26/01/2024 - THE IMPORTANCE OF RAHAB

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And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” Joshua 2.5

Rahab was among the lost people of her country, because she owned a brothel. But when she heard about what God was doing for Israel, she fell in love with its people. Then the Lord, who knows everything that is hidden, saw her attitude and went to meet her. Simply put, Rahab became an Israelite by faith, even though she lived among those who hated Jacob’s children. She didn’t mention it to anyone, but she believed that God would protect her during the invasion of Jericho.

Rahab had no choice: she could either tell some story to the authorities who went in search of the spies and be killed along with them, or she could stay on the side she felt was good. So, she wasn’t caught by the authorities, saving the spies and asking them to spare her on the day of Jericho’s destruction. Joshua heard the story about her and ordered the same people who came to her house to protect her and take her away from the destruction. She was accepted as a heroine of God.

It wasn’t difficult to fool the authorities, as Rahab’s reputation was great in the city. Even though she was a prostitute, she was a woman of character. Life had brought her to a miserable condition, but because she believed that the Lord justifies the ungodly, even though she had done nothing special for herself, she obtained the blessing of righteousness, as Paul said: But to him who does not work, but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness (Romans 4:5). She became a servant of God!

The wicked understand nothing of divine operations, because their eyes do not open to see the Most High at work. It didn’t even occur to the authorities to insist and search the whole house to see if what she had said was true or not. Never give in to sin, but walk in the Way of righteousness. Rahab was on the path of error, but her heart wanted a change of life, and she found it in the trial that would be fatal!

 The woman did not deny that the men had been there.  When it was dark and the doors had to be closed, she sent them off somewhere else. The door didn’t close on her, because she heard what the Lord was saying about Israel. Many rejoice in the fate of God’s people, without paying attention to the teachings of the Scriptures, therefore they will not be saved at Christ’s return. Anyone who fails to listen to the Holy Spirit will not be heard by Him in the last hour. Decide now!

Someone might say that Rahab took a big risk in making up a story about the spies, and it could have cost her life. Whoever remains faithful to the king of Jericho, serving the king of sin, will never be spared from eternal destruction. The lost who lived in that city risked more than Rahab did; after all, when Christ comes in the glory of His Father, they will not be rescued. To be saved, you don’t need good intentions, you need good works that come from faith (James 2:20-26).

Rahab told the authorities to go quickly through the plains, because there was a chance they might find the fugitives, but that was never true. She went to great lengths to defend those whom the Lord had placed under her care and protected them. Her reward will be eternal. Believe it!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares