Asking God Boldly: What We Can Learn from Rahab's Radical Faith
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. — Hebrews 11:31 NLT
Rahab is one of the more interesting characters in the Bible, and yet we know so little about her. Maybe that's one reason she is interesting, there's an element of mystery about her. We really know nothing about her background, other than that she was a prostitute and that she kept an inn.
I've been reading through the Bible and I'm in the book of Joshua now. Joshua chapter 2 is where her story starts. Israel was on the brink of taking over the promised land after their 40-year sojourn in the desert. Then, as now, it was common practice to send in spies to reconnoiter the land and see what they were up against. The first big, fortified city that they planned to attack was Jericho. Two spies went to Jericho to check it out and stayed in Rahab's inn. The king of Jericho found out about the spies and where they were staying. They were in a very dangerous situation.
According to The Complete Jewish Study Bible, inns in that day were known as places where conspirators and spies would hang out. In fact, because of this, it was forbidden to build an inn which a prostitute lives in near the city wall. (p. 277) It made it too easy for conspirators to escape. Somehow, Rahab managed to get an inn right on the city wall. It was probably the reason that Joshua's spies chose this very inn to stay in.
When the king's messengers came to Rahab's inn to arrest the two spies, she told them that the men had been there, but that she didn't know who they were. And in fact, they had left right before the city gates were closed for the night. Rahab said, "If you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them." (Joshua 2:5) The king's men rushed off and spent three days looking for the two spies.
Meanwhile Rahab had hidden the men on her roof. She went up to talk to them before they left.
Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.” - Joshua 2:8-13 NLT
The Israelites had been directed by God to wipe out these nations completely because they had become utterly corrupt. They were not to spare anyone. So Rahab's request was quite bold, especially coming from a woman. It makes me think of this verse in Hebrews:
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. - Hebrews 4:16
Her bold request was granted. Not only did she clearly believe in the power of the God of Israel, but she had risked her life to hide the spies. She then let them down the city wall with a scarlet rope. The spies told her to keep that rope tied in her window as a sign. The red of this rope pointed forward to the blood of Jesus that saves us. Jesus is our lifeline. When Israel came to attack Jericho, they were instructed to go in and escort Rahab and her whole family safely out of the city. She and her family were saved and lived among the Israelites from then on.
And there is one more thing...
Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. - Matthew 1:5-6
This verse is taken from the genealogy of Jesus. Rahab was the great-great-grandmother of King David. God chose her to be in the family line of His Son, Jesus. All of this because by faith she welcomed and protected God's people, and by faith she boldly asked to be saved.
We have the same privilege. We can come boldly to God and ask Him to save us. It doesn't matter what our background is. It doesn't matter what your life looks like today. God is always ready listen when you call out to Him in faith.
Reflect
• Is there something you can do to help support the people of God today?
• What do you need to ask boldly of God today?
Prayer: Father,
Thank You for saving me. I thank you for the lifeline you have given me in the life and death of Jesus. Help me to have the boldness of Rahab to stand for what I know is right and to come boldly to Your throne with my requests. Please use my life, just like You did Rahab's and make something beautiful out of it. Help me to create a lasting legacy for your kingdom.
I'd love to hear your thoughts! What are you asking God boldly for today?
Share your experience in the comments below.
Comments