Rahab's Faith: Transforming Ordinary Lives Through Action
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the extraordinary faith of Rahab, a seemingly ordinary woman, within the context of Joshua and Caleb's story. Joshua and Caleb exemplified what it means to respond to God's call with courage and faith, a theme that resonates with our mission to make disciples. Our focus shifts from worldly pursuits to fulfilling the Great Commission, which involves going out, making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey God's commands. This mission transforms our mundane lives into extraordinary ones.
We delved into the story of Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, who demonstrated remarkable faith. Despite her sinful past, Rahab's mind was instructed by the stories of God's mighty works, her heart was stirred with fear and reverence, and her will responded by hiding the Israelite spies and deceiving the king's men. Her actions were driven by her belief that the God of Israel is the true God. This faith led her to risk her life to save the spies and, ultimately, her family.
Rahab's story teaches us that faith is not just about belief but also about behavior. Genuine faith involves the mind, heart, and will working together. Rahab's faith was actionable; she behaved in step with her belief, which is a powerful lesson for us. Her kindness and the spies' reciprocal kindness highlight the importance of treating others with kindness, which often begets kindness in return.
The scarlet cord Rahab used to mark her house as a safe haven symbolizes the blood of Christ, which saves us. This tangible mark of faith underscores the importance of God's promises and our obedience to His commands. The story concludes with the spies reporting back to Joshua, affirming that God had indeed given them the land, and the inhabitants of Canaan were terrified because of God's mighty works.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Transforms the Ordinary into the Extraordinary: When we embrace our mission to make disciples, our everyday lives are transformed. This mission is not confined to grand gestures but is lived out in our daily interactions and routines. By focusing on making disciples, we align our lives with God's purpose, turning the mundane into the extraordinary. [01:54]
2. Faith Involves the Mind, Heart, and Will: Rahab's story illustrates that genuine faith is a holistic experience. Her mind was instructed by the stories of God's works, her heart was stirred with reverence, and her will responded in obedience. This triad of mind, heart, and will is essential for a faith that is both genuine and actionable. [16:43]
3. Kindness Begets Kindness: The reciprocal kindness between Rahab and the spies demonstrates the power of kindness. When we treat others with kindness, it often leads to a cycle of kindness that can have far-reaching effects. This principle is a practical outworking of our faith in everyday life. [21:17]
4. The Scarlet Cord as a Symbol of Salvation: The scarlet cord Rahab used to mark her house is a powerful symbol of salvation, akin to the blood of Christ. This tangible mark of faith underscores the importance of God's promises and our obedience. It reminds us that our faith is rooted in God's saving grace. [24:12]
5. God's Providential Hand in Our Lives: Rahab's story shows that God's providential hand is at work even in the seemingly inconsequential decisions of our lives. By stepping out in faith and obedience, we can experience God's guidance and provision in ways we might never have imagined. This encourages us to trust in God's plan and timing. [27:14]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - The Great Commission: Our Mission
[01:54] - Transforming Ordinary Lives
[02:37] - Making Disciples in Everyday Life
[03:25] - Joshua and Caleb's Courage
[04:10] - Israel's Journey and Joshua's Leadership
[05:05] - Obedience and Action
[05:51] - Joshua's Spy Mission
[06:58] - Rahab's Introduction
[07:57] - The Spies' Strategy
[08:50] - Rahab's Faith and Background
[09:34] - Rahab's Role in Jesus' Genealogy
[11:03] - Rahab's Deception and Faith
[11:59] - The Hall of Fame of Faith
[12:54] - Sin and Redemption
[13:42] - The Reality of Sin
[15:11] - Rahab's Declaration of Faith
[16:43] - The Mechanism of Faith
[18:16] - Rahab's Belief and Behavior
[19:45] - Rahab's Agreement with the Spies
[21:17] - Kindness and Faith
[22:51] - The Scarlet Cord
[24:12] - Symbolism of the Scarlet Cord
[25:46] - The Spies' Report
[27:14] - God's Providential Hand
[28:47] - The Fear of Canaan's Inhabitants
[29:30] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Joshua 2:1-24
2. Hebrews 11:31
3. James 2:25
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Rahab take to demonstrate her faith in God? ([11:03])
2. How did Rahab's knowledge of God's past works influence her decision to hide the spies? ([16:43])
3. What was the significance of the scarlet cord that Rahab used to mark her house? ([24:12])
4. How did the spies respond to Rahab's request for protection for her family? ([19:45])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Rahab's story illustrate the concept that faith involves the mind, heart, and will? ([16:43])
2. In what ways does Rahab's faith transform her ordinary life into an extraordinary one? ([01:54])
3. How does the reciprocal kindness between Rahab and the spies reflect the principle that "kindness begets kindness"? ([21:17])
4. What does the scarlet cord symbolize in the context of Rahab's story and in the broader context of salvation? ([24:12])
#### Application Questions
1. Rahab's faith led her to take significant risks. Is there a situation in your life where you feel called to step out in faith despite the risks? How can you prepare yourself to take that step? ([19:45])
2. Rahab's mind was instructed by the stories of God's works. What stories or scriptures have most influenced your faith, and how can you share them with others? ([16:43])
