Yesterday we learned how that Rahab the harlot expressed a
courageous faith in the God of Israel when she risked her life to hid the spies
that God in His divine sovereign providence brought to her house. Today we will
be looking at the source of Rahab’s confident faith that proved she had a
genuine faith. Remember that the Book of Joshua is about living by faith as we
face the giants and Jericho’s in our life.
Faith is only as good as its object. Some people have faith
in faith and think that just by believing they can make great things happen.
Others have faith in lies, which is not faith at all but superstition. A genuine
faith will show itself in the whole personality. True saving faith isn't just a
feat of intellectual gymnastics by which we convince ourselves that something
is true that really isn't true. Nor is it merely a stirring of the emotions
that gives us a false sense of confidence that God will do what we feel He will
do. Nor is it a courageous act of the will whereby we jump off the pinnacle of
the temple and expect God to rescue us (Matt. 4:5-7). True saving faith
involves "the whole personality": the mind is instructed, the
emotions are stirred, and the will then acts in obedience to God.
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen
as yet [the intellect], moved with fear [the emotions], prepared
an ark [the will]..." (Heb 11:7). Rahab's experience was similar to
that of Noah: She knew that Jehovah was the true God [the mind]; she feared for
herself and her family when she heard about the great wonders He had performed
[the emotions]; and she received the spies and pleaded for the salvation of her
family [the will]. Unless the whole personality is involved, it is not saving
faith as the Bible describes it.
Of course, this doesn't mean that the mind must be fully
instructed in every aspect of Bible truth before a sinner can be saved. Rahab's knowledge of the true God was meager, but she acted on what
she knew; and the Lord saved her.
Rahab showed more faith in the Lord than the ten spies had
exhibited forty years before, when she said, "I know that the Lord has
given you the land" (Josh. 2:9). Her faith was based on facts, not
just feelings; for she had heard of the miracles God had performed, starting
with the opening up of the Red Sea at the Exodus. "So then faith comes
by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans10:17).
Rahab said, "The Lord your God, He is God in heaven
above, and in earth beneath" Josh. 2:11). What a confession of faith
from the lips of a woman whose life had been imprisoned in pagan idolatry! She
believed in one God, not in the multitude of gods that populated the heathen
temples. She believed He was a personal God ("your God"), who would
work on behalf of those who trusted Him. She believed He was the God of Israel,
who would give the land to His people. This God whom she trusted was not
limited to one nation or one land, but was the God of heaven and earth. Rahab
believed in a great and awesome God!
Our confidence that we are God's children comes from the
witness of the Word of God before us and the witness of the Spirit of God
within us (1 John 5:9-13). However, the assurance of salvation isn't based only
on what we know from the Bible or how we feel in our hearts. It's also based on
how we live; for if there hasn't been a change in our behavior, then it's
doubtful that we've truly been born again (2 Cor. 5:17-21; James 2:14-26). It
isn't enough to say "Lord, Lord!" We must obey what He tells us to do
(Matt. 7:21-27). Rahab's obedience gave evidence of a changed life.
Rahab's conversion was truly an act of God's grace. Like
all the citizens of Canaan, Rahab was under condemnation and destined to die. Rahab
was a Gentile, outside the covenant mercies shown to Israel. She didn't deserve
to be saved, but God had mercy on her. If ever a sinner experienced Ephesians
2:1-10, it was Rahab!
Today, are you confident that your faith is the real thing?
God bless!
