What lessons can we learn from Rahab's faith in Joshua 6:17? The Text “Now the city and everything in it are to be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.” (Joshua 6:17) Lesson 1: Saving Faith Responds to Revelation • Rahab believed what she heard about the Lord’s mighty acts (Joshua 2:9–11). • Faith begins where God’s revealed truth is received as fact (Romans 10:17). • She acted before seeing the walls fall—trust preceded sight (Hebrews 11:31). Lesson 2: Obedience Flows from Faith • Rahab hid the spies, tied the scarlet cord, and gathered her family exactly as instructed (Joshua 2:18–21). • True faith proves itself by obedient deeds (James 2:25). • Obedience does not earn salvation; it evidences genuine belief. Lesson 3: God’s Grace Reaches the Outcast • “Rahab the prostitute” underscores that God saves the least likely (1 Corinthians 1:26–31). • Her past did not limit God’s future plan—she entered Israel, married Salmon, and became an ancestor of Messiah (Matthew 1:5). • Grace transforms reputations and destinies. Lesson 4: Faith Requires Courage in the Face of Judgment • Jericho’s doom was certain; staying inside the house marked by the scarlet cord was an act of bold separation (Exodus 12:13 parallels the Passover blood). • Rahab risked her life defying her city’s king (Joshua 2:3–6). • Faith may demand standing against prevailing culture to align with God’s coming judgment (2 Corinthians 6:17). Lesson 5: Faith Influences Others for Salvation • She persuaded her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her to take refuge (Joshua 6:23). • Personal faith can become a shelter for family and friends (Acts 16:31). • The scope of God’s mercy expanded through one believer’s testimony. Lesson 6: Faith Leaves a Lasting Legacy • Rahab is forever memorialized in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:31). • Her story underscores that faith, not heritage or merit, brings inclusion in God’s people. • Generations later, her legacy culminated in Christ, proving that a single act of faith can shape redemptive history. Putting It Together Rahab teaches that faith hears God’s word, trusts His promise, obeys His instructions, receives His grace, stands courageously amid judgment, influences others, and leaves an enduring legacy for God’s glory. |
    |