3. The spies showed kindness to Rahab in return for her kindness. Think of a recent situation where someone showed you kindness. How can you pay that kindness forward this week? ([21:17])
4. The scarlet cord was a tangible mark of Rahab's faith. What tangible actions can you take to demonstrate your faith in your daily life? ([24:12])
5. Rahab's story shows God's providential hand at work. Reflect on a time when you saw God's guidance in your life. How can this reflection strengthen your trust in God's plan and timing? ([27:14])
6. Rahab's faith involved her mind, heart, and will. Identify an area in your life where you need to align your actions more closely with your beliefs. What steps can you take to make this alignment? ([16:43])
7. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples in our everyday lives. Identify one person in your life who you can disciple or share your faith with this week. What specific steps will you take to engage them? ([01:54])
Devotional
Day 1: Transforming the Mundane into the Extraordinary
When we embrace our mission to make disciples, our everyday lives are transformed. This mission is not confined to grand gestures but is lived out in our daily interactions and routines. By focusing on making disciples, we align our lives with God's purpose, turning the mundane into the extraordinary. This transformation is not about seeking out grandiose opportunities but about being faithful in the small, everyday moments. It’s about seeing every interaction as an opportunity to reflect Christ and share His love.
The story of Rahab shows us that even those who seem ordinary or insignificant can play a crucial role in God's plan. Rahab, a prostitute, was used by God to protect the Israelite spies and ultimately became part of Jesus' genealogy. Her faith and actions turned her ordinary life into an extraordinary testimony of God's grace and power. This encourages us to see our daily lives as platforms for God's extraordinary work. [01:54]
Joshua 2:1-4 (ESV): "And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, 'Go, view the land, especially Jericho.' And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, 'Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.' Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, 'Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.' But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them."
Reflection: How can you see your daily interactions and routines as opportunities to make disciples and reflect Christ's love?
Day 2: The Holistic Nature of Faith
Rahab's story illustrates that genuine faith is a holistic experience. Her mind was instructed by the stories of God's works, her heart was stirred with reverence, and her will responded in obedience. This triad of mind, heart, and will is essential for a faith that is both genuine and actionable. Rahab's faith was not just an intellectual assent but involved her entire being, leading her to take significant risks for the sake of God's people.
This holistic approach to faith challenges us to engage our minds, hearts, and wills in our relationship with God. It’s not enough to simply know about God; we must also feel a deep reverence for Him and act in obedience to His commands. Rahab's example shows us that true faith will always result in action, as our beliefs shape our behaviors. [16:43]
James 2:25-26 (ESV): "And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead."
Reflection: In what ways can you engage your mind, heart, and will to live out a holistic faith today?
Day 3: The Power of Kindness
The reciprocal kindness between Rahab and the spies demonstrates the power of kindness. When we treat others with kindness, it often leads to a cycle of kindness that can have far-reaching effects. Rahab's kindness in hiding the spies was met with their promise to protect her and her family. This principle is a practical outworking of our faith in everyday life, showing that small acts of kindness can have significant impacts.
Kindness is a tangible expression of our faith and can open doors for deeper relationships and opportunities to share the gospel. Rahab's story encourages us to look for ways to show kindness to others, trusting that God can use these acts to further His kingdom. [21:17]
Proverbs 11:17 (ESV): "A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself."
Reflection: Think of someone you can show kindness to today. How can you extend God's love to them through a simple act of kindness?
Day 4: The Symbolism of the Scarlet Cord
The scarlet cord Rahab used to mark her house is a powerful symbol of salvation, akin to the blood of Christ. This tangible mark of faith underscores the importance of God's promises and our obedience. The scarlet cord was a sign of Rahab's faith and the spies' promise, ultimately leading to her and her family's salvation when Jericho was destroyed.
This symbol reminds us of the importance of visible signs of our faith and the assurance of God's promises. Just as the scarlet cord marked Rahab's house for salvation, the blood of Christ marks us as His own, securing our salvation. This encourages us to hold fast to God's promises and live in obedience to His commands. [24:12]
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV): "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
Reflection: What are some visible signs of your faith in your life? How can you live in a way that reflects your trust in God's promises?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Providential Hand
Rahab's story shows that God's providential hand is at work even in the seemingly inconsequential decisions of our lives. By stepping out in faith and obedience, we can experience God's guidance and provision in ways we might never have imagined. Rahab's decision to hide the spies and her subsequent actions were all part of God's plan to bring about His purposes.
