Hebrews 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].
Scripture states that she had believed and obey to received the spies in peace. If she was not part of God's people, then how was she to originally have believed in order to obey? There are three parts here to faith in the amplified version. First, when we believe, we are to obey, and we are to act or react to the trials and/or tests presented to us. The same verse stated the people of Jericho had refused to believe and obey. Therefore, even Christians who may believe but refuse to obey are not walking in faith but in disobedience.
Joshua 2:2-3 It was told the king of Jericho, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the Israelites to search out the country.3 And the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out the land.
When the king of Jericho was told that there were Israelite spies, how did he know or suspect Rahab might have been housing or hiding them?
Joshua 2:9-14 And she said to the men, I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the [east] side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.11 When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.12 Now then, I pray you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a sure sign,13 And save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all they have, and deliver us from death.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.
Why is she herald as one with faith to be used as an example in the bible to be written for all of eternity? How does faith come about? Scripture says that faith comes from hearing and hearing. It is the "assurance of things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses] (Heb 11:1)."
In Joshua chapter 2 verses 10 to 11, Rahab stated that the people of Jericho has heard how the Lord had dried up the water of the Red Sea. They had heard what had happened to the two kings of the Amorites that were utterly destroyed. The people of Jericho had heard such news and their hearts had melted and they had all become afraid. They knew the God of Israel was the God of heaven above and the earth beneath. The people of Jericho had heard and scripture stated the terror of God's people had fallen upon Jericho and all the inhabitants of the land fainted.
But it was only Rahab who had reacted in faith to fully surrender and submit to God. The people of Jericho knew they were in danger but they had REFUSED to believe in order to obey. It is one thing to believe but to believe and obey is faith. If we believe but do not obey, this is not faith but it is disobedience, rebellion, and such lack of faith will eventually lead to death. Rahab must have preached to her people of Jericho as the king knew to go to her to ask for the spies.
Although, the people of Jericho were in terror and in faint, they still hoped in their walls rather than to surrender and submit to God's people. They were still relying on their own strength, skill, and wisdom. They had relied on their walls to protect them.
Rahab decided to take a risk. She had risked her life, her family, and everything she possessed. But she was trapped behind a fortress. She had heard about God's power and she was ready and willing to surrender and submit. By faith, she was ready to lose her people and possession to surrender to God and to His people.
Many people are trapped in their own fortresses. Their fortresses are the walls of hurt, abuse, rejection, hate, self pity, envy, anger, unforgiveness, and so on. But we cannot enter the Kingdom of God with such things in our hearts for they block our faith. The people of Jericho refused to surrender but Rahab was willing to surrender and submit. When God comes with His Grace, those who respond in faith will be saved. The walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The walls tumbling down was salvation for Rabah and her family but for those who would not believe to obey met judgment.
God is looking for one member in a family to be the point person to stand in faith. Many state they believe but who will obey risking everything? We pray for the salvation of our family members and friends but perhaps, we are the ones who really need our faith to mature. Do we have faith? Are we bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit and obeying God's Will and commandments so the promise to save our families will materialize? Rahab had to give herself up to the spies. She had to submit to their authority. She had to trust in God to save her and her family. We must believe to obey, for this faith.
Acts 16:31 And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.
Rahab said in verses 12 to 14 of Joshua chapter 2 that she had showed kindness to the spies and was asking for mercy for herself and all her family members. The spies said if she would keep her word and do her part then they would deal kindly with them. The bible says that the meek shall inherit the land. The bible says the measure you give will be the measure given back and then some. The bible says if you give mercy, HE will show you mercy.
The Word of God has come into our hearts but there are many with walls or fortresses of hurt, abuse, rejection, self pity, anger, addictions, bondage, unforgiveness, and so on. Rahab had binded a scarlet cord down her window to indicate her identity to God's people. The scarlet cord was red. It represented the Blood of Jesus for the salvation of her and her family.
Like the people of Jericho, if we continue to be stubborn and stiffed neck holding onto our idols of hurt, abuse, self pity, rejection, hate, and so on hiding behind our walls or fortresses refusing to believe and obeying God's Word and looking to the cross to deny ourselves then the walls in which we have built around our hearts will eventually come tumbling down in judgment for us. But if we move in faith to fully surrender and submit to God's will trusting HIM, then the walls that have molded our lives, God will break down for our freedom and salvation through His Grace.
Faith is not just to acknowledging God exists but it is to believe and then act in obedience to God's Word. It is to take a risk and act upon His Word for life. If needed, it is to risk everything in "assuring of things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses] (Heb 11:1)."
May your faith grow to maturity and may such faith save all of your families as it did with Noah's and Rahab's.
Glory to HIM
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fremont, California
San Francisco Lord's Church Branch USA
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