(Rahab, a Woman of Unusual Faith - Part 1 | Part 2)
In the first part of this study, we learned how the Israelites camped on the eastern side of the Jordan River as they waited for God's instructions for the taking of Canaan, the land they had been promised many years before. Spies that had sneaked into the land met with Rahab, a prostitute who believed in their mission. In this section we will learn of their oath to Rahab and her reward for helping them.
The Scripture: Joshua 2:12-13
“Rahab continued: ‘Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.’ "
1. What did Rahab want in return for her help?
2. What did she ask for?
The Scripture: Joshua 2:14-15
"’Our lives for your lives,’ the men assured her. `If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.' So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall."
3. What did the men promise?
4. What did Rahab do?
How could she do this? Portions of Jericho's wall were 12 feet thick and individual dwellings could be built into them. Rahab's house was obviously one of these houses.
The Scripture: Joshua 2:17-20
“The men said to her, ‘This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 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. If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.’ ”
5. What did the men tell her?
Rahab believed that the Israelites would keep their promise to her – another act of faith on her part.
Rahab's "sure sign" was the scarlet cord that she put in her window, a symbol of Christ's redemptive work that saves us.
The Scripture: Joshua 2:23-24
"When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. Then the two men started back....They told Joshua everything that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, ‘The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us."
6. How long did the men search for the spies?
7. What did the spies do?
8. What were their words of faith?
Confident of victory, the Israelites now crossed the Jordan River and camped on the eastern border of Jericho. In an act of incredible faith, all the men who had been born during their wanderings in the wilderness were circumcised. Being circumcised left the Israelites completely disabled in the face of their enemies. They remained there until they healed. The day after they celebrated Passover, they ate some of the produce of the land and the following day the manna stopped.
Most of us know the story of how the walls of Jericho miraculously collapsed after the Israelites silently marched around the city to the blast of their trumpets.
The Scripture: Joshua 6:17
“Joshua ordered: ‘Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.’ "
The Scripture: Joshua 6:22-23
"Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, `Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.' So the young men went in and brought out Rahab, and all who belonged to her....and she lives here among the Israelites to this day."
9. What were Joshua's orders?
10. What did the two young men do?
11. What happened to Rahab?
This is the Bible's account of Rahab, the converted prostitute, who believed in the Lord's promises, trusting Him to deliver her. We know little of her future, only that she married an Israelite and is named in the direct lineage of King David and Jesus.
This is also the account of two miracles; the Lord's supernaturally taking of Jericho, and His winning of a sinful woman's heart.
Nothing is impossible with God.
The Answers
- That they would spare the lives of her family and what belonged to them
- A sure sign that they would spare the lives of her family and everything that belonged to them
- If she would not betray them, they would treat her kindly and faithfully when the Lord gave them the land
- Let them down by a rope through the window because the house was part of the city wall
- That their oath was binding only if all members of her family remained in the house and she did not betray them
- Three days
- They returned to Joshua and told him everything that had happened
- That the Lord had delivered all the land into the Israelites' hands, for the Canaanites were faint-hearted because of them
- That only Rahab and those with her were to be spared
- They brought out Rahab and all those who belonged to her
- She went to lives with the Israelites.
All scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version
(unless otherwise indicated)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, New International Bible Society
Copyright © 2006 by JoAnne Sekowski