Which of these is the odd one out? Which of these is the odd one out?
Abraham Abraham
Moses Moses
Rahab Rahab
Elijah Elijah
Which of these is the odd one out? Which of these is the odd one out?
Abraham Abraham
Moses Moses
Rahab Rahab
Elijah Elijah
Living By Faith
The New Testament The odd woman in!
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because
Matthew Ephesians Hebrews she welcomed the spies, was not killed
Mark Philippians James with those who were disobedient.”
Luke Colossians 1 Peter Hebrews 11:31 (page 1210)
John 1 Thessalonians 2 Peter
Acts 2 Thessalonians 1 John
Romans 1 Timothy 2 John Faith And Action
1 Corinthians 2Timothy 3 John The background story: Joshua 2 & 6
2 Corinthians Titus Jude
Galatians Philemon Revelation
(pages 216 & 220)
1. The Woman God Used 1. The Woman God Used
A surprising inclusion A surprising faith
“Whatever else could be said
about Israel's first battle in the
land of Canaan, none could ever “If we could have taken a bird's eye view of
escape the knowledge that, in the city of Jericho, and had been informed
Israel's pivotal and crucial that there was one believer there, I warrant
moment of history in her land, you we should not have looked to Rahab's
God used an unpatriotic prostitute house. She would have been about the last
to ensure Israel's safety and person we should have supposed had been
security.” (R T Kendall) a possessor of faith in the true God.”
(C H Spurgeon)
1. The Woman God Used 1. The Woman God Used
A surprising faith A surprising faith
• hearing what the Lord had done • hearing what the Lord had done
“We have heard how the LORD dried up the • recognising who the Lord is
water of the Red Sea for you when you “When we heard of it, our hearts sank and
came out of Egypt, and what you did to everyone’s courage failed because of you,
Sihon and Og, the two kings of the for the LORD your God is God in heaven
Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you above and on the earth below.”
completely destroyed.” (Joshua 2: 10) (Joshua 2:11)
1. The Woman God Used 1. The Woman God Used
A surprising faith Faith in action
• hearing what the Lord had done “In the same way, was not even Rahab the
• recognising who the Lord is prostitute considered righteous for what
• seeking the Lord’s salvation she did when she gave lodging to the spies
“Now then, please swear to me by the and sent them off in a different direction?
LORD that you will show kindness to my As the body without the spirit is dead, so
family, because I have shown kindness to faith without deeds is dead.”
you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare (James 2:25-26)
the lives of my father and mother, my
brothers and sisters, and all who belong to “Even Rahab” = hope for everyone
them, and that you will save us from death.”
(Joshua 2:12-13)
2. The Woman God Saved 2. The Woman God Saved
The Canaanites Living under God's judgement
• culturally advanced “Know for certain that your descendants will
• morally depraved be strangers in a country not their own, and
they will be enslaved and ill-treated four
hundred years. But I will punish the nation
they serve as slaves, and afterwards they will
come out with great possessions. You,
however, will go to your fathers in peace and
be buried at a good old age. In the fourth
generation your descendants will come back
here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet
reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:13-16)
2. The Woman God Saved 2. The Woman God Saved
Living under God's judgment But Rahab was exempted from judgement
• refusing to repent
• refusing to believe “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she
welcomed the spies, was not killed with
Until it was too late! those who were disobedient.”
• the instrument of justice – (Hebrews 11:31)
the Israelites “Her practical faith...shown by her friendly
• the method of warfare – welcome to the spies, which sprang from the
everything “devoted” to the Lord conviction that the God of Israel was to be
feared, saved her from the fate of her fellow-
citizens… who declined to submit to the
claims of Israel's God.” (James Moffatt)
2. The Woman God Saved 2. The Woman God Saved
Living under a new and better covenant Living under a new and better covenant
“Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you,…” (Jesus - Luke 6:27) • salvation to those who believe
• judgement for those who
• salvation to those who believe do not believe
“For God so loved the world that he gave “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal
his one and only Son, that whoever believes life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see
in him shall not perish but have eternal life. life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”
For God did not send his Son into the world (John 3:36)
to condemn the world, but to save the world
through him” (John 3:16-17)
2. The Woman God Saved 3. The Woman God Blessed
Greater salvation means greater judgement Rahab’s future
“…how shall we escape if we ignore such a • a change of status
great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3) “But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with
her family and all who belonged to her, because
she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to
Jericho – and she lives among the Israelites to
this day.” (Joshua 6:25)
“And you also were included in Christ when
you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your
salvation. Having believed, you were marked in
him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.”
(Ephesians 1:13)
3. The Woman God Blessed 3. The Woman God Blessed
Rahab’s future Rahab’s future
• a change of status • a change of status
• a change of lifestyle • a change of lifestyle
• a change of destiny • a change of destiny
“Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother “…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the
was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus,
mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16)
and Jesse the father of King David. David
was the father of Solomon, whose mother What about you?
had been Uriah’s wife, …” (Matthew 1:5-6)
3. The Woman God Blessed
“…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the
husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus,
who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16)