Good morning everyone.
Welcome to Sunday School.
Today we continue our study on the Bible character from the Old Testament.
By her job, no one would expect that the Lord would use her as an example of faith.
We will look at the life of Rahab, the harlot.
That is right.
Our modern term for a harlot is a prostitute.
Her story teaches us clearly that no one is too far gone to be saved by the grace of God.
Let us read our key verse for today’s lesson from [Hebrew 11:31] together.
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
First of all, let us have a quick review of what happened.
After the death of Moses, God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites to go over the Jordan.
Joshua 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Then Joshua assigned two men to spy the city of Jericho.
Joshua 2:1 And 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.
The two spies came to Jericho and stayed at the harlot’s house.
Her name is Rahab.
The king of Jericho learned that these two men were with Rahab.
The king commanded his men to Rahab and asked her to bring out these spies.
Rahab said she did not know where these two spies were from.
She also said that the two spies were already out of town since the time of shutting the gate when it was dark.
In fact, she hid these two spies in her house.
Let us go to [Joshua 2:2-5].
Joshua 2:2 And 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.
Joshua 2:3 And 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.
Joshua 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Joshua 2:5 And 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.
So far, we see Rahab as a harlot from a Canaanite city of Jericho.
She is a sinful woman with fornication.
She did not tell the truth that she hid the two spies in her house.
She is a sinful woman with lying.
But we will learn that Rahab was a believer.
She believed in the God of Israel.
Let us continue with [Joshua 2:9-11]
Joshua 2:9 And 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.
Joshua 2:10 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.
Joshua 2:11 And 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.
Rahab knew that God would give the land of promise to the Israelites.
She heard the story of how the Lord helped them to win over the battles between king Sihon and king Og.
She also heard the story of how God helped the Israelites to cross the Red Sea.
She knew that God delivered the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
Rahab believed that the God of Israel was the one true God.
Read again in verse 11.
… for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
We can learn a biblical principle here.
Before people get saved, they need to hear the word of God first.
The message of the cross that the Lord Jesus Christ saves sinners can still reach and change the life of anyone that believes today!
Rahab then asked the two spies to have mercy on her and the family.
The two men honored her request if she would not tell others about them.
Let us read [Joshua 2:12-15].
Joshua 2:12 Now 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:
Joshua 2:13 And 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.
Joshua 2:14 And 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.
Joshua 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
Next, we will see Rahab, the harlot, with her faith in action.
Let us read [Joshua 2:18-21].
Joshua 2:18 Behold, 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.
Joshua 2:19 And 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.
Joshua 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
Joshua 2:21 And 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.
The two spies told Rahab to bind the line of scarlet thread in the window.
They told her to bring her father, mother, and other family members to be in the house.
The two spies assured Rahab that when their army attacked the city of Jericho, her household will be saved from the destruction.
Rahab believed.
She showed her faith through her action.
In verse 21, it reads
… And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
There is one interesting observation here.
Rahab did not wait until the army of the Israelites came to Jericho to start binding the scarlet line in the window.
She did it right away since the two spies left!
The story continued.
Joshua then led the Israelites to win over the city of Jericho, but Rahab and her family were saved from the destruction.
Let us go to [Joshua 6:25].
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.
The name of Rahab is listed among the heroes of faith in the Book of Hebrews and its eleventh chapter for a reason.
When we looked at all of these referenced scriptures, Rahab could not be saved by keeping the law.
She was a harlot.
A prostitute.
The Lord uses her example to remind us that
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Would you let the Lord Jesus Christ save your soul today?
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