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 ).
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 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.
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 ).
What is the wall of Jericho?
The wall of Jericho yields insights into the home of Rahab in the Bible. In the Book of Joshua, Rahab (a heroine nonetheless known as “Rahab the Harlot”) assisted two Israelite spies in escaping out a window and down the city wall of Jericho.
How did Rahab help the Israelites?
Rahab helped two Israelites when they came to spy out the land of Jericho. She hid them on her roof when the king came for them. When the coast was clear, Rahab let the spies down by a rope through the window.
What is the Hebrew word for prostitute?
The consonants that comprise the word “prostitute” in Hebrew are znh, which are the same consonants that comprise the Hebrew word for a female who gives food and provisions. The text doesn’t describe Rahab’s profession negatively, as one might expect from a description of Biblical prostitutes.
What is the meaning of Rahab's story?
Rahab’s story is one of sacrifice, redemption, and hope for each of us who want to be that hero or heroine in the Christian faith for our families and /or community.
Where did Joshua send his spies?
Joshua sent spies to Jericho and they lodged at the house of Rahab, the prostitute. Her quick thinking gave them time and opportunity to get back to their camp. In return, she asked that they would spare her family from death.
What is the opposite of fear?
Faith is the opposite of fear. “When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” (Joshua 2:11). Rahab’s fear could’ve led her to turn the spies over—perhaps leading to their death. However, Rahab made the choice of faith in the face ...
What does the Bible say about courage?
It takes courage to overcome the past. “So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there” (Joshua 2:1). The Bible doesn’t hide the failings of people and Rahab’s reputation was tainted by her sinful past. She had to put her past behind her in order to move forward in God’s plan for her life.
Who is Crystal McDowell?
She writes, speaks, and teaches with a passion to encourage women with Biblical truths. As a freelance writer for over 12 years, Crystal has written numerous Christian curricula for Sunday School and VBS as well as many articles dealing with marriage, motherhood, and relationships. She gives weekly words of encouragement on her blog: Crystal McDowell Speaks
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 ).
Who recognized the God of Israel?
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.
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 of the covenant of God's grace?
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. And in Christ Jesus, the blood-stained crimson cross of shame became the gleaming symbol of salvation. Rahab’s faith in God engrafted her into a new family. Even more, Rahab was, soon, ...
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.
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.
Who is Rahab in the Bible?
Who Was Rahab in the Bible? Rahab is one of five women listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Tamar, Bathsheba, Ruth, and Mary are the other three). This surprises a lot of people because Rahab’s life wasn’t a pretty one, but it certainly belongs.
How did Rahab put her life at risk?
Rahab put her life at risk several times while helping the spies. The first time is mentioned in Joshua 2:4-7 when soldiers came to her door demanding she brings the spies to them. Rahab leads the soldiers to believe the spies had come and gone.
What does "toxic" mean in a sentence?
It describes a toxic one, or more relate-ably a toxic person. It portrays a lack of commitment or diligence; sometimes to a task and other times towards a person or relationship. It’s deemed irresponsible. In Rahab’s case, it wasn’t any of those things. It was beautiful.
What did God promise the Canaanites?
While the Canaanites were living large and partying doing all the things that grotesquely sinful things (child sacrifices, idol worship, pagan rituals including but not limited to sexual perversions), God was faithfully bringing the Israelites to the land He had promised them in Genesis 15:18-21 and Exodus 33:1-3. (from here on out we’ll refer to it as the Promised Land). It had been 40 years since Joshua, Israel’s leader at the time, had set eyes on the promised land. They had the chance to occupy it once before under the leadership of Moses, but despite God’s promise fear got the best of them. Instead of occupying the land as instructed, they convinced themselves they weren’t strong enough and opted to return to Egypt; the land God had just freed them from (see Numbers chapters 13 & 14).
Who was the leader of Israel in the Promised Land?
Moses had passed and appointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel and with God’s blessing and instruction the Israelites were again preparing to enter Canaan (the Promised Land), starting with Jericho. This time around, instead of sending a group of spies to scout out the land, Joshua sent only two.
Was Rahab a prostitute?
The more common introduction (the reason people are shocked that she’d have the honor of being in the lineage of Jesus): Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute. A fairly popular one at that.
Why is Rahab mentioned in Hebrews 11?
She is commended and mentioned in Hebrews 11 because of Rahab courageous faith and not her lying.
What is the significance of Rahab's story?
Rahab’s story illustrates that God’s purpose is not limited to your past. Joshua, now the leader of Israel, sent two spies to scout the city. In the course of event, these spies happened to come to the place of Rahab and the King of Jericho ordered for these men to be captured.
Why did Rahab fear God?
Because of Rahab fearing God, she was able to begin developing godly wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 15:33). Rahab feared God and as a result, her life and the life of her family was spared from the destruction of Jericho (Proverbs 10:27; 14:27). Like Rahab, dedicate your life to learning the right kind of fear towards God.
Where is Rahab from?
Rahab is a harlot or prostitute living in Jericho, a Canaanite city. Because of her faith, she and her family were spared from the total destruction of Jericho. Ultimately, she was used by God to play a role in forming the lineage of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
What is the city of Jericho?
The city of Jericho is one of the central and most prominent places for idol worship. The Canaanites are bent on worshiping Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Rahab is living in the midst of the vilest and most abominable Canaanite religion, which she is part of. In our society today, prostitutes are looked down upon.
Is God merciful?
God is a very merciful God. Throughout the Bible, we have seen many descriptions of His undying mercy towards His people. Just to give an example, here’s what Lamentations 3:22-23 state:
Why did Rahab not have the right guide?
Because of this, she did not have the right guide and “instruction manual” to become a godly woman.
