Lessons from Rahab - Joshua 2

Lessons from Rahab – Joshua 2

“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25)

The story of Rahab is a wonderful illustration of the salvation process through Jesus Christ. What caused God to view her as righteous? Rahab acted to protect the spies because she believed that God could save her. She protected the spies and lied for them before she got the fulfillment of the promise. What a beautiful lesson on faith.

She was convinced that the city of Jericho was destined for destruction while many in the city trusted in the city walls to protect them. She had heard of the mighty move of God in other lands and believed that Jehovah was now going to bring down her city before the Israelites. People today must come to terms with the truth that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We cannot trust in ourselves. There will be no scale to balance our good works against our sins. One sin outweighs all the works of righteousness that one could ever perform (Rom. 6:23).

Rahab believed that her future rested in the hands of the “true God.” She risked her life to protect the spies because she was seeking God to save her. She had no standing on her own and therefore had to seek for the spies to be her intercessor before God. We can acknowledge that there is a God, but we too need an intercessor to approach the Father on our behalf (Rom. 8:34).

She sought for protection through the spies. She trusted them to petition the leader of the army to spare her. There was nothing she could do to. It was up to them to their work on her behalf. Our salvation rests solely on the work of Jesus. We cannot add even one 1% to the payment Jesus made on our behalf (Eph. 2:8-9).

Rahab placed her request in the hands of the spies. Then they went away and left her in the city. All she had left was her faith in their promise to spare her and her family’s life. Jesus, after rising from the dead, ascended into heaven where He now sits at the right hand of the Father. Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to mark us for salvation. Rahab marked her room with a red clothe. She then waited for the fulfillment of the promise. Her hope was on being spared from the wrath to come. Our hope is in the Lord’s return and being found forgiven in Him and spared the wrath of God (Rom. 5:9; 1 Th. 5:9).

While she waited she went out to her family and told them the good news and urged them to come to her room. What a wonderful picture for us to draw from as we await the Lord’s return. We too must be busy sharing the good news inviting people to come in and be spared the wrath to come (Acts 1:8).

Lastly, when the redemption came she was accepted into the nation as one of their own. People today do not have to wait till the day of the Lord’s return for acceptance. We become the children of God, his family, the moment we receive Christ as our Savior. We are marked eternally by His Holy Spirit. All has been provided for us. The call to join the family of God has been given. The time is growing short. May God, when the Day of Judgment comes, find your heart right with him through His Son (Titus 3:3-8).

Lord Bless,

Leonard R. Traina

Principles for Life