The Faith of Rahab
Joshua 2: 1-21, Joshua 6 : 24-25
When reading through the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we have a propensity to look for the connection to the line of David and oftentimes ignore the names. Therefore, what we overlook is a glaring example of God’s Grace: Rahab, once a prostitute, was redeemed and restored, delivered to a place of honor for her faith.
It is not uncommon to be perplexed by the fact that out of all the citizens of Jericho whom God could have chosen to hide the spies and be saved from destruction, he didn’t choose a sweet old lady or a young shepherd. He chose to save a prostitute. Regardless of her past, the Lord showed mercy to her. Truly, the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
John Owen says that Rahab is “a blessed example both of the sovereignty of God’s grace and of its power; of its freedom and sovereignty, in the calling and conversion of a person given up through her choice to the vilest of sins. Nobody, no sin, should lead to despair when the cure of God’s sovereign, almighty grace is engaged.” There is no sinner, no matter their sin, that cannot be forgiven if they would but turn to Jesus for salvation.
In order for Rahab to be rescued, she needed to have faith.
Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Rahab’s hope was that when the Israelites destroyed Jericho, she and her family would be saved. Everything she did was done with the hope that the God of Israel and His people would have mercy on not only her, but her family as well.
We need Hope. 2020 has been challenging to say the least. Through all the anxieties, fears, and even depression, whatever burdens weigh us down during these times, let us REJOICE in God’s Grace. Our faith in Jesus Christ is enough to free us from ANY sin, ANY circumstance and bring us into God’s everlasting Love.
Romans 8:38-39 is a great reminder for us: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us read the Genealogy of Jesus Christ and be reminded of this everytime we see Rahab’s name in the line that goes to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.