Examples of Faith #2—Rahab

“Yahweh, your deity, is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a true pledge … to deliver our lives from death.” So the men said to her, “… when Yahweh gives us the land, we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” Joshua 2:11–14

By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace. Hebrews 11:31

We can count on God to deal kindly and faithfully when we align ourselves with him. When Rahab acknowledged the deity the Israelites worshiped, she wasn’t just recognizing that Yahweh was real, or even that he was the supernatural being responsible for creating the earth and the sky. As she considered all that she had heard about how God had brought Israel out of Egypt and had enabled them to defeat the kingdoms around Jericho, she realized that she could count on him to provide the best possible future for her and her family. So she committed herself into his care and the care of the people who bore his name. Even before she confessed her faith aloud, she expressed it in action. She risked her life to save the lives of the Israelite agents who came to her home. Therefore God accepted her and made her a part of his covenant people. He let her marry Salmon of the tribe of Judah, thereby making her a grandmother of David, and eventually of Jesus’ father Joseph. We know more about God’s mighty works than Rahab knew: The unprecedented second exodus, when he brought the exiled people back from Babylon; the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus; the conversion of Paul and the inclusion of many more non-Israelites into the kingdom of God. We will not regret following Rahab’s example of entrusting her future to God because of what she knew about him. He will deal kindly and faithfully with us as he did with her.

All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord. For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God. Show me your way so I can live faithfully in it. Unite my heart to fear your name.