By Faith Rahab

‘By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after welcoming the spies in peace.’

- Hebrews 11:30-31 -

Hebrews 11:29 tells how Moses by faith led the people of Israel through the Red Sea as by dry land. So who would you expect to be listed next in the Hebrews Hall of Faith? Maybe Joshua, Moses’ successor, who was a man of extraordinary faith and bravery. Joshua was one of the 12 spies sent by Moses to spy out the land of Canaan. He and Caleb came back with a good report, saying with God they could take the land. The other 10 said there were giants in the land, living in fortified cities, who would crush Israel like ants. Because of their doubt, God punished Israel with years of wandering, but it was finally under Joshua’s leadership that the people entered the Promised Land.

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It was Joshua who led the Israelites around Jericho until its walls collapsed. ‘By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days’ (Heb. 11:30). So surprisingly Joshua isn’t mentioned by name in Hebrews 11, with the next person after Moses in fact being a harlot named Rahab. ‘By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace’ (11:31). Of all the examples in the Hall of Faith, Rahab is without a doubt the most surprising. God had given His promise to Abraham and his descendants, but Rahab was no Hebrew. She wasn’t one of God’s chosen people, nor did she live a righteous life. She was a prostitute in the evil city of Jericho, yet Hebrews holds her up as a model of faith.

If you want to know what faith looks like, Hebrews says: “Just look at Rahab!” There was something special about Rahab that God wanted us to learn. On the eve of entering the Promised Land, Joshua sent 2 spies into Jericho (Josh. 2:1). Once there, they lodged in the home of Rahab. Unfortunately, the spies could not hide their identity. Word got around that two strange men were there. So the king of Jericho sent men to Rahab telling her to hand over the spies. Knowing this might happen, crafty Rahab led the 2 spies to the roof and hid them. When the king’s men arrived, she sent them in the wrong direction. Off they went, searching for 2 spies who were safely hiding on Rahab’s roof. What courage Rahab showed.

The bravery of Rahab

The Bible tells us that ‘as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate’ (Josh. 2:7). Jericho, a military stronghold, was now in lockdown. Nobody could get in or out. The spies faced a problem, trapped inside the high walls of Jericho. How could they escape? Fortunately, the home of Rahab was built into the city wall. When dark fell, she let the spies down by a rope through a window in her house (2:15). But why did Rahab do this? Why did she put faith in these men and not her own king? Scripture says she knew, by faith, that God had given the land to Israel, who she knew would soon take possession (2:9). So Rahab sided with God’s people, making a commitment to them, and Hebrews 11 says she did this by faith.

By faith Rahab didn’t perish with the disobedient in Jericho, having welcomed God’s spies. She shows you don’t need vast knowledge of God before you believe Him. You can trust even if every question isn’t answered. Rahab had a limited amount of truth. She wasn’t a Jew and she knew no prophet. She was clueless revelations given to Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob. Yet Rahab did have a knowledge of God. She knew who He was, saying: “The Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Josh. 2:11). She knew the God of the spies was the Sovereign of heaven and that Jericho’s idols would fall before Him. Her faith also rested on what God had done. “We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt” (2:10). She also knew what God was about to do, telling the spies: “I know that the Lord has given you the land” (2:9), and so He had.

The spies are hidden by one who trusts God

We learn from Rahab that faith rests on who God is, what God has done, and what God will do in the future. Biblical faith is knowing that God is the Ruler of heaven and earth. That He has sent His Son to save the world. That His Son died to atone for sin and 3 days later rose from the dead. Biblical faith is also knowing what God will do. He will bring justice to the earth. He will destroy all evil. He will bring His people into all He has promised; a renewed heaven and earth. Rahab’s faith was simple but true. She had no Bible, no pastor, and no Christian friends. But she knew there is a great God in heaven about to bring judgment on the earth. She knew God was with His people, so we learn from Rahab that you don’t need to know the entire Bible to have and exercise true faith.

Faith rests on who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. On that basis, faith commits to God and His people. Rahab’s commitment was seen when, by faith, she welcomed the Hebrew spies. This is how she showed her faith was true. In other words, the strength of Rahab’s faith matched the depth of her commitment. Faith commits to God. Faith shows itself in what it does. This is the theme of James’ epistle in the New Testament, so he uses Rahab as a shining example of faith at work, asking: ‘Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?’ (2:25). It’s also in this same chapter that James famously says: ‘Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead’ (2:17).

It should be noted that Rahab risked her life in her commitment to God’s people. If the spies had been discovered on her roof, she surely would have been executed. Yet she helped the spies because true faith commits to God’s people no matter the risk. Because her faith was real and because her faith had living works, Rahab and her family were spared when Joshua took the city (Josh. 6:25). After, she made a lifelong commitment to Israel. Joshua 6:25 records how Rahab ‘has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.’ This speaks of her loyalty to God and His chosen people. She committed before the walls of Jericho fell, and made a lifelong commitment after the city was taken. Her faith was simple, genuine, and strong.

By faith, Rahab committed to God's people

Before Rahab lowered the spies to safety, she made them swear a solemn oath: “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house” (Josh. 2:12). She had them swear by the Lord. By the great “I Am.” This was vital. Not only did Rahab press the spies for a promise, but she pressed them for a promise made in the name of God Himself. She was wise enough to know that an oath with God’s name attached will always be kept.

The spies gave Rahab the promise she wanted, saying: “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you” (Josh. 2:14). The spies said to tie a scarlet cord in the window by which she let them down. Then, when Israel took the city, they would see the cord and Rahab and her family would be saved. ‘Then she said: “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window’ (2:21). One day later, Rahab looked out her window and saw the people of God marching toward her city. She gathered her family into her home, fearful of their safety. Yet another act of faith and bravery.

Rahab would have told them: “This city is going to be destroyed. Come to my home and you’ll all be safe. Judgment is coming but I’ve been given a promise with God’s name attached. Share my faith and be safe in my home.” Thankfully they trusted Rahab. For many days, Joshua’s army marched around the city. Each time they did, they saw the scarlet cord hanging from Rahab’s window. They knew that when the walls came down, everyone in that home would be saved. And that’s what happened. This should teach us that God’s grace covers a multitude of sins. Rahab lived an immoral life, yet her faith placed her in the Hall of Faith. By faith she did not perish. God’s grace was on her life as she believed who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. And if you will only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you too will be saved and not perish.