This encourages us to trust in God's plan and timing, even when we don't fully understand it. We can be confident that God is at work in our lives, orchestrating events for our good and His glory. Rahab's story reminds us that no act of faith and obedience is too small for God to use in His grand plan. [27:14]
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision or action you took in faith. How can you trust in God's providential hand to guide and provide for you in this situation?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Because once we're born again, our mission changes. We're no longer focused on making money, making a living, making friends. All those things the world tells us we need to do. Instead, our focus becomes making disciples. So that's why we recite our Great Commission every single week. But it's not enough to just come on Sundays and remind ourselves of it. It's something that we've got to speak into our hearts every single day." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Whenever we do that, when we start making disciples, it transforms our everyday, ordinary life into an everyday, extraordinary life. Now, you may ask yourself, so what does it truly mean to go make disciples? It's not that complicated. It can be introducing people to Jesus. It can be helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus. And it can also be helping them become more like Jesus." (22 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So the question is, do we do that? Do we actually go out and make those disciples? Do we go out and make disciples in our everyday, ordinary life? Because that's what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to take that sandwich with us and go throughout the tri-state region, that 30-mile radius where we live out our everyday, ordinary lives." (16 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So Rahab's faith is what has caused her to deal kindly with the spies to risk her life to save their lives and now she requests that in turn that they will deal kindly with her and her family and we know of course kindness is a very special word we find in scripture it's one of the fruits of the spirit and so that kind of shows you the spirit that is involved in this conversation right here." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You see, that's the kind of actionable intelligence a general is looking for. Because when the enemy is on its heels, when it's operating out of fear, you go right for the heart. As Rahab testified, the people of Canaan are terrified of Israel. And not because of its military, but because of its God. God is the reason the people of Jericho tremble." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So the spies take off and it says, And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. So here we're introduced to one of the most famous women in all, of scripture, Rahab. So what does the Bible tell us about this woman? Well, first we see here that she's a prostitute. She sells her body for money. Now, many people over the years have tried to clean her up. They said, well, that's not really what that word means. It means she was like an innkeeper or something like that. When we look across the number of times she's described throughout scripture, it always uses the word harlot or prostitute. So we really can't clean her up. It's actually a very important. Part of the story." (46 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So Rahab's mind has been instructed. She declares I know that the Lord has given you the land for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites so she clearly possesses knowledge of these truths she knows because she has heard all about it so her mind has been instructed second her heart her emotion has been stirred she says the fear of you has fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you and as soon as we heard it our hearts melted and as soon as we heard it our hearts melted and as soon as we heard it our hearts melted and there was no spirit left in any man because of you you see their hearts they had been stirred they had melted fear had fallen upon them there was no spirit left in any of these Canaanites the knowledge that God gave Israel this land broke their spirit and when the mind and the heart when they come together a belief is formed that's what brings Rahab to pronounce the word of God and the Lord your God he is the God in heavens above and on the earth beneath you see that that is her profession of faith." (83 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You see, that's the kind of actionable intelligence a general is looking for. Because when the enemy is on its heels, when it's operating out of fear, you go right for the heart. As Rahab testified, the people of Canaan are terrified of Israel. And not because of its military, but because of its God. God is the reason the people of Jericho tremble. They heard of those plagues. They heard about him parting the Red Sea and crushing those few Canaanite clans already. And so they're terrified. They melt away because of Israel. And that is a piece of intelligence that is going to feature prominently in the next phase of the story as Israel then crosses this river and takes out the city of Jericho." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And so we can expect the exact same thing whenever we finally get out of our comfortable place and we go do those things God is calling us to do. And so they conclude their report to Joshua with the words, and they said to Joshua, truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. Now can't you just envision for a moment what Joshua must have felt like? How it must have warmed his heart to hear these words. Because these were almost the same words he used some 40 years before. You see these two spies that he had just sent out, they're also of good courage. They're strong. They're bold. They're firm. They have this mindset that they will prevail because of God. They have faith. They believe God is who he says he is. And they behave in step with their belief. When he says, let's go, they say, no problem. You got it. Let's go." (55 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You see, that's the kind of actionable intelligence a general is looking for. Because when the enemy is on its heels, when it's operating out of fear, you go right for the heart. As Rahab testified, the people of Canaan are terrified of Israel. And not because of its military, but because of its God. God is the reason the people of Jericho tremble. They heard of those plagues. They heard about him parting the Red Sea and crushing those few Canaanite clans already. And so they're terrified. They melt away because of Israel. And that is a piece of intelligence that is going to feature prominently in the next phase of the story as Israel then crosses this river and takes out the city of Jericho." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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