Hebrews 11:31
Faith’s Hall of Fame: Rahab
Introduction
I have been a pastor at Shiloh Bible Church for eleven years. But my association with the church began long before that. My in-laws, Harold and Dorothy Wills, retired to the Bloomsburg area back in the 1980’s. And they started coming to Shiloh. And so when our family would come up from Washington to visit, we would attend Shiloh with them. And we got to know Pastor Hummel and the people of the church. And Larry was gracious enough to invite me to speak here on occasion.
It was during that time that I was teaching down at Washington Bible College with young Charlie Dyer who, of course, was raised in this church. Well, Charlie and I would eat lunch together every day and he would tell me stories about growing up here in Bloomsburg. He even mentioned some of you in his stories—which have helped me understand you considerably in my pastoral ministry!
Well, once I remember Charlie telling me about 2 people in the community that he knew as he was growing up. But he said he never knew their last names. That’s because they were always referred to by their occupation. The first man was named Joe—Joe the Barber. Charlie said for the longest time he didn’t know the man’s last name because he was always called Joe the Barber. He had a barber shop down on Old Berwick Road in Espy. Who am I referring to? That’s right—Joe Deitrick. But Charlie only knew him as Joe the Barber. The second man’s name was Dick. And Charlie didn’t know his last name either. He delivered mail to the Dyer house and so he was simply referred to as Dick the Mailman. Do you know who I’m referring to? Our very own Dick Casey! But growing up Charlie never knew Dick’s last name—he was simply Dick the Mailman.
Now, many people probably wouldn’t mind being identified with their occupation—Charlie the Truckdriver, Wade the Electrician, Brenda the Nurse, Chris the Teacher. And I guess that’s not a bad way to be remembered. Unless, of course, you have a less than desirable occupation. Such is the case with a particular character in the Bible. We all know what she did for a living. Now, I’m going to say her name, and I want you to tell me her occupation: Rahab the _______ (Harlot). Interesting! We all identify her by her occupation—not simply Rahab, but Rahab the Harlot.
How would you like to be stuck with that title for the rest of your life? Rahab the Harlot. That’s what she was, and that’s what the Bible calls her. And even now—3,000 years later, 3,000 years after her death—we still refer to her as Rahab the Harlot. But even though Rahab was a harlot, a prostitute, a madam, her name is recorded in Faith’s Hall of Fame as someone who exhibited great trust in God.
Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 11. I would like us to see what writer of Hebrews says concerning this woman’s faith.
Now, someone has said there are four types of faith. There is faith that receives, as when we reach out to accept Christ’s free gift of eternal life. Then there is faith that reckons—that counts on God to undertake for us. Thirdly, there is faith that rests—that’s the kind of faith that, in the middle of pain and suffering, sits back in confidence that God will deliver. And then there is faith that risks—a faith that moves out for God and depends on Him in the midst of a dangerous situation.
This fourth kind of faith—a faith that risks—is what gained Rahab the harlot a spot in Faith’s Hall of Fame. And so we read in Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”
We find the story of Rahab’s faith—a faith that risks—in Joshua chapter 2. Please turn there with me in your Bible.
You’ll remember that last Sunday morning we examined the faith of Joshua. The people of Israel had wandered in the Sinai wilderness for 40 years. God then led them through the Jordan River to the threshold of the Promised Land. But in order to claim that land, they had to first conquer the city of Jericho that stood at the entrance to the Promised Land. And Joshua did conquer Jericho. Hebrews 11 tells us that Joshua conquered the city by faith. But faith was exhibited not only outside the city of Jericho, but inside the city as well. And that leads us to the story of Rahab the harlot.
And so we begin reading in Joshua 2:1. “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. ‘Go, look over the land,’ he said, ‘especially Jericho.’ So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.”
Joshua sent 2 men on a reconnaissance mission. They were to spy out the land and return to him. I find it interesting that Joshua sent only 2 men. You’ll recall that Moses sent out 12 men to spy out the land 40 years earlier. 10 returned with a negative report and only 2 gave a positive report—Joshua and Caleb. So, I think Joshua sent 2 men of the same ilk as he and Caleb to search the land and return with a positive, faith-filled report.
Verse 1 tells us that the spies entered the house of Rahab. Now, it wasn’t uncommon for travelers to lodge in her house which acted as somewhat of an ancient inn. And that has led some people like Josephus—a 1st century Jewish historian—to identify Rahab as simply an innkeeper. But I believe that blunts the force of the text. You see, verse 1 refers to Rahab as a zana. Zanais the Hebrew word for prostitute. And in the New Testament, Rahab is called a pornee in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. Pornee is the Greek word for prostitute. So, Rahab was a prostitute, a harlot, a madam. And her house was a house of ill repute where travelers would often lodge.
