The Gospel that Rahab Receives (Joshua 2:1-14) 1/12/2014 ITCS Lord’s Day
1And 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. 2And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3Then 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.” 4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
8Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10For 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.
Introduction:
1) The gospel is not limited to the New Testament but already had revealed in the Old Testament. The salvation event of Rahab reveals the fact to us very well out of the text. As we see the reality in the symbolism, we can enjoy the abundant grace of our amazing salvation. So when we read the Scripture, intensely we have to search for the reality among many pictorial revelation. What did the text reveal to us about them?
First, it revealed the good news concerning God.
Although she had lived at the Old Testament, she knew some information, those are; the event of crossing the red sea, the event of occupying their strong tribes with the power of God, the event of guiding through the pillar of cloud and the pillar of the fire and the event of eating the quail and the manna in the wilderness, through the rumor. So she assured that the Lord is the only God in the heaven and the earth.
Verses 10-11 say, “10For 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 who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”
Rahab had got the specific grace to hear the good news and to accept them in the tribes of Canaan just like we did today. True faith comes out of listening to the Word of God, even it is appeared by several types in our situation, although she belonged to the miserable place of pagan nations, the symbols of Satan’s people.
How can we understand the fact that she received the gospel? Because she confessed “the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” to the Israelite spies. Her pagan knowledge of god had been changed by the biblical knowledge. This knowledge changed his divine knowledge that is the most important in her life. This is the true gospel.
Paul’s gospel includes the transformed knowledge from believing the merit of Christ. (Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.(Col2:6-7)
And also Peter’s gospel emphasized 7 virtue that a Christian should grow up in his life, those are; faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly love.
What is your faith? Really do you have true gospel like Rahab did? I means that you have to assure your knowledge of biblical divine God, as Rahab had in the dangerous situation. So we can assume that she was born again by the Word of God that come to her in a type of rumor.
= In our school life always we contact the Word of God, the special revelation. At the good chance, we should concentrate on to listen to the Word of God. And also we have to sustain to feel the presence of God through meditating the word in the passionate praying.
= Especially I appreciate God for making sure your faith in Christ Jesus through several learning in the baptism class. I have heard that fourteen persons prepare to receive the baptism. What is the baptism? As we know, as Rahab did, we accepte Jesus Christ as my savior by repentance and proclaim my faith to the church, “ I am a Christian by accept Jesus Christ as my savior.” Are you born again Christian truly? May the grace of God be with you all by the ceremony.
Second, she served the Lord as the King of kings.
The gospel of Rahab made her to be taken the courage to refuse the command of the king of Jericho because she were more afraid of the command of God than the command of Jericho king’s command.
12Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”
As we know, the situation of Rahab that she should devoted herself to the command of Jericho’ king, just like she had the same attitude of Moses against the command of Pharaoh. Hebrew 11:24-27 says “24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” How could she refuse against the command of the king? Because he found the greatest king, Jehovah who rules over all the universe, she could choose the way.
True faith shall be product by finding the world of the revelation, in a word, the Scripture. So we should give the most attention on the text of the scripture to know God and His character. Whenever we find the fact naturally we cannot help devoting ourselves to God, for the revelation is the life. God works the wonderful things in our heart through the revelation. As the result we shall be changed.
When we prepare our future ministry we should take the same experimental in our personal activities. When we study, think, talk and relate to our neighbors, we should be moved into such understanding out of miserable knowledge. In this school life we should develop to that place.
= Who is your king, your Lord? Jesus Christ or, your ego, your family? We can find many weak Christians in our actual life, although they claim that they serve Jesus as their king and their savior. Do you serve Jesus as your real king in your lives? I remember a real story. A christen girl refused to follow his non christian father’s exhortation in order to follow his king, Jesus Christ. Although her father cried out against Jesus who was one who snatched his only pretty girl, she had gone to Africa missionary to obey her king, Jesus Christ. The Scripture says obviously “34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.(Mt. 10:34-39)
Third, the salvation of all family was happened in it.
It was the wonderful privilege to accomplish the salvation of Rahab’s family through receiving the true mark of Rahab that was provided out of the Lord as Act 16:31 points us. “And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
The scripture teaches that true relationship is very important. True salvation tends to go to the salvation of all family through a family member. “And you will be saved, you and your household.”
Actually the faith of Rahab is same faith that the jailer of Philippo took. It is very nature in the world of truth. If we have accepted the real gospel, we experienced wonderful personal salvation, forgiveness of sins, purpose, power and peace. And then we want to proclaim it to my family not to go to hell. We believe that my gospel can change my family by the power of Holy Spirit. Do you believe in it?
In Cambodia we can find the matric centric society? Generally a family has 7-10 family members. It is biblical. It is one of good sound in the world. We have important mission to evangelize the family. This is very important mission to us. When I assured the gospel, the gospel should influence absolutely. Do you believe in it? The gospel is the powerful news in our lives.
= Do you believe that Rabab’s gospel is the same of our gospel? Do you apply that powerful promise to your family and your country? Now our God challenge you to proclaim the gospel to your stuation.
Conclusion;
My beloved students, have the gospel of Rahab and respond to it positively in your heart. By faith proclaim the gospel to your family. God shall help you with powerful grace. Please remember that God is waiting that all people shall be saved out of miserable state.
Let’s pray: Dear Lord, Make us seen the Rahab’s gospel in our heart to apply to me and my family to get eternal life. Lead us to the wonderful world of gospel to know God and your truth. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.