(11-17-19) Ptr. Lynard Molo
*Hebrews 11
Noah: Ark Builder
Abraham: Father of Faith, Father of Many Nations
Moses: Believer of Israel
Gideon: Mighty Man of Valor
King David: Man After God's Own Heart
Rahab: Harlot of Jericho
=The Scarlet=
Rahab: Harlot, Prostitute
Prostitute: a person who has sex with someone in exchange of money.
People's Impressions:
-Cheap
-Degraded
-Demoralized
*Hebrews 11:31
"31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient."
Rahab's Faith:
1. Courage
*Joshua 2:1-4a,6
"1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land."
3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.)
*Rahab chose to stand on what is right even if her life was at risk.
"At every given moment in your life, you have the option to move backwards with fears and doubts or to keep pushing forward with faith and courage but don't forget to consider the positive demands of your inner-self while choosing in which direction to take. Try not to waste your entire stay on earth running away from your fears. You were born to be victorious in all your endeavors. Start walking with faith and courage God is with you and will forever be with you.
-Edmond Mbiaka (Author)
2. Confidence
*Joshua 2:8-11
"8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof
9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
*Faith comes from hearing.
11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
*Rahab believed that the God of Israel is the ALMIGHTY GOD.
3. Concern
*Joshua 2:12-13
"12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
*Her concern was the salvation of her family.
4. Covenant
*Joshua 2:15-21
"15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.
16 Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way."
17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us
18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
Significance of the Scarlet Cord:
-blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ)
-God's mercy and forgiveness
*Hebrews 9:22
"22 ... and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
19 If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear."
21 "Agreed," she replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
*And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. (SIGN OF RAHAB'S FAITH)
Results of Rahab's Faith:
1. Saved the two spies of Israel.
2. Became part of God's plan for Israel.
3. Saved her entire family.
4. Saved her life.
*James 2:25
"25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?
Prostitute. Righteous
-cheap. -right with God
-degraded
-demoralized
