good news in Christ. Some, however, will open their hearts. When that happens, it’s only because God’s Spirit has gone before us and has been busy working faith in that person’s heart. Pray in faith; speak in faith; act in faith. And follow the example of this blooming flower in the mud of idolatry: Rahab, our sister in the faith.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.