“Live by faith”
SCRIPTURE
Joshua 2:4 Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were
OBSERVATION
Summary
Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho, hid two Israeli spies by faith.
Who is God
• God is pleased with faith accompanied with action
• God saves gentiles and a sinner like prostituted by His grace.
APPLICATION
When Jericho collapsed, the only saved ones were the prostitute Rahab and her family. Rahab cab be compared to Lot and Noah who were saved with their family in God’s judgements. Lot and Noah were God’s people. But Rahab was a Canaanite woman. Moreover, she was a prostitute whom God hated.
Rahab’s story shows that salvation is God’s gift by His grace. What was special about her faith ? There must be countless people in Jericho. But why did God choose her? There are two verses about Rahab in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:31 ” It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” Today’s passage about Rahab’s brave decision to hide the two men played a decisive role for God to save her and her family when Jericho fell. Bible praises her faith. James 2:25. ” Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.” In other words, her faith was proved by her action. In fact, Rahab’s actions were made by very bold decision to risk her own life. If King of the Jericho knew about this, he would have killed her as a traitor to the people. As later story reveals, Rahab knew who God was. So she decided to choose God instead of her people and nation. The prostitute, Rahab must be despised by many. However she was the only one saved in her kingdom. God does not look at appearance but looks at heart. I hope God would find right heart within me. God is pleased with our genuine faith which must be proved by appropriate action.
In the end, Rahab’s faith was rewarded as Heb. 11:6 promises, ” And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. “ I want to please God through faith.
- Sin to void, I repent of my little faith that relies on circumstance more than God sometimes.
- Promise to hold, God reward our genuine faith that trusts God only.
- Action to take place, Live by faith that pleases God.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father Increase my faith. I want to please you with my faith like Rahab. I want to show my faith to you through actions. Let me live by faith, not by sight.
Pastor Sharon Lee's QT 