What can we learn from Rahab's actions about trusting God's protection? Rahab’s Risky Trust in Joshua 2:16 “Go to the hill country so the pursuers will not find you,” she said. “Hide yourselves there for three days until they have returned; then go on your way.” Immediate Context • A pagan city under judgment. • Two Israelite spies whose lives hang in the balance. • One woman who believes the living God will overthrow Jericho and spare all who seek refuge in Him. What Rahab Teaches Us about God’s Protection • Trust looks forward, not backward – Rahab already knew the Lord had dried up the Red Sea (Joshua 2:10). Past acts convinced her He would act again. • Trust speaks practical wisdom – She didn’t shrug, “God will handle it.” She gave clear instructions: “Hide…three days.” Faith never excuses irresponsibility (cf. Nehemiah 4:9). • Trust risks earthly security – Harboring the spies was treason. Rahab staked her life on divine shelter rather than Jericho’s walls (Psalm 20:7). • Trust seeks covenant covering – She demanded a sure sign: the scarlet cord (Joshua 2:18–21), a picture of redemption under blood (Exodus 12:13; Hebrews 9:22). • Trust includes others – She gathered her household inside her home (Joshua 2:13). True faith longs to pull family beneath God’s saving umbrella. • Trust waits for God’s timing – “Three days” in hiding foreshadows resurrection victory (Matthew 12:40). God’s deliverance often comes after the waiting period. • Trust receives lasting reward – Rahab is memorialized in the line of Messiah (Matthew 1:5) and in the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:31). God never forgets those who shelter under His wings (Psalm 91:1–4). Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 32:7 – “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble.” • Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…He will make your paths straight.” • Hebrews 11:31 – “By faith Rahab the prostitute, because she welcomed the spies in peace, was not destroyed.” Living Out Rahab-Like Trust • Anchor your confidence to God’s past faithfulness; recount answered prayers openly. • Combine prayer with prudent action; obedience is not presumption. • Be willing to look foolish to the world if it means standing with God’s people. • Mark your life with the “scarlet cord” of Christ’s atonement; never be ashamed to display it. • Invite your household into the refuge of salvation; don’t keep safety to yourself. • Endure the “three-day” seasons; delays refine trust and magnify deliverance. Conclusion Rahab’s sheltering faith proves that God delights to protect all who commit themselves to Him. When trust moves from lips to life, even city walls can crumble while God’s people stand secure. |
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