JOSHUA SAVED RAHAB
Joshua 6:22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
Since we are here to study and worship Christ, we must first notice the last verse in this passage. Joshua, a strong personal type of our Lord Jesus, is said to have his fame noised throughout all the country by the events of this chapter. And we must understand that the fame recorded in this chapter had to do with both the destruction of the wicked in Jericho, and the salvation of only Rahab and her family!
This also did our Heavenly Joseph at this same city! Luke 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. He passed through the entire city, by-passing the entire population, and stopped and dealt only with Zacchaeus. Then he went to Zacchaeus’ house, as did the spies, sent by Joshua to Rahab’s house!
And of this fame and glory is therefore included the salvation of specific individuals, while others are passed by and left in their sin. Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
The Jesus of the Bible is the sovereign, presently reigning Lord! And salvation is not just about keeping souls out of hell! It is primarily about the glory of God! For his death and resurrection assured his Lordship over both the spiritually dead, and those made alive in regeneration! Romans 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. Whereas the little goober-headed Jesus of modern religion can’t do anything without the unified efforts of “human will!” But that Jesus is another Jesus, (2 Cor. 11:4), not God’s Jesus. He is only a figment of the religious imagination! And only the power of the true gospel will destroy that false image! 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; Every soul in the city of Jericho was in Joshua’s hand! Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. The lives of both those who were to die by the sword of Israel, as well as those of Rahab and her house, were under Joshua’s control.
And our Lord has absolute authority over those going to eternal damnation, as well as those to be given spiritual life by the Holy Spirit! 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: Most religious folks do not even know the following verse is in the Scriptures! Prov. 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. And in what way did he make them for himself? The purpose for all things having existence is for the display of the character and glory of God! Since he would make known himself as merciful, that would necessitate the existence of guilty objects. For mercy makes no sense, and cannot be displayed except there be guilt! And his holy wrath, pure in its origin, holy and just in its application, requires vessels of wrath, fitted to destruction. Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? Rahab, inside Jericho was as much elected as those marching around the outside of the city! Two separate Bible phrases need our attention in this matter. First, there is the phrase recorded in Matthew 13:30: Let both grow together! Of course this is the wisdom of the Lord God, set forth here as the householder, when asked by his startled servants concerning pulling up the tares sown in his field by an enemy. Please notice that word, grow!
Couple with that word 1 John 2:18, 19, which reveals that both tares and wheat can grow together under the sound of the gospel on the same local church pew. For it takes the same sun and rain to grow thorns as it does to grow wheat. And the Father sends rain on both the just and the unjust. And one cannot apostatize from that which he has never professed!
The Lord manifests himself in two different manifestations of light. He is revealed to some as only the light of the world. As this light, he illuminates the minds and understandings of every human being that is born into the world. John 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Every degree of intellectual understanding is from Christ as its source! Col. 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
But to his elect he is revealed effectually as the light of life! John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The second Bible phrase is located in the last book of the bible. For we read in Revelation 5:9 the phrase, out of every…! Here it is seen that God’s elect, like seed sown down through time and across the globe, are raised out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And Jericho was the bounds of Rahab’s habitation, and this was the time before appointed for her presence there! (Acts 17:26). The reason given by the Lord for everyones place and time of life is – That they should seek the Lord,…!
Rahab had the same kind of issue of faith as did Abraham! James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Notice the phrase “issue of faith.” Of course they had the same faith as every one of God’s elect, for there is only one faith! (Eh. 4:5). But the “issue of faith” is unique to each individual believer. That is part of the purpose of the writer in Hebrews eleven. For he begins with the words, By faith, and then he lists each believer’s issue of faith before the Lord! All had the same faith. But each had a different matter, or issue, to fulfill before the Lord. Enoch had to walk, but Noah had to build! But in our passage listed above from James, chapter two we find that he couples Abraham’s and Rahab’s issue of faith together with the words in verse twenty five (underlined), Likewise also! And just how were their issue’s similar?
Both were Gentiles! Neither were Jews! They, like all born of the Spirit in our day, are of spiritual Israel. (Romans 2:28, 29). But neither were born naturally of a Jewish mother. (compare Nehemiah 9:7). Both were chosen of God to have the Israelite line proceed from them. Of Abraham we read: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Gal. 3:16). And of Rahab we find: And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; (Matt. 1:5-6). For both Rahab and Ruth, the Moabitess, were some of those wild olive branches grafted in among the natural olive tree of which the Apostle writes in Romans 11:17.
Also both Abraham and Rahab had to have faith in that which was totally contrary to the rest of all Israel! For while those marching around Jericho had their issue of faith to be that the walls would certainly fall down, Rahab was dwelling inside her house, which was built on that wall. (Joshua 2:15). And she was believing with the same faith as they had, but with her issue that her wall would not fall! She even believed that the very doors of (her) house (Joshua 2:19) wouldn’t even get out of square when the massive force from God instantly destroyed the rest of the entire wall!
The marchers had a silent secret of faith (Joshua 6:10), hidden within their hearts that the wall would fall. While Rahab had a silent secret of faith (Joshua 2:20), that her wall would stand!
And Abraham had the issue of faith that stood against the reason of the mind, and even the promise of God, that Messiah would come from his very loins! For his issue was to sacrifice the only child he was given, thereby requiring God to raise him from the dead, since God promised Messiah was to come through Isaac’s line! Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham was actually required to put the knife to that part of his salvation that was produced through his loins – the flesh of Isaac! But this was prevented when God saw his willingness to do so. For only God the Father, would sacrifice the humanity of his Son, raising him from the dead, so that all could know that salvation is not of the works of the flesh, but of the Spirit! (Eph. 2:8-10).
And what of present day believers? Do we not each have our own secret from God, hidden deep within our hearts? Is not our individual faith a personal matter just between the Lord, the author of faith, and ourselves? Certainly it is! Rom. 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Pastor Gene Breed, December 15, 2001
