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How did Rahab get saved?
Aug 15, 2021 · Theologically and prophetically, the fact that a sinner and an enemy of Israel was entrusted with a part in the plan of God is an indication of the role of the gentiles in the history of salvation. The red cloth by which the spies were lowered to safety is a symbol of the saving blood of Christ, which dripped down from the cross for the sons of ...
What is salvation history in the Bible?
Jan 22, 2020 · Rehab became a central strategic figure of incomparable courage as she helped Israel to enter the promised land and subdue her own people. Whenever the Army of Israel entered Canaan, Rahab acted...
What was Rahab like spiritually?
Rahab’s story isn’t long though it’s longer than many stories in the Bible, but what little there is of the story is profound. We first meet Rahab in Joshua chapter 2. She falls smack in the middle of the children of Israel’s march to conquer the Promised Land. The people’s beloved leader Moses is dead and Joshua, the new guy in ...
Was Rahab an ancestor of Jesus?
Jan 04, 2022 · Rahab was a young Canaanite prostitute and as such not a very likely candidate for a heroine of the faith. Jericho was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Here was centered all that was the vilest and most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites.
What is the purpose of Rahab?
Rahab Saves the Spies and Saves Her Family A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2, before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab's house for lodging, information, and/or sex.Nov 15, 2017
How did Rahab show faith?
The NT rightly commends Rahab for her faith, emphasizing what she did for the Israelite spies: "By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient" (Heb 11: 31), and "Was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging ...
What happens to Rahab in the Bible?
When the city of Jericho fell, Rahab and her whole family were preserved according to the promise of the spies, and were incorporated among the Jewish people. (In siege warfare of antiquity, a city that fell after a prolonged siege was commonly subjected to a massacre and sack.)
What did Rahab say?
So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land." But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
What did Deborah do in the Bible?
In answering the call, Deborah became a singular biblical figure: a female military leader. She recruited a man, the general Barak, to stand by her side, telling him God wanted the armies of Israel to attack the Canaanites who were persecuting the highland tribes.Jan 25, 2008
What is a harlot in the Bible?
noun. a prostitute or promiscuous woman.
Why is Ruth important in the Bible?
The book of Ruth demonstrates God's grace toward people. In fact, the meaning of the name Ruth is “grace.” In the story, Ruth received blessings from God that she did not merit. And, being a Moabite woman, she received God's blessings despite her status as a gentile woman.Sep 29, 2017
Who were the two spies sent to Jericho?
Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who brought back a good report and believed that God would help them succeed. They were the only men from their generation permitted to go into the Promised Land after the time of wandering.
What is the story of Rahab?
But there's more to the story of Rahab — so much more. Rahab recognized the God of Israel. She trusted in him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
Who was the harlot in the Bible?
The woman who had been called a harlot became a godly wife and mother in Israel . She and her husband became the parents of a boy named Boaz. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth ( Ruth 4:5, 10). Thus, as God worked all things together for the good, using the humble and the most unlikely, God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of King David. From the line of Rahab came the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no more touching story of God's glorious grace than the genealogical introduction to the birth of Jesus by faith through the line of Joseph in Matthew chapter 1. Among the many stories that are interwoven in that wonderful section of the Bible, the woman of the scarlet cord takes her honored place.
What does the Book of Joshua say about the first movement of the Conquest?
The Book of Joshua marks the moment and describes the first movements of the Conquest: “ And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land , especially Jericho.’ And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there ” ( Joshua 2:1 ).
Was Rahab a prostitute?
Of course, the Canaanites were infamous for cultic prostitution related to idolatrous worship. It may very well have been that Rahab was "a religious prostitute” in pagan practices. We only know what the Bible reveals.
What is the scarlet cord?
How interesting that a scarlet cord, likely, an emblem of ill-repute, became a sign of salvation. How very beautiful to think that it is a scarlet cord of the covenant of God's grace that binds all of the Word of God together.
Did Rahab believe in God?
She not only believed in God but she also acted. For Rahab trusted in God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth.
Why is Rahab called a prostitute?
The Bible calls her Rahab the prostitute because that was her defining trait. The Bible used the word harlot not only to refer to prostitutes but also to anyone who worshipped idols–those who prostituted themselves before pagan gods.
What does the Bible say about Rahab's faith?
The Bible talks about Rahab’s faith. How did Rahab show faith? Let’s imagine it together. For years, the people of Jericho had existed behind their thick walls. None of their neighboring countries had been able to penetrate their walls and so they felt safe. Then they heard about the Israelites.
Who was the woman who hid Joshua's two spies?
Some biblical scholars maintain that Rahab, the woman who hid Joshua’s two spies, was a harlot or prostitute. So how did she become one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t the Father ensure a pure lineage for His Son?
Why do we need faith?
We need faith to please God. Faith requires a belief in God and that God exists . Faith accepts that God rewards those who pursue a relationship with Him. Rahab displayed all of those characteristics. She chose to believe in the God of the Hebrews over the gods of her own people.
