People in the Bible — Rahab
Joshua sends his spies
When we last left off, Moses led the Israelites right up to the Promised Land but was not allowed to enter it. It would be Joshua, his most faithful follower and apprentice, who would be the great military leader to fight and take over the Promised Land for God’s People. Before Joshua would enter the battle, Joshua sent two spies into the land to scout it out for enemies. When the spies arrived in enemy territory they went to an inn that also doubled as a place for prostitution. This was a place where people from out of town travelled so it could be a good hiding spot for an undercover spy. But their cover was blown quickly and Rahab, who was put on the spot and had to make a very quick and difficult decision.
2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
1. What did Rahab decide to for the two spies? ____________________________________
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2. Had she been caught what would have probably happened to Rahab? ________________
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Rahab Reveals her motives
As a spy, once you’re cover is blown, you are toast! You have to plan an escape route. How blessed were the spies feeling when Rahab came out of nowhere to help them? Very blessed. God had saved them from danger once again. But of course they had to speak to Rahab to find out what made her help them. And this was her response:
2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
3. What was Rahab’s reason for helping the spies? __________________________________
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4. Do you agree with her reasons? ____________
5. Have you been in a position this week where you had to make a tough decision between doing what is for God and sinning? ___________
6. How did that decision go? I chose God’s Way I sinned I put the decision off
Rahab believed in the true God of the Bible! Even though her neighbors, friends and family believed in false gods, she had seen what God can do and knew He was real. And when God’s people sent spies she knew she had to help them, even if it meant being arrested as a traitor and most likely killed. And after she helped the men she made a request:
2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
7. What did Rahab ask for? ______________________________________________________
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Rahab then let the spies out of a window and told them to hide in the mountains until the search party was gone. The spies agreed and made an oath that Rahab and her family would be protected. They instructed her to take a piece of red cord and hang it in the same window they went out of. And when the war came, that home with the red cord hanging over the window would be spared.
8. What do these instructions sound similar to? _______________________________________
People will believe when moved to believe!
After hearing about what God had done, Rahab believed. With people today it’s no different. The testimony of God’s people has a powerful effect! We need to use our own lives and our words to promote and let people know how real and great He is to us. If we don’t let people know what God can do, some of them will never find out.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
9. What are three great things that Jesus has done for you? ______________________________
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10. How often do you share this with other people?
Often Sometimes Rarely Never
11. What are other ways we can let people know about Jesus Christ?
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Faith without works is dead!
Rahab had great faith in God. She believed He was real and that in His anger he was going to punish all of her people. But she didn’t just believe, she acted on her belief. In a situation where she could have just kept quiet, she chose to prove how much she believed in God. By putting our faith in Jesus Christ we our saved. But the Bible tells us that without ever acting on that faith and showing we believe with our behavior, our faith is dead.
James 2: 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The Apostle James was the earthly brother of Jesus and a devoted follower of Him. He praised Rahab in his book because she stepped up for God when it counted. Believing by itself doesn’t work. You behavior and actions have to back it up. In other words…talk is cheap!
12. How often do you add works to your faith? Often Sometimes Rarely Never
Even though Rahab came from a sinful background her faith made her a great person of God. She even eventually married and became the great-grandmother of King David. No matter what your past is, God will take you and make you clean again if you put your trust and faith in His Son Jesus Christ. We have to believe in Jesus Christ and let people know about Him too.
