How does Joshua 2:6 connect to Hebrews 11:31 about faith and works? Setting the Scene: Two Passages, One Woman • Joshua 2:6: “But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.” • Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, was not killed with those who disobeyed.” Rahab’s Rooftop Action • She physically hid the spies—simple, risky, time-sensitive obedience. • The flax stalks reveal a deliberate plan, not a spur-of-the-moment whim. • Her action directly opposed Jericho’s king (Joshua 2:2–3), staking her safety on Israel’s God. Hebrews Highlights: What God Saw • The Spirit, speaking through Hebrews, labels the episode “faith.” • Rahab stands beside Noah (v.7), Abraham (v.8), and Moses (v.24-28) in the same chapter—equal footing in God’s evaluation. • “Because she welcomed the spies in peace” links the inward trust to the outward deed; faith is named, but the welcoming act is cited as evidence. Faith and Works: One Seamless Garment • James 2:25 echoes the pair: “Was not even Rahab … considered righteous for her actions when she welcomed the messengers…?” • Works did not earn grace; works revealed genuine belief (cf. James 2:17; Ephesians 2:8-10). • Joshua 2:11 records her confession of faith—“the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below”—spoken before the rooftop rescue. • Thus, Hebrews 11:31 affirms that what started in the heart (confession) was authenticated on the roof (action). The Scarlet Cord: Tangible Proof of Trust • Joshua 2:18-21—tying the cord, gathering family indoors, and waiting quietly—were ongoing works of faith after the spies left. • The cord became a sign of salvation, prefiguring the blood of Christ (cf. Exodus 12:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19). • Faith initiated; obedience sustained; deliverance followed (Joshua 6:22-25). Key Takeaways • Joshua 2:6 supplies the concrete deed; Hebrews 11:31 supplies God’s verdict—faith. • Scripture never pits faith against works; it presents works as the visible outflow of invisible trust. • Rahab illustrates that saving faith, even in the darkest setting, moves a person to act courageously for the Lord. • Her rooftop obedience secured her place in Israel and, ultimately, in Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:5), proving that faith-driven works have eternal impact. |
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