Rahab, The Harlot

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you live by faith like Rahab?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To prove that even the least expected person to receive grace will receive grace once that person acted in faith.

IV. TEXT:

Joshua 2:14 (Amplified Bible)

2:14 And the men said to her, Our lives for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship and thank You very much LORD JESUS for the faith You've given me pleased GOD because it's Your faith and everything You've done in full obedience and faithfulness to GOD within me and on my behalf kept me victorious in the world.

Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified Bible)

11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

VI. TITLE:

Rahab, the harlot

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain, probably Joshua

B. Date written: 1407 - 1383 B.C.

C. Purpose: To review the history of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land.

D. To whom written: Nation of Israel

E. Main Theme: The conquest and division of the Land of Canaan

F. Key word: Possession

G. Key verses:

Joshua 1:8-11 (Amplified Bible)

1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

1:11 Pass through the camp and command the people, Prepare your provisions, for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Background of Rahab

Rahab or "rachab" in Hebrew which means: proud. Rahab is a harlot in the city of Jericho. She never lived out her name, because she's never proud but all around her after they heard what the LORD has done to the enemies of the Israelites, still is proud and will not surrender to Israel.

What Rahab had done?

1. She took and hidden the two spies Joshua had sent.

Joshua 2:4 (Amplified Bible)

2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know from where they had come.

Joshua 2:6 (Amplified Bible)

2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax which she had laid in order there.

2. She lied about the two spies.

Joshua 2:4 (Amplified Bible)

2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, Yes, two men came to me, but I did not know from where they had come.

3. She talked to the two spies heart to heart. It became the greatest declarations a harlot can say to the Jews.

Joshua 2:8 (Amplified Bible)

2:8 Before the two men had lain down, Rahab came up to them on the roof,

Rahab is the last and unexpected person to have faith and receive Grace from GOD. Why?

1. She's a woman. - In the Old Testament, woman is not given importance.

2. She's a prostitute.

3. She's not an Israelite.

Rahab is included in the hall of faith. She's an illustration of faith and works.

Hebrews 11:31 (Amplified Bible)

11:31 [Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].

Joshua 6:22-25 (Amplified Bible)

6:22 But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the harlot’s house and bring out the woman and all she has, as you swore to her.

6:23 So the young men, the spies, went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred and set them outside the camp of Israel.

6:24 And they burned the city with fire and all that was in it; only the silver, the gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.

6:25 So Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, with her father’s household and all that she had; and she lives in Israel even to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.