HIGHLIGHTS IN JOSHUA
Number 2
THE FAITH THAT SAVES
=====
"But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them"
Joshua 2:4
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient"
Hebrews 11:31
=====

THERE IS no doubt that the Old Testament shows forth and illustrates the Gospel in a remarkable way. Here, in the story of Rahab, we have a notable example of this. That Rahab was saved is clear because she is named as one of the heros of faith in chapter eleven of the letter to the Hebrews. The blessing of these Old Testament examples is that they set forth the way of faith in a vivid and helpful way. In this meditation we will seek to see how this is done in the case of Rahab.

RAHAB, A SINNER

The reference to Rahab as a believer in Hebrews is very brief, just one verse, and it just gives title and reference to her story. We have to go to the story in Joshua chapter two in order to grasp the faith Rahab had. The first thing to understand is the fact that Rahab was a sinner, like all the rest of humanity. She is called a prostitute in Hebrews, and maybe her lodging place or inn was a brothel as well. In the Joshua account the words translated prostitute is given the meaning innkeeper in the margin. Whatever the truth of her life, she was a true child of Jericho and one who sinned against God by worshiping idols. The Bible makes plain that this sin of idolatry is far worse in the eyes of God than any bodily sins.

We learn from this the glorious Gospel truth that salvation is for sinners, that Christ came to save sinners, and seek and save those who are lost. If we are not willing to acknowledge that we are sinners before God, then like the Pharisees we receive no salvation. Jesus ironically describes such people like the Pharisees as the righteous needing no repentance, not because this is true, but because this is how such people view themselves. What is true is that the Gospel is good news of God's grace to sinners. No other than sinners and those who are ready to acknowledge their sin, may apply to receive this grace.

There is nothing harsh or unloving in this exclusiveness. The fact is it is all inclusive because in the eyes of God every human being is a sinner, and so Christ and his atonement is available to all without any discrimination. What excludes is not any pronouncement of God but rather the refusal of many to humble themselves before God as sinners.

RAHAB, FEARED GOD'S JUDGEMENT

The life of Rahab is a powerful illustration of the experience of the awakened soul. All the people in Jericho feared the Israelites. They all acknowledged that the might of Israel and the victories they had had while journeying through the wilderness were due to the help and power of God. (V.8-11) The people feared for their safety, and were fearful as to the outcome of the coming battle. Nonetheless they were determined to withstand Israel and save themselves. This is evident in the fact that they were taking steps to defend themselves by seeking out the Israelite spies, before they could do any damage. They still felt they could save themselves, unlike Rahab who admitted that she and the city were under God's judgement, and sought the mercy of God.

Rahab was different. We read in verse 8 that she starts by saying "I know that the Lord has given this land to you." She knew that Jericho was doomed. She had grasped that God was against the people of Jericho. The nature of this defeat of Jericho was the judgement of God upon the city for the sins and evil of the people. God's justice had come to fruition for that city, and final judgement was coming. Rahab understood this in her heart even though she perhaps had not worked out the details in her mind, or understood clearly the nature of judgement. Thus Rahab sought to fly from that Judgement and seek salvation.

This annihilation of Jericho was not an arbitrary action of power giving the city to Israel at the expense of the people of Jericho. It was in fact an act of judgement. The godlessness of Jericho was full, and the time of judgement had come. God was acting in justice upon these people. It reveals the awful reality of God's judgement, and that when sin is full, unless there is repentance and calling on God for mercy, this judgement will surely engulf sinners.

In the end this is what salvation is all about. The soul realises that their sins place them under the judgement of God, and they seek to fly from the wrath of God which looms in the future. It does not mean necessarily that life is full of trouble in the present, but there is a lively sense of the just anger of God against ungodliness and unrighteousness, and that his judgement hangs over them, and unless they find a way of escape they will undoubtedly be overcome by that judgement.

RAHAB, BELIEVED THE PROMISE

The heart of this history is the fact that Rahab believed the promise she was given by the spies in the name of Israel and the God of Israel. The story is interesting. Rahab hid the spies on the roof of her house. When she had got rid of the people seeking them, she asked the spies that they would promise that she would not suffer the judgement of God that she knew was immanent upon Jericho. She was told that if she and all her family stayed in her house, and if she tied a scarlet ribbon in her window, presumably the window in the outer wall of the city by which she let the spies down out of the city, she and all with her in the house would be saved.