Continuing in verse 2 we read: “The king of Jericho was told, ‘Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.’ 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.’”
Apparently, Jericho had its own secret surveillance. And the 2 spies were followed to Rahab’s house. This was reported to the king and he dispatched a message to Rahab to turn over the spies.
Verse 4: “But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, ‘Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.’ 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.”
Now, what Rahab did has troubled people. The text records that Rahab lied. She reported that the 2 spies came to her house and then left. But in actuality, she was hiding them on the roof. So, how can this liar be included in Faith’s Hall of Fame? Perhaps you’ve wrestled with this issue. Now, I don’t pretend to have the final solution to this problem. But let me share several possible solutions with you. And you can choose which one you think lines up best with Scripture.
The first solution is …
• Her lie was okay, because life is precious.
There are those who believe that it’s acceptable to tell a falsehood in order to save a life. Man is created in the image of God and so anything and everything must be done to preserve life.
A second possible solution is …
• Her lie was okay, because this is war!
Israel was waging war against Jericho. And it’s acceptable to deceive and resist the enemy during time of war. This would be similar to the Dutch people who hid Jews in their home during World War II.
But then there are others who don’t think Rahab was justified in lying.
And so a third solution might be …
• Her lie was not okay, but it was the lesser of two evils.
Rahab saw the situation as a choice between 2 evils—turn the spies over to the king and watch them die or lie and save their lives.
A fourth solution follows a different approach. It says …
• Her lie was not okay, but she didn’t know any better.
It’s pointed out that Rahab lived in Jericho which was a pagan society. She had limited light and revelation from God so she didn’t know that lying was wrong.
And then a fifth possible solution is this:
• Her lie was not okay, but that’s not the issue.
You see, no one in Faith’s Hall of Fame was perfect. Each one was a sinner. And Rahab was no different. But she isn’t commended for her lie. Rather, she is commended for her faith. And it was her faith that gained her a spot in Faith’s Hall of Fame.
Well, with this in mind, let’s look at Rahab’s faith. I’d like us to consider first the declaration of her faith, followed by the demonstration of her faith, and then finally the deliverance of her faith. First …
1. FAITH’S DECLARATION
Rahab knew of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the mighty deeds He did for the nation. Rahab also knew that God would give Israel the Promised Land. How did she know that? I think she was told this information by travelers who came to Jericho and stayed at her house.
Because of these reports, Rahab placed her faith in God. So, she was trusting in God before the 2 Israeli spies ever came into her house. And she declares her faith in God to them in verses 8-11: “Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, ‘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. 10 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.’”
Rahab declared her faith in the one, true God of Israel. And then we see in Rahab’s life …
2. FAITH’S DEMONSTRATION
Rahab demonstrated her faith by hiding the spies in her home. And that’s what we read in Hebrews 11:31. You don’t have to turn there. Let me just read it to you again: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”
Rahab demonstrated her faith through her actions. And because of this, she and her family were spared. And that leads us to …
3. FAITH’S DELIVERANCE
Turn ahead a few pages to Joshua chapter 6. After Rahab helped the spies escape, she placed a red cord down her window as the spies had instructed her. The army of Israel returned and circled the city of Jericho in silence 13 times in 7 days. But the last time they marched around, they shouted. The walls fell down, and the city was conquered and burned to the ground. But we read in Joshua 6:25: “But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.”
Rahab lived among the Israelites for the rest of her life. Not only that, but she also married an Israelite and became an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Let me read a section of Christ’s genealogy as recorded in Matthew’s gospel: “Nahshon [was] the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king.”
So, Rahab was King David’s great, great grandmother. And, of course, David was an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Now, we are told in this genealogy that Nahshon was Rahab’s father-in-law. And Numbers 7:12 tells us that Nahshon was one of 12 princes who made a special offering for the Tabernacle. Nahshon was a great prince of Judah, and so was his son, Salmon, who married Rahab.
Think of it—a pagan prostitute becomes a believer and then a wife of a prince of Judah. And ultimately she becomes an ancestor of the Messiah Himself. Isn’t the grace of God wonderful?!
Conclusion
Well, what does the faith of Rahab the harlot teach us? Let me share one application with you this morning. Too many Christians think that they can’t be used by God. They think that they are not talented enough or smart enough or spiritual enough.
But the story of Rahab is proof that God can use anyone. If God can use a prostitute such as Rahab, He can use you. If God can use an idol worshiping pagan such as Rahab, He can use you.
It doesn’t matter how talented you are. It doesn’t matter how smart you are. It doesn’t matter what your background is. It doesn’t matter what limitations you may have. If you are willing to be used by God, God will use you.
You need to do what Rahab did—exercise a faith that risks. Say to God, “Here I am Lord, use me.” And then step out in faith to serve the Lord.
Let’s pray.
