Walls of Jericho The Story Of Rahab

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Walls of JerichoThe Story Of Rahab
James 225 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot
also justified by works when she received the
messengers and sent them out another way?
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• 1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from
  Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, Go, view
  the land, especially Jericho. So they went, and
  came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and
  lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of
  Jericho, saying, Behold, men have come here
  tonight from the children of Israel to search out
  the country. 3 So the king of Jericho sent to
  Rahab, saying, Bring out the men who have come
  to you, who have entered your house, for they
  have come to search out all the country. 4 Then
  the woman took the two men and hid them. So she
  said, Yes, the men came to me, but I did not
  know where they were from. 5 And it happened as
  the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that
  the men went out.

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• Where the men went I do not know pursue them
  quickly, for you may overtake them.6 (But she
  had brought them up to the roof and hidden them
  with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in
  order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them
  by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as
  soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they
  shut the gate. 8 Now before they lay down, she
  came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the
  men I know that the Lord has given you the
  land, that the terror of you has fallen on us,
  and that all the inhabitants of the land are
  fainthearted because of you. 10 For we have heard
  how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea
  for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you
  did to the two kings of the Amorites

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• who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon
  and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as
  soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted
  neither did there remain any more courage in
  anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He
  is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12
  Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the
  Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you
  also will show kindness to my fathers house, and
  give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my
  mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that
  they have, and deliver our lives from death. 14
  So the men answered her, Our lives for yours, if
  none of you tell this business of ours. And it
  shall be, when the Lord has given us the land,
  that we will deal kindly and truly with you.

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• 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the
  window, for her house was on the city wall she
  dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, Get
  to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide
  there three days, until the pursuers have
  returned. Afterward you may go your way. 17 So
  the men said to her We will be blameless of
  this oath of yours which you have made us swear,
  18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind
  this line of scarlet cord in the window through
  which you let us down, and unless you bring your
  father, your mother, your brothers, and all your
  fathers household to your own home. 19 So it
  shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of
  your house into the street, his blood shall be on
  his own head, and we will be guiltless. And
  whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall
  be on our head if a hand is laid on him.

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• 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we
  will be free from your oath which you made us
  swear. 21 Then she said, According to your
  words, so be it. And she sent them away, and
  they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in
  the window. 22 They departed and went to the
  mountain, and stayed there three days until the
  pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all
  along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the
  two men returned, descended from the mountain,
  and crossed over and they came to Joshua the son
  of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.
  24 And they said to Joshua, Truly the Lord has
  delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed
  all the inhabitants of the country are
  fainthearted because of us. 

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• The story occurs within the context of the
  conquering of Jericho.
• Within we learn about the incredible faith of a
  woman named Rhab.
• Unfortunately scoffers laugh at our allegiance to
  God and charge God with a moral contradiction.
• Even more disturbing are those who agree that God
  prohibits lying, but agree that God will approve
  of lying if the circumstances so warrant.
• Often called situation ethics.

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What Is The Truth?

• What are the issues?
• Let us admit that Rahab did lie-not once, but
  twice.
• 4Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know
  where they were from. 5 And it happened as the
  gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the
  men went out.
• 2. We must also admit that she was saved during
  Jerichos destruction.
• 23 And the young men who had been spies went in
  and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother,
  her brothers, and all that she had. So they
  brought out all her relatives and left them
  outside the camp of Israel.

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What Is The Truth?

• 3. The Bible commends her as a true example of
  faith.
• Hebrews 1131 By faith the harlot Rahab did not
  perish with those who did not believe, when she
  had received the spies with peace.  
• James 225 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot
  also justified by works when she received the
  messengers and sent them out another way?

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Faulty Logic

• Enemies of truth argue as follows

God Approves Of Situation Ethics
God Blessed Rahab Family
Rahab Lied
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Gods Position On Lying

• Exodus 2016 You shall not bear false witness
  against your neighbor.  
• Leviticus 1911 You shall not steal, nor deal
  falsely, nor lie to one another.  
• Proverbs 616-19 These six things the Lord hates,
  Yes, seven are an abomination to Him 17 A proud
  look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent
  blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet
  that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false
  witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord
  among brethren.

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Gods Position On Lying

• Ephesians 425 Therefore, putting away lying,
  Let each one of you speak truth with his
  neighbor, for we are members of one another.
•  Colossians 39 Do not lie to one another, since
  you have put off the old man with his deeds,.

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Why Is Rahab Blessed?

• Expressed Her Faith Verbally
• 9 I know that the Lord has given you the land,
• 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the
  water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of
  Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the
  Amorites
• 11 for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven
  above and on earth beneath.

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Why Is Rahab Blessed?

• She Acted Upon That Faith
• 14 So the men answered her, Our lives for yours,
  if none of you tell this business of ours.
• 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind
  this line of scarlet cord in the window through
  which you let us down.
• 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the
  doors of your house into the street, his blood
  shall be on his own head, and we will be
  guiltless.

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Confirmed In The Bible!

• Joshua 625 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot,
  her fathers household, and all that she had. So
  she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid
  the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out
  Jericho.
• Hebrews 1131 By faith the harlot Rahab did not
  perish with those who did not believe, when she
  had received the spies with peace.  
• James 225 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot
  also justified by works when she received the
  messengers and sent them out another way?

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Rahab Is Blessed

• Not because of her lying but in spite of her
  lying!

• Not because she is a prostitute, but in spite of
  it!

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Other Examples

• Noah is not blessed because of his exposing his
  nakedness in front of his sons, but in spite of
  it!
• Abraham is not blessed because he lies, but in
  spite of it!
• David is not blessed because of his adultery
  murder, but in spite of it!

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We Can See A Change

• Matthew 15 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz
  begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,..
• Revelation 218 But the cowardly, unbelieving,
  abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
  sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have
  their part in the lake which burns with fire and
  brimstone, which is the second death.

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What Do We Miss?

• That God judges man by the whole of his life, not
  one act of sin in his/her life.
• 2 Corinthians 510 For we must all appear before
  the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
  receive the things done in the body, according to
  what he has done, whether good or bad.

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What Do We Miss?

• 2. Bible characters become noteworthy not because
  of their sinful mistakes, but because of their
  repentance and lifetimes spent in Gods service.
• Revelation 210 Do not fear any of those things
  which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil
  is about to throw some of you into prison, that
  you may be tested, and you will have tribulation
  ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will
  give you the crown of life.

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What Can We Learn?

• God does not condone lying, but condemns it!
• We should not lie to anyone!
• Do not lean on our own understanding!
• We should be truth-tellers to everyone in our
  lives!
• We should not use honesty as a pretense to ruin
  someone elses life!

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What Can We Learn From Rahab?

• That a pagan can come to believe in Jehovah!
• That a harlot can obey the commands of God!
• That a pagan-harlot can obey even under great
  stress!
• That a pagan-harlot recognized the importance of
  putting others first!
• That a pagan-harlot was able to put away old life
  of sin!

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If only we had the faith of this pagan-harlot!
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If We Did.

• We would believe God no matter what others around
  us were doing!
• We would obey God even though others around us
  were not!
• We would change our beliefs after a presentation
  of the truth.
• We would stop the practice of sinning!
• We would do what was best for our family!

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If We Did.

• We would obey Jesus' commands on the conditions
  of forgiveness!
• We would repent and pray God that the thoughts of
  our hearts would be forgiven!