How does Joshua 6:17 connect to Hebrews 11:31 about faith and obedience? Setting the Scene • Jericho stands under divine judgment; Israel is commanded to devote the city to destruction (Joshua 6:17). • Hidden within its walls is Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who has already confessed, “the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11). The Command in Joshua 6:17 “Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.” • Total devotion to destruction underscores God’s holiness and justice. • A single clause carves out mercy for Rahab—she “will live” because of her earlier act of loyalty. Rahab’s Faith in Action • Joshua 2:9-13 shows Rahab confessing faith before seeing Israel’s victory. • She risks her life to hide the spies and ties a scarlet cord in her window as instructed (Joshua 2:18-21). • Her obedience is concrete, immediate, and costly—faith that acts. Hebrews 11:31: Looking Back at Jericho “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” • The Spirit-inspired writer singles her out in the “hall of faith.” • Her preservation is contrasted with “those who were disobedient,” linking disobedience with unbelief. Faith Expressed Through Obedience • Joshua 6:17 records the historical command; Hebrews 11:31 interprets the event, spotlighting faith as the decisive factor. • James 2:25 echoes the same truth: “Rahab…justified by works when she welcomed the messengers.” • Faith trusts God’s word; obedience enacts that trust. In Rahab, the two are inseparable. God’s Mercy Amid Judgment • While Jericho’s walls fall, Rahab’s house stands—an Old-Testament picture of salvation by grace through faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). • The scarlet cord foreshadows Christ’s atoning blood, sheltering believers from wrath (Romans 5:9). Lessons for Today • God honors humble, risk-taking faith even from unlikely people. • Saving faith always produces obedient action; lip service alone will perish with Jericho (Matthew 7:21). • Divine judgment is real, yet God delights to extend mercy to any who trust His Word. |
    |