Hebrews 11, is often referred to as the great ‘Hall of Faith’. Rahab, a Canaanite and prostitute, is named as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. Why is she considered a worthy example of faith? And what lessons can we learn from her?
Here is a brief background on Rahab from the book of Joshua. Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan river, Joshua sent 2 men to scout the land. Arriving in Jericho, they spent the night at the house of the prostitute Rahab. When Jericho’s ruler tried to apprehend them, Rahab hid them and then helped them to escape through a window, thus saving their lives.
5 Reminders from Rahab’s faith:
- Faith comes from hearing, not from seeing
Rahab heard the stories of the God of Israel. In Joshua 2:10 (NLT) she said “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.”
Rahab didn’t see the miracle first hand, but believed by hearing of God, His power, His miracles, and His victories. This illustrates the point about faith that Paul makes in Romans 10:17 (NKJV) “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
As Christians, we also base our faith on hearing. None of us have seen the mighty deeds performed by God in Biblical times. However, we read and hear about those deeds in the Bible, and we believe. Jesus pronounced a special blessing on people who do this. John 20:29b (CEV) “The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!”
To believe what we heard in the Word of God, but haven’t seen for ourselves, is faith. Hebrews 11:1 (GNT) tells us “To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.”
- Choose faith, not fear
In Joshua 2:9 (CEV) Rahab said to the spies “I know that the Lord has given Israel this land. Everyone shakes with fear because of you.” By hiding the spies and asking for her family’s safety, Rahab risked her life and her future. She could have been executed for treason if she had been discovered. But instead of letting fear paralyze her, Rahab chose to believe and trust God. Her courage was not the absence of fear, but the decision to trust God in the face of uncertainty.
Fear is a tactic of the enemy to shift our focus from God, His character and His promises. It is an emotion that tries to drown out the voice of truth from God’s Word. Fear attempts to block our ears from hearing, our eyes from seeing and our heart from believing.
Instead of choosing to fear, choose to believe and trust God.
Rahab didn’t know how her story would end, but she believed in the God who could do the impossible. Her example challenges us to examine our own faith. Are we willing to trust God when the circumstances seem overwhelming? Are we willing to step out, even when we don’t have all the answers?
Faith means trusting God more than feelings. We get to choose what we listen to and how it affects our heart. We choose what we believe.
- Words and actions demonstrate faith
Our faith in who God is, enables us to declare what He is capable of. In Joshua 2:11 (NLT) Rahab declares “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.”
Rahab not only believed in God, her words to the spies expressed her faith. Her decision to protect them put what she believed into action. James 2:14,25 (MSG) challenges “Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape – that seamless unity of believing and doing – what counted with God?”
Faith requires action.
The red cord displayed from Rahab’s window (Joshua 2:18, 6:22-23) was more than just a marker for the Israelites. The cord was a visible declaration of her faith and a symbol of salvation and redemption. By placing it in her window, Rahab put her trust in God’s promise to save her and her family from destruction and judgement.
Rahab’s story reminds us that faith is more than just believing in God. Faith is acting on God’s truth, even when the path ahead is unclear. It’s easy to say we trust God when the stakes are low, but true faith is revealed when we take action in situations where the risks are high, and the outcomes are unknown.
Hebrews 11:31 (NLT) states “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.” Rahab’s courage in putting her faith in the God of Israel not only saved her life but also the lives of her family.
- Faith ignites faith in others
Moses’ 12 spies spend 40 days viewing the land and upon their return 10 of the 12 spies were totally against taking the land. Their account spread unbelief throughout the camp. In stark contrast, Joshua’s 2 spies returned with a faith-filled report. In Joshua 2:24 (NLT) we read they were convinced “The Lord has given us the whole land” “for all the people in the land are terrified of us.” Through what she believed, declared and did, Rahab convinced the 2 spies to believe that God was giving them the land.
By sharing our own faith story God can ignite faith in others. Keep 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) in mind “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
- God can redeem anyone
By every worldly measure, Rahab was the last person anyone would expect God to embrace and employ. She was a Canaanite and a prostitute. However, this didn’t disqualify her from being valuable to God. Her story shows that God’s grace is not limited or bound by who we are, or our past. God can redeem and transform anyone, and our past does not have the final word about who we are in Him.
In Matthew 1:5-6 (NLT) we read “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. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).” Rahab’s story didn’t end with her rescue from Jericho. Her salvation was just the beginning of a far greater plan. Not only was Rahab and her family saved, but she found redemption and a new future. She was brought into the family of God. She became part of Israel’s lineage of kings and is mentioned by name in the lineage of the Messiah. Her life is a testament to the redemptive power of God’s grace.
God doesn’t see us the way the world does. He doesn’t define us by our mistakes or label us by our failures. Instead, He looks at us through the lens of His grace, seeing our potential and calling us into His purpose. God’s plan for Rahab’s life far exceeded her reputation or her past. God doesn’t call the qualified. He redeems and purposes those who are willing to trust Him.
God didn’t choose Rahab because she was perfect. He chose her because she was willing.
God’s grace is greater than our past, and His purpose greater than our failures. God doesn’t just forgive. God restores, transforms, and empowers us for His purposes. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) proclaims “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
A legacy of faith
Rahab’s life reminds us that it all starts with believing. Faith leads to transformation, redemption and outcomes far greater than we could ever imagine. Her faith didn’t just transform her own life. Her faith and obedience created a ripple effect that shaped generations and influenced the trajectory of history.
Her story shows us that leaving a legacy of faith doesn’t require perfection. It requires trust and obedience. She is a living example of how God rewrites our stories for His glory. How God uses ordinary people because of their willingness to say ‘yes’ to Him.
She also reminds us that no matter where we come from, what we’ve done, or how unqualified we feel, God can purpose us to inspire faith in others. God doesn’t see us as we are. He knows our potential and sees us for who we can be.
God isn’t looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him.
Hudson Taylor (1832–1905)
Her life challenges us to believe that no matter our past, God’s grace is sufficient to make us new, to call us His own, and to purpose us for His Kingdom.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for redeeming my life and welcoming me into Your family. Help me to choose each day to live with bold faith knowing that I belong to You. May I live my life in such a way that it impacts others positively for Your Kingdom. Remind me that my worth and purpose come from You, not from what the world says about me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
