The victory by Israel at Jericho was an example of the blessing of obeying God. This marked the first of many great victories which Israel would enjoy as they conquered the Promise Land.
But there is another account of faith connected to the victory at Jericho which involved a most unlikely person. There were many people who heard the same thing, but only one person believed what was heard. That person was Rahab the harlot. Although there is not much information given about her, we do know that she believed, was saved, and became a part of the lineage through which David and Jesus. Rahab is mentioned in Joshua 2 and 6, Matthew 1, Hebrews 11, and James 2.
Based upon what she heard about the LORD God of Israel, Rahab concluded that "He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath."
THE CHALLENGE OF THE CITY
Joshua 2:1-2: 1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy
secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into
an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2And it was told the king of
Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of
Israel to search out the country.
Jericho was a sinful city. It was given to idolatry. It was a strategic city. All around Jericho was desert like land. North and west of there were some mountainous areas which were greener. Jericho was an oasis. Without conquering Jericho, Israel could not deal with the next city.
It was a structured city. It had a government and a king. It had a military and had mighty men of valor (Joshua 6:2).
It was a strong city. It was a walled city with plenty of supplies on the inside. The military had very important defensive positions on the wall.
THE COOPERATION OF RAHAB
Joshua 2:3-7: 3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the
men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come
to search out all the country. 4And the woman took the two men, and hid them,
and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5And
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it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the
men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye
shall overtake them. 6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and
hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7And
the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they
which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Rahab helped the spies (Verse 3) by hiding them (Verses 4-7).
THE CHARACTER OF RAHAB
Joshua 2:1-6: 1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy
secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into
an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2And it was told the king of
Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of
Israel to search out the country. 3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab,
saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine
house: for they be come to search out all the country. 4And the woman took the
two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not
whence they were: 5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate,
when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue
after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 6But she had brought them up to
the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in
order upon the roof.
She had a dishonorable lifestyle (Verse l).
Joshua 6:25: 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.
Hebrews 11:31: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
not, when she had received the spies with peace.
James 2:25: "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?"
In order to save the Israelite spies, she was deceptive toward the authorities (Vs 4-6).
THE CONCERN OF RAHAB
Joshua 2:8-21: 8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon
the roof; 9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the
land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the
land faint because of you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water
of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two
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kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom
ye utterly destroyed. 11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did
melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for
the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12Now
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: 13And 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.
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business.
And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly
and truly with thee. 15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for
her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16And she said
unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide
yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may
ye go your way. 17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine
oath which thou hast made us swear. 18Behold, when we come into the land,
thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us
down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and
all thy father's household, home unto thee. 19And it shall be, that whosoever
shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his
head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his
blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. 20And if thou utter this our
business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away,
and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
She had heard the facts concerning Israel. She knew about the favor of God on Israel.
Verses 9a, 10: "And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you
the land,...For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea
for you, when ye came out of Egypt: and what ye did unto the two kings of the
Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly
destroyed."
The fear of the Israelites fell upon Jericho.
Verses 9b, 11a: "…your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of
the land faint because of you And as soon as we had heard these things, our
hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in man, because of
you..."
Yet, in spite of the terror of the population of Jericho, her future was bright. The statement of faith is expressed in Verse 11b. "...For the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth
beneath."
Hebrews 11:31: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed
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not, when she had received the spies with peace.
She made a very simple request: Save my family and me (Verses l2, 13). There was a stated requirement (Verses l4-20) concerning the covenant (Verse l4) and the cord (Verses l5-20). The salvation requested was received (Verse 21).
Joshua 6:22-25: 22But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the
country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that
she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23And 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. 24And 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. 25And 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 CONSEQUENCES FOR RAHAB
She gained acceptance into the family of the nation Israel. All others of Jericho died. She married an Israelite.
Matthew 1:4, 5: 4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and
Naasson begat Salmon; 5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat
Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
She had an attainment in the future. She was saved and became a part of the lineage through which David and Jesus were born (Matthew 1:4, 5). Her acceptance was by faith.
Hebrews 11:31, "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed,
when she had received the spies in peace."
James 2:25: Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Conclusion
Rahab was an unlikely person to be saved in that day. She was a Gentile, and she was a harlot. She heard the things which God had done and believed that Israel's God is the God in heaven and earth.
Rahab believed what she had heard.
Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of
God."
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The salvation of Rahab shows that regardless how sinful a person may be, God will save that person if he believes what God had said. Rahab not only received salvation, but she was blessed as she walked by faith.
Have you heard of the love of God and God's gift of salvation to those who believe what God has said? If you were to die today, do you know that you would go to Heaven? If you are saved, are you serving God through the Church?
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