What is the story of Rahab?
The story of Rahab is about one woman’s courage and her actions that saved her entire family. But more than anything, Rahab’s story is about a woman whose ways pleased the Lord. The story of Rahab is one about faith. The Bible tells us that we can’t please God without faith:
Can we please God without faith?
The Bible tells us that we can’t please God without faith: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV). In this short verse, we learn a few things about God and faith:
Why was Rahab saved?
Second, Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was saved because of her faith in "God in heaven above and on the earth below" ( Hebrews 11:31 ). Likewise, Christians are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.
What does the Bible say about Rahab?
Many Bible commentators, eager to remove the stigma of the designation “harlot” from one included in the genealogy of Christ ( Matthew 1:5 ), have described Rahab as a hostess or tavern keeper.
Who was Rahab's husband?
Only Rahab and her family were spared. Ultimately, Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is her direct descendant. Rahab was a young Canaanite prostitute and as such not a very likely candidate for a heroine of the faith.
Was Rahab intelligent?
It is clear that Rahab was perceptive, intelligent and well informed. Rahab identified the spies for what they were, hid them, and had a plausible story ready with which to deceive the king’s agents. Rahab didn’t deny that she had entertained the men.
Was Rahab a pagan?
She was a citizen of a wicked city that was under God’s condemnation. Rahab was part of a corrupt, depraved, pagan culture. She had not benefited from the godly leadership of Moses or Joshua. However, Rahab had one asset—she had heard from the many men she came into contact with that the Israelites were to be feared.
What does the Bible say about salvation?
But the Bible tells us, concerning Jesus Christ, that "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" ( Acts 4:12 ).
Was Rahab a prostitute?
Rahab was a young Canaanite prostitute and as such not a very likely candidate for a heroin e of the faith . Jericho was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Here was centered all that was the vilest and most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites.
What is Rahab's faith?
It was her belief in the sovereignty of the God of Israel that motivated her to help the spies and to leave behind the world she knew. James talks about Rahab's faith being proven by her actions ( James 2:25 ).
Who was the leader of the Israelites in the Promised Land?
However, the Promised Land was under the control of other nations. The Israelite leader, Joshua, sent two spies to survey the land, especially the city of Jericho, before they sought to overtake it. The spies lodged at the home of a prostitute named Rahab. However, the Israelites' reputation from defeating the Egyptians and ...
What does James talk about in the Bible?
James talks about Rahab's faith being proven by her actions ( James 2:25 ). Rahab is the first Gentile recorded in the Bible as having converted to Judaism. In addition, she is a great example of the power of God to transform us from our sinful state into the person He wants us to be.
Who did Rahab marry?
She shows that with forgiveness there is no need to live in guilt and stay in our sinful ways. Once she joined the Israelites, Rahab married Salmon from the tribe of Judah, their son Boaz married Ruth, and their descendant was Jesus' earthly father Joseph ( Matthew 1:5 ).
Who is Rahab in the Bible?
But her story goes far beyond simply being a harlot, or "loose woman". Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel.
Who is the father of Judah?
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse... Read the full lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1
Where did the spies hide in the Book of Joshua?
The spies hid in Rahab's house, which was constructed into the city wall.
Was Rahab a Canaanite?
Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel. The most remarkable deed of Rahab was actually telling a lie, to protect two spies of Joshua. Hence, it is strange that a Harlot, a Canaanite, and a liar is known as a distinguished Bible figure.
What is the story of salvation in the Bible?
The Bible tells the story of God’s plan to save human beings from sin and bring them to eternal life. The history of that saving plan as told through the Scriptures is called salvation history. Some people divide the Bible’s account of salvation history into eight major periods. Here is a brief description of those periods.
Does God abandon his chosen people?
God never abandons his Chosen People, even though so often they do not keep their part of the Covenant. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell of how, when the time is right, God sends his only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. This is the ultimate event in salvation history. Jesus Christ,the Word Made Flesh, the Second Person of the Trinity, is the complete and final revelation of God’s saving plan.
What is the Bible's story about God?
The Bible begins with figurative (also called symbolic or mythic) accounts about how God created everything that exists. These are sometimes called “primeval” stories, meaning they are stories of things that happened before recorded history. The Creation accounts reveal that God’s creation was good, ordered, and harmonious, without sin or human death. The story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience teaches us that the sin of our first parents injured their relationship with God and with each other. This Original Sin is passed on to all human beings and makes it difficult for us to choose the good and to choose God. The stories of Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, and the Tower of Babel teach us that sin spreads and that without God’s help, sin leads to death and destruction. But despite the death and destruction, God has mercy on his creatures and begins a process of intervention to save us.
What is the fourth period of salvation?
The fourth period of salvation history concerns the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land. Moses dies before the Israelites enter the Promised Land. God calls Moses’ right-hand man, Joshua (“Jesus” is another form of his name), to lead the people into the land, much of which is inhabited by other people. The Israelites must fight to gain control of the land. When they trust God, they are successful in their battles; when they do not trust God, they fail. Eventually they gain control of the land, and Joshua divides the land between the twelve tribes.
