Bible Study - Women of Faith (1) - Rahab:Courageous Faith - Joshua 2:1-14 - June 2, 2019

Bible Study – Women of Faith (1) – Rahab: Courageous Faith – June 2, 2019


This is lesson one in our series entitled “Living by Faith: Women Who Trusted GOD.”


Our focus scripture is Joshua 2:1-14


The power of GOD that leads us to fear HIM also leads us to trust HIM.


To fear GOD does not mean to be afraid of GOD but to honor and respect GOD for Who HE is. When we know Who HE is we trust HIM.


What the One True GOD of the Israelite’s was doing in the lives of HIS people got the attention of the pagan kings and nations. The account of their deliverance from Egyptian slavery, their crossing of the Red Sea and the defeat of powerful pagan kings had penetrated far and wide.


In our study, we get to see that our hearts reflect who we are rather than the profession we are in. GOD looks upon our hearts.


The heroine of our lesson is Rahab, who was a prostitute. Let’s look beyond this time in history and see if Rahab is mentioned later in Bible History:


Matthew 1:1-17:

1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud,

15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Hebrews 11 is referred to as GOD’S Hall of Fame. We read in verses 1 and 2 then skip to verse 31:

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Let’s read James 2:14-25 and 26:

Faith and Deeds

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.


Let’s explore to see how this background fits into our study.


Moses had died and GOD had buried him. Joshua was the new leader of the Israelite’s with all the rights and guidance that GOD had given to Moses as recorded in Joshua 1:1-9:

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:

2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.

3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Under Joshua’s leadership and his obedience to GOD, the Israelites had experienced great success. They crossed the Jordan River on dry ground while the river was at flood stage. They commemorated that event by stacking stones taken from the dry riverbed, representing each tribe of Israel on the Promised Land side of the Jordan. GOD granted success as the Israelites entered the Promised Land as long as they were obedient to GOD.


Fear of GOD can fuel our courage

Let’s read Joshua 2:1-7:

Spies Sent to Jericho

1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from Acacia Grove, saying, "Go and scout the land, especially Jericho." So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.

This seems odd that two Jewish spies would go to the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Why do you think they went to Rahab’s house? Her house was part of the wall and provided a way of escape. She likely had men entering and leaving throughout the day and night.

GOD knew her heart and her faith in HIM. Since they were Jews they would not partake of her business. Also, men in a prostitute’s house would be good cover for them. But someone saw them and informed the king.

Rahab’s house was strategically located. We read in Joshua 2:15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.


Back to our scripture:

2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land."

3 Then the king of Jericho sent [word] to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land."

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, "Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from.

5 At nightfall, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don't know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!"

6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof.

7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the gate was shut.

The king had accurate information but Rahab lied to protect the two Jewish spies. This took courage. Why was her lying ok? She was serving a greater King, GOD.

Let’s read Joshua 2:8-11:

The Promise to Rahab

8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof

9 and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given you this land and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.

11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

Rahab went up to the roof of her house to speak with the two Jewish spies. Notice, she said, “I know.” How do we really know something? We experience it. Rahab was a Canaanite but she referred to GOD using HIS personal name “Yahweh” (LORD).

Rahab knew that GOD had given the land to the Israelites. She knew the history of how GOD had been with the Israelites throughout their journey. She knew that GOD’S power was evident and superior to the other gods throughout the land e.g. the defeat of Sihon and Og. She knew, that GOD was with the Israelites and that they would occupy the land. She wanted to be on GOD’S side “for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.” Rahab saw truth in the GOD of the Israelite’s.

[ We know from GOD’S Word that the Promised Land was replete with false gods and GOD’S instructions to the Israelites to destroy them is recorded in Deuteronomy 7:1-9: 1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—

2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.

3 Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,

4 for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.

5 This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.

6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

7 The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.

8 But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

This is true for us today. Intermarriage of Christians with those of other non-Christian religions is an issue today.]

Fear of GOD leads us to trust

Let’s read Joshua 2:12-14:

12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign

13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death."

14 The men answered her, "[We will give] our lives for yours. If you don't report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land."

Rahab had a heart for her family and wanted them protected. Isn’t that true, when we become a Christian we think of our family and desire for them to truth and be secure for eternity through faith in JESUS.

Rahab and the Jewish spies made an oath. I think the rest of the story is so neat as we read Joshua 2:17-21:

17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us

18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.

19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them.

20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”

21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Rahab agreed to the provisions the Jewish spies gave her. She tied the “scarlet cord in the window.” When we place our faith in JESUS, HIS shed blood is, in essence, on the doorposts of our hearts and as Christians we are spared when death comes.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life? If not, now is the perfect time for you to become GOD’S Son or Daughter through faith in JESUS. When you place your faith in JESUS you receive the guarantee of eternal life by the miracle of Spiritual rebirth and is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!