“When we heard these reports, our hearts melted and no courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below.”
Rahab was a prostitute who made this statement to the spies that Joshua had sent to check out Jericho. She risked her life to save them, and this verse explains why she did it.
She had become a believer… she didn’t have a name for it, but she heard of the power of The Lord and proclaimed that God was God. She believed in her heart, confessed with her mouth, and acted on her conviction. Her faith led her to hide the spies and misdirect the soldiers who came looking for them… She put her own life on the line to protect God’s people.
How does this young prostitute’s faith stack up to yours and mine?
My faith is more scripturally based, my theology more informed, but do my actions compare to hers? Do I declare my faith in God and then back up that statement with fearless action? Or is my faith an “add-on” to my life that I discuss when convenient and safe, but avoid when it involves risks?
How convicting it is to realize that after half a century of studying scripture, and personally seeing God’s hand at work in my life… my faith is not as robust, as this young woman’s who had only heard of God’s power second hand.
We have no excuse for being less courageous than Rahab. She has set the bar and there is no debate that God intends us to dangerously live out His word not just talk about it. He expects us to be strong and courageous… not quiet and comfortable.
What keeps our mouths shut in this culture?... Only one thing… fear… and according to scripture, Fear does not come from God.
I believe Rahab’s faith was counted as righteousness and that she changed her life after God showed her mercy. This would make her the first recorded Gentile convert. Some may debate that, but there’s evidence to support that belief.
The reason God recorded her story though is less debatable… It was to illustrate that faith produces courageous action, and to challenge us to boldly live out the gospel we preach.
“Faith can move mountains - fear can create them.” - Anonymous
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