This was the Gospel to her. She believed it and showed her faith by tying the ribbon in her window and hiding behind its security when Jericho was attacked and defeated. It must have been a very powerful experience for her. When all the walls of Jericho fell inwards at the time of Israel's attack, her house which was part of the wall must have been left standing by a miracle. This was a very powerful example of God's sovereign grace in salvation. We might suppose at first that the spies were promising that the Israelite army would not attack Rahab. This was true after the initial defeat of Jericho. However the actual defeat of Jericho was not in the hands of Israel but in the hands of God. God was the one who threw down the wall of Jericho. It was God in grace who saved Rahab and her family. After the battle she then threw in her lot with Israel and became one of them, with her family. She became a member of the people of God and an inheritor of the promised land with Israel. Hebrews tells us also that she became an inheritor also of eternal life that was promised through the coming Messiah.

Now here is the very essence of the Gospel. The essence is that we are saved when we actively believe the promise of God in Christ, as Rahab believed the promise given by the spies. Just as she was saved by no action of her own, but by the grace and power of God, so are all who believe the promise in the Gospel. I have said actively believe, because this is essential. It is not enough to believe the truth of the promise. It is necessary also to act upon it and hide behind the promise, which was for Rahab the tying of the ribbon in her window, and the hiding in the protection of the house so marked.

We have the same active faith illustrated at the time of the first Passover feast, when God brought the final plague upon Egypt which secured the Israelites release from slavery in Egypt. The blood of the passover lamb had to be daubed on the door post of each Israelite house, and the people had to be inside the house. When this was acted upon then all in the house escaped the judgement of God on Egypt, and the destroying angel passed over their dwelling. The active faith was the killing of the Passover Lamb, putting the blood on the doorpost, and being inside the house. They believed the command and promise of God and showed it by acting upon it.

The Gospel promise is that the shed blood of Jesus, which brought about his death, has atoned for all the sin of the world, and those who hide behind the blood, will receive full forgiveness of all their sins, and will be accounted righteous before God. Active faith is not simply believing in the promise, but also actively placing ourselves under the protection of the blood, by receiving the Saviour as our Saviour, accepting his perfect sacrifice for us as our salvation, and resting the salvation of our souls upon him and his blood shed for us.

Rahab had no protection outside the ribbon, so is it with the Gospel. If she had not been in the house, or had tied a green ribbon in the window, or changed the instructions in some way, she and hers would have died with all the rest. The Gospel is the same. If we change in anyway the terms of the promise in Christ, then we will be lost and have no salvation. It must be faith in Christ alone, with no addition of religious observances, or personal good works, or else Christ will profit us nothing at all, and there will be not forgiveness of sins.

RAHAB, AND GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY

The last truth illustrated here in this story is the fact of God's sovereignty. Although there was nothing preventing any of the rest of the inhabitants of Jericho from doing the same as Rahab, none did or had any desire to do so. It is a fact that the act of Rahab was something unnatural in the circumstances, but it was not beyond the power of any to do. The fact is that Rahab was the only one who believed in and feared the God of Israel, acknowledged that she could not escape the judgement coming, and sought for mercy and salvation.

What made the difference. Was it because she was more wise than all the rest. Was it that she was prepared to be a traitor when all the others were not. It was of no human reason whatsoever. Her understanding of the situation and her ultimate action is not natural to fallen humanity. The Bible tells us so clearly that God must quicken us as we are told in Ephesians 2:4,5. Without this sovereign act of God's grace and mercy we will not turn. This is not because the promise is not offered to us, but because we have no inclination or desire to turn. The fault is not that the promise is limited, but in the heart and will of a person, who loves darkness rather than light.

Like Rahab we have no grounds for pride in our salvation as if something in ourselves caused us to embrace the promise in Christ. We are no better than any other sinner. The reason we are saved is simply because God has been gracious to us. This should cause our hearts to go out to God in thanksgiving and praise, and cause us to yearn in our hearts before God for all the others yet unsaved that God may be gracious to them also. Salvation is a gift of grace.

CONCLUSION

There is a glorious clarity in the prayer and action of Rahab. She pleaded for her life to the spies. Sinners must plead for their life before God, because in our pleading is the acknowledgement of our unworthiness to receive mercy, and a throwing ourselves on the mercy of God. Rahab received the promise in this active way. In other words she rested her life on the promise by hiding behind the scarlet ribbon. The Gospel is the same. The sinner must be trusting in the blood of Jesus shed for him or her, and in nothing else whatsoever. There is risk here. There is a total faith in Jesus and renouncing of all other hope of salvation. It is in this way that this Old Testament history is so helpful and inhances our faith in the Gospel.