Rahab: Safety, Salvation, Citizenship, Union

From: Rahab, Achsah, Jael, Deborah: June 2020

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 6 min. read • grade level: 8

There is probably no case in Scripture that (in type) illustrates the riches of God’s grace more fully than Rahab’s history. Her history begins in Jericho, a type of this world, and like this world, it was marked out for judgment. Jesus, when about to go to the cross, said, “Now is the judgment of this world,” adding, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die” (John 12:31-32³¹Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. ³²And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:31‑32)). The doom of the world was sealed at the cross.

Rahab tells us what testimony of God was used to bring faith to her soul. She says in Joshua 2:10¹⁰For 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. (Joshua 2:10) that they had heard what Jehovah had done at the Red Sea, which was the place where the power of God was displayed — a type of the death and resurrection of Christ. Many in Jericho heard it besides Rahab, and how many there are now that know of the historical fact of the resurrection of Christ. But there was faith in Rahab, and “faith cometh by hearing.” Whereas on the part of them that believed not, “the word ... did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Heb. 4:2²For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)).

Safety

Her home, Jericho, seemed secure. To all appearances it was impregnable, just as the world today boasts of progress, while going on to judgment. But “faith is the . . . evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1¹Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)), and so Rahab says, “I know that the Lord hath given you the land” (Josh. 2:9⁹And 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. (Joshua 2:9)). What then? She wants a place of safety for herself and her father’s house when the judgment falls. She wants a token that if she acts on the word spoken, their lives will be spared. She is told to “bind this line of scarlet thread in the window.” The “scarlet line” is a type of “the precious blood of Christ”; and God says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), like Israel in Exodus 12⁹Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. (Exodus 12:9), where Jehovah says, “And the blood shall be to you for a token... and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

Rahab also thought of the blessing of others, but there must be a test for them. “Thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee” (Josh. 2:18¹⁸Behold, 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. (Joshua 2:18)). What, must they come under the roof of one who had been a disgrace to the family? Yes, for “there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:22-23²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23)). Pride in the heart and utter ignorance of the awful havoc that sin has made have led many to reject God’s way of being saved. Simon, the Pharisee in Luke 7²²Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. ²³And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. (Luke 7:22‑23), and the elder brother in Luke 15²²But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: (Luke 15:22‑23) are illustrations of this.

The Scarlet Line

Joshua 6:23²³And 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. (Joshua 6:23) shows us that Rahab’s family availed themselves of God’s way of safety from the judgment about to fall. Though safe under the shelter of the “scarlet line,” the power of God had not yet acted on their behalf. We are told “the gospel . . . is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom. 1:16¹⁶For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)), showing that salvation (or “deliverance”) is connected with the display of power. In Exodus 12¹⁶And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. (Exodus 12:16) we get the blood of the lamb as the ground of security, but when we come to Exodus 14¹⁶But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (Exodus 14:16) we find God’s power displayed against the enemies of God’s people and in their favor, placing them on the other side of the Red Sea.

Salvation

God displayed His power in resurrection (Rom. 1:4⁴And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: (Romans 1:4); 2 Cor. 13:4⁴For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)). Paul desired that the saints might know that they stand before God according to the display of His power which was put forth when He raised Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20; 2:6¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, ²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:19‑20)
⁶And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (Ephesians 2:6)). Only after the power of God had been displayed against the enemy on Rahab’s behalf, is it said, “And Joshua saved Rahab,” bringing her out of what had been judged and putting her into an entirely different place. So it is now with the believer before God. He is no longer seen as “in Adam,” where death holds universal sway, but “in Christ,” where there is “no condemnation.” (Rom. 8:1¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)). Rahab was safe when she bound the scarlet line in the window, but she was not “saved” until the action in Joshua 6:25²⁵And 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. (Joshua 6:25) had taken place.

Citizenship

God’s grace to Rahab goes beyond her salvation from Jericho’s fall. We read, “And she dwelleth in Israel” (Josh. 6:25²⁵And 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. (Joshua 6:25)). Now, instead of being a dweller in Jericho, she becomes a dweller in Israel; her citizenship is entirely of a new country. When we turn to the New Testament, we find that we who were once “dead in trespasses and sins ... [and] walked according to the course of this world,” not only have peace and are saved (by grace), but we are “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19)). We belong to an entirely new order of things, as it is written, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [or, ‘it is a new creation’]: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)). We are “strangers and pilgrims” (1 Pet. 2:11¹¹Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)) as to this world, and “our conversation [or ‘citizenship’] is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).

Union

But Rahab’s blessing does not end with her new citizenship. In 1 Chronicles 2 we get the genealogical register of Judah, the royal tribe. Comparing verse 11 with Ruth 4:21²¹And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, (Ruth 4:21) and Matthew 1:5⁵And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; (Matthew 1:5), we find that she was married to Salma (or Salmon), the prince of the royal tribe. In Romans 7:4⁴Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Romans 7:4) and 1 Corinthians 6:17, 19-20¹⁷But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? ²⁰For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20), what wondrous and precious truth is brought before us! As believers we are not only safe and saved, but are citizens of heaven, “joined unto the Lord,” “married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” When we see the contrast between the “harlot of Jericho” and the “wife of the prince of the royal tribe,” we see a wonderful picture of what grace has done for believers today!

Mannerism

What manner of person ought Rahab to be now, and how ought she to conduct herself? Not only were old things passed away and all things become new, but she was a wife; her affections had been won. How would she prove that her heart had been won? Surely by seeking to please the one who had won it! Has Jesus won our heart? Then He gives you and me an opportunity of proving it in this scene where He was once rejected and cast out. Among the “all things new” is the motive of the heart, for it says, “The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14-15¹⁴For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: ¹⁵And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14‑15)). It is thus, having been united to the One who has been raised from the dead, and the affections of the heart being exercised, that we “bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4⁴Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. (Romans 7:4)).

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Col. 3:17¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)).

Christian Truth, Vol. 34 (adapted)

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