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Category: Shelach

The Results of “Courage”

Bamidbar (Numbers) 13:1–15:41 | Y’hoshua (Joshua) 2:1–24

This haftarah is the account of the story of Rahab. She was a Canaanite who had a house that was situated on the wall of ancient Jericho. In preparation for the start of their conquest of the Promised Land, Joshua sent spies across the Jordan River to gather information about their enemies in Jericho, the first city that they would encounter in Canaan. After the spies found their way to Rahab’s house, the king of Jericho learned of their presence there. Courageously,

Rahab hid the spies when the king’s men came searching for them. Knowing that they were indebted to her, Rahab asked the spies for safety and clemency for herself and her family when the Israelites would come to conquer the city.

Rahab demonstrated courage in this story. She stood up to protect the lives of some of the enemies of her people while facing a possible death sentence for doing so. She also gave up her allegiance to her people’s government and became loyal to the God and the people of Israel. In the process, she risked being discovered when the king’s men came looking for the spies, confronting the opposition face-to-face. Let us look at some of the results of this woman’s bravery.

The Lives of the Spies Were Spared

The spies made it back to the camp. They were able to report to Joshua all that happened to them, including the story of Rahab. These two spies were unlike the spies that checked out the Land previously under the direction of Moshe (in this week’s Torah parasha).

Rahab’s Life was Spared

Because she was faithful to them, they remained faithful to her. Moreover, in addition to Rahab’s life, the lives of all of her family members were spared. Thus, when they were attacking the city and destroying all that was in it, Joshua ordered the two spies to:

Go into the harlot’s house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her. So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives, and placed them outside the camp of Israel. (Joshua 6:22–23)

The Children of Israel Were Encouraged

Another result of Rehab’s courage was that by siding with the spies, she was able to communicate valuable strategic information to the Israelites. Upon returning and filing their report to Joshua, the spies were able to tell their commander the news that the fame and fear of Israel had spread far and wide into the land of Canaan. Thus, we find the Israelites confidently exclaiming to Joshua:

Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands, and all the inhabitants of the land, moreover, have melted away before us. (Joshua 2:24). A Living Example of Faith

Rahab was rewarded for these actions in ways that even she could never envision. She is favorably mentioned in the Apostolic Scriptures twice for her faith. The book of Hebrews mentions her in this regard.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

She is also mentioned in James 2:25.

…in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
In the Hebrews passage she is listed as an example of a person who trusted God. Here in James she is hailed as an example of someone who had the right kind of faith—the kind of faith that always results in works.

The Ancestor of Yeshua

Finally, Rahab was rewarded for her courage in yet another way. God granted that she be counted among the ancestors of Yeshua. In Matthew 1:4–6 we have one of the genealogies of Yeshua. Here we read,

…and to Ram was born Amminadab; and to Amminadab, Nahshon; and to Nahshon, Salmon; and to Salmon was born Boaz by Rahab; and to Boaz was born Obed by Ruth; and to Obed, Jesse; and to Jesse was born David the king.

Most evangelical scholars agree that it is the same Rahab. The time period of this Rahab in the genealogy is the same one that is required for the Rahab of Joshua chapter two. Perhaps one of the reasons for the story in the Tanach is to introduce this Rahab to us because by God’s sovereign plan she entered into the ancestry of Messiah.

An Example of God’s Impartiality

Finally, Rahab’s courage in accepting the God of Israel and walking away from the gods of her fathers and her own personal history provides us with a wonderful example of God’s concern for the nations outside of Israel. Indeed, in Rahab we see that God has no partiality. He is more than willing to save male and female, Jew or gentile, slave or free. Indeed, anyone who comes to Him will never be cast out. His salvation is for all who will put their trust in His Son.

© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission.

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