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From Harlotry to the Hall of Faith
Scripture Passage:
Joshua 2:1 INTRODUCTION: We begin to be comfortable with our salvation and begin to think it is our due. But we were due nothing. We all deserve the lake of fire. Yet, we have a God who specializes in saving the seemingly unsaveable. Rahab had no chance to escape the coming destruction; but God gave her a chance and she took it.
- RAHAB LIVED A LIFE OF SIN (Joshua 2:1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
See All...) - A harlot was a prostitute
- Genesis 38:24And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
See All... And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. - Jeremiah 3:1They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.
See All... They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. - 1 Corinthians 6:16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
See All... What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. - We are all sinners before God
- Ecclesiastes 7:20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
See All... For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. - Romans 3:23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
See All... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; - RAHAB LIVED IN THE PLACE OF JUDGMENT
- Jericho was Condemned to Destruction (Joshua 2:9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
See All...; Joshua 6:17And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
See All...) - A Lost Person is Already Condemned
- John 3:18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
See All... He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. - John 3:36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
See All... He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. - RAHAB FEARED THE JUDGMENT OF GOD (Joshua 2:9-11 [9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
[10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
[11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
See All..., 24) - She Feared the Coming Judgment (Joshua 2:9-11 [9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
[10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
[11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
See All..., 24) - We Should Do the Same (Hebrews 10:28-31 [28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
[30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
See All...) - Hebrews 10:28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
See All... He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: - Hebrews 10:29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
See All... Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? - Hebrews 10:30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
See All... For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. - Hebrews 10:31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
See All... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. - RAHAB SOUGHT DELIVERANCE FROM JUDGMENT
- Rahab Sought a Way of Escape (Joshua 2:12-13 [12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
[13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
See All...) - God has Provided a Way of Escape for Sinners
- 1 Peter 2:24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
See All... Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. - 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
See All... For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: - RAHAB RECEIVED THE PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE (Joshua 2:14-19 [14] And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
[15] Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
[16] And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
[17] And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
[18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
[19] And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
See All...) - She Displayed the Scarlet Thread (Joshua 2:21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
See All...); a picture of the blood of Christ (Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
See All...; 1 Peter 1:18-19 [18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
See All...) - Beginning with the coats of skins that God made for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
See All...) - Ending with the blood of Christ for eternal redemption
- Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
See All... Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. - 1 Peter 1:18-19 [18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
See All... Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: - She and Her Family Remained in the House (Joshua 2:18-19 [18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
[19] And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
See All...); just as Noah and his family stayed in the ark (Genesis 7:1And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
See All..., 15-16) - RAHAB AND HER FAMILY WERE DELIVERED (Joshua 6:20-23 [20] So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
[21] And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
[22] But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
[23] And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
See All...) - Rahab Brought her Family with Her (Joshua 6:22-23 [22] But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
[23] And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
See All...) - Wherever You Go, You will Take Someone with You
- Acts 16:29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
See All... Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, - Acts 16:30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
See All... And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? - Acts 16:31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
See All... And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. - Acts 16:32And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
See All... And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. - Acts 16:33And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
See All... And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. - Acts 16:34And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
See All... And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. - RAHAB BECAME ONE OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD
- She Dwelt with the People of God (Joshua 6:25And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
See All...; John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
See All... - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:) - She Married into the Messianic Line (Matthew 1:5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
See All...); she was David’s great-great-grandmother, her son Boaz marrying Ruth - She Entered into the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11:31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
See All... - By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.)
CONCLUSION: Have you received God’s deliverance from destruction? In other words, are you saved? If you are saved, are you daily thankful for what God has done for you? What a wondrous salvation God hath wrought!
Proverbs 28:18
Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.