How does Rahab's faith in Joshua 2:1 inspire our trust in God's plan? Setting the Scene—Joshua 2:1 “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, ‘Go, look over the land,’ especially Jericho. So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and lodged there.” • Israel is poised on the edge of the Promised Land. • Two spies slip into Jericho and find unexpected shelter in Rahab’s house. • From the opening verse, God is already orchestrating a meeting between His people and a woman whose heart is ready to respond. What Rahab Knew—and Believed Rahab had only heard reports, yet she acted: • She knew “the LORD has given you this land” (Joshua 2:9). • She had heard how the Red Sea dried up (Joshua 2:10). • She recognized that “the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (Joshua 2:11). Her information was second-hand, but her conviction was first-rate. While the city trembled, she trusted. Faith That Risks Everything Rahab’s faith went beyond mental agreement: 1. She welcomed the spies—risking royal wrath. 2. She hid them—risking her life (Joshua 2:4). 3. She arranged their escape—risking her future (Joshua 2:15-16). 4. She bound the scarlet cord—staking her family’s survival on God’s promise (Joshua 2:18-21). This concrete obedience shows why Hebrews 11:31 names her among the faithful: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.” How Rahab’s Story Fuels Our Trust • God works through unlikely people—no past disqualifies a present faith (see 1 Corinthians 1:27-29). • God honors courageous obedience—He saved Rahab and her household when Jericho fell (Joshua 6:22-25). • God folds believers into His bigger story—Rahab became an ancestor of King David and of Christ (Matthew 1:5-6). • God keeps every promise—just as the scarlet cord guaranteed safety, the blood of Christ secures ours (Ephesians 1:7). Echoes in the New Testament • Hebrews 11:31 highlights her faith. • James 2:25 pairs her with Abraham as proof that genuine faith acts. • Matthew 1:5 records her in Messiah’s genealogy—divine confirmation that her faith mattered eternally. Living Out Rahab-Like Trust Today • Listen to God’s revelations—Scripture supplies more evidence than Rahab ever had. • Act promptly on what He shows—delayed obedience erodes courage. • Stake everything on His promises—cling to them as tightly as Rahab tied that scarlet cord. • Expect God to weave your obedience into His grand plan—He still delights to use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. |
    |