By Faith Rahab the Harlot did not Perish Hebrews 11:31

The writer of Hebrews included several examples of people who exercised “faith” in their lives. Among them were the children of Israel as they “by faith” walked around the walls of Jericho until they “fell down”. In chapter eleven and verse thirty-one of Hebrews the writer shares how “by faith” “the harlot Rahab perished not” where we read:

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,

when she had received the spies with peace.

The verse begins, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,...”. The writer began with the words, “By faith” which means “the conviction of the truth of anything and belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “the harlot” or “the whore or prostitute who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain or lust” “Rahab” which means “wide” and was “a harlot of Jericho” “perished not” or “was not destroyed or slain” “with them” which refers to “the other people in Jericho” “that believed not” which means “refused or did not allow themselves to believe, obey or be persuaded”. “Rahab the harlot” was an unlikely person to exercise “faith” in God, however, because she obeyed the directives of the Hebrew “spies”, she was saved while others were perishing. (See Joshua 6)

The verse continues, “...when she had received the spies with peace.” The writer added the words, “when she had received” or “at the time Rahab took in, granted access and gave hospitality to” “the spies” which means “the reconnoiterers or inspectors in the sense of watchers” “with peace” or “with tranquility, harmony, concord, safety, security, prosperity and felicity”. “Rahab” “took in” the Hebrew “spies” and hid them from those who would have killed them, and this act became the impetus for her and her family being saved.

When we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how “Rahab”, the unlikely citizen of Jericho, was saved by her “faith” and trust concerning the words of the Hebrews “spies”. She hid the “spies” from the killers in Jericho and obeyed their directive to keep the scarlet cord hanging from her window. She had no proof that these things would ever “save her” as well as every person she convinced to come into her house, and yet, she “believed” and acted upon her belief. Jesus Christ came into the world to provide “salvation and peace” to all who will receive His words and obey them, and as “Rahab” believed without seeing her final results, so must those who put their trust and “faith” in the Lord Jesus believe. Let us consider the “faith” of “Rahab” as proof that even the most unlikely person, with unusual trust and obedience, can be afforded “salvation and peace” from God.

Next time the writer shares how “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets” could also be noted for their “faith”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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