What is the next period of salvation history?
The next period of salvation history is typically referred to as the monarchy. Eventually the Israelites want their own king. God reluctantly answers their plea. He has Samuel—the last of the judges—anoint Saul as the first king of Israel. At the same time, Samuel warns the people of the dangers of kings and empires. Saul has many problems and is eventually killed in battle. David follows Saul as the second king. David is a mighty warrior and unites all the tribes into one kingdom. After David’s death, one of his sons, Solomon, builds a temple at Jerusalem, the capital city. Despite their many positive accomplishments, both David and Solomon are guilty of many sins in building their empire, succumbing to the temptations of violence, sex, and power.
What is the story of the patriarchs and matriarchs?
The stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs tell how God begins to form a special relationship with a chosen race of people. Most of humanity does not recognize the one true God. So he makes a special promise, called a Covenant, with a man named Abraham and his wife, Sarah. God promises that their descendants will be numerous and that they will inherit a Promised Land. Abraham and Sarah have several crises in which it appears that God’s Covenant will go unfulfilled: famine, war, Sarah’s barrenness, even an attempt to sacrifice their own son, Isaac. But each time God steps in to ensure that things turn out okay.
What is salvation history?
Salvation history includes not only events caused by other events that take place in the natural world but also events caused directly by God. Sometimes, of course, God works in providential ways through the natural order.
What does the destruction of Jerusalem mean?
The destruction of Jerusalem at the onset of the Bab ylonian exile means the destruction of the temple and the suspension of the Davidic monarchy.
What does the Bible say about the water cycle?
For example, although biblical authors know about the water cycle — water evaporates from oceans and seas to form clouds that send their precipitation back to earth to run in rivulets and streams and rivers back to the sea ( Eccl 1:7) — they generally prefer to say that God sends the rain (e.g., Matt 5:45 ).
What is the meaning of history?
Although the word “history” sometimes refers to what has taken place, it more commonly refers to the story or account of what has taken place. No human account of what has taken place can ever be exhaustive: we simply do not and cannot know enough. For example, a history of the Roman Empire cannot possibly tell us everything ...
How many books has Carson written?
He has written or edited nearly 60 books, many of which have been translated into other languages.
Is Christianity an abstract philosophy?
Biblical Christianity is not an abstract or timeless philosophy (though of course it involves abstractions): at least in part, it is the account of what God has done, of the events and explanations he has brought about in order to save lost human beings. (Even what “salvation” means, what it means to be “saved,” is disclosed in this history.)
Did God raise Jesus from the dead?
Thus, God works through the natural order. But when God raises Jesus from the dead, there is nothing natural about God’s action: this is the direct intervention of God, displaying his might in contravention of nature. Nevertheless, Jesus’ resurrection happened; it took place in history.
Why did God call Israel his servant?
First, he called Israel to be his servant to bring his salvation to the entire human race, but they were too sinful to fulfill their vocation. As a result, God had to narrow the identity of the servant down to an individual Israelite, Jesus, who would do Israel’s job for it through his death and resurrection.
What is the history of salvation?
Salvation history, the story the Bible tells, is long and winding. It starts off with God’s creation in Genesis and ends with the new creation in Revelation, but between those two points it often seems to meander with no real purpose, much like the Israelites in the desert before they reached the Promised Land.
What is the servant song in Isaiah?
In the book of Isaiah, we encounter a mysterious figure known as the servant of the Lord. He pops up several times throughout the book, and scholars have isolated four texts that they call the “servant songs,” four passages that talk about this figure and explain his purpose in God’s plan of salvation. There’s some debate over the exact boundaries of these texts, but they roughly comprise Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-13, 50:4-11, and 52:13-53:12.
What does Isaiah 49:6 mean?
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6) He is God’s chosen instrument to save the human race, the tool he will use to rescue his wayward children from the predicament of sin and death that Adam and Eve got us into when they ate the forbidden fruit.
What does the second servant song mean?
In Acts, Paul and Barnabas understand the second servant song (specifically Isaiah 49:6) to mean that God has sent them (and, by implication, all Christian missionaries) to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-47). In other words, they understand the servant to be Christians as well, and this brings us to another question: has the servant’s identity changed again?
Where is JP Nunez?
He has master's degrees in both theology and philosophy (with a concentration in bioethics) from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and he spent three years in Catholic University of America's doctoral program in biblical studies before realizing that academia isn't where he wants to be. During his time in Steubenville, he worked for two years as an intern at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, where his responsibilities included answering theological questions and helping to format and edit their Journey Through Scripture Bible studies. He blogs at JP Nunez: Understanding the Faith Through Scripture.
Who is the servant of the Lord?
He suffered and died to atone for the sins of the entire world, and that includes Israel. As a result, the servant of the Lord is Isaiah is ultimately Jesus, just as the New Testament teaches (for example, Matthew 8:16-17, 12:15-21).