"The Harlot's Faith"

Rahab the harlot, was a woman that believed the God of Israel was the True and Living God. Not only did she believe that He was the God of Heaven and all of earth, but she was convinced that God was going to deliver the land of her people into the hands of Israel. In Joshua chapter 2, we see that she housed the two spies that Joshua sent into the land. The King of Jericho was told of these two spies, and sent men to go and capture them; but Rahab hid the spies and told the King's men that they had departed towards the Jordan, and that they should be quick to go after them. She believed so much that God was delivering her land to Israel, that she made the two spies promise to spare her life, and the life of her family, when they were to come and take possession of the land: "For we 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 of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed, and as soon as we 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 the earth beneath." (Joshua 2:10 & 11) Her faith in God was demonstrated by her actions which she took in protecting those two spies; and it was also demonstrated by her confession that God was in control; believing that He was not only that God of Heaven, but also Lord of all the earth. She could see that Israel was a people chosen by God, and that they were going to be given the land of her people for a possession; this was a faith in her heart the would cause her to become one with the children of Israel. Not only was this woman's life spared, but she was raised to a position of honor, and married Salmon, being blessed by being the ancestor of David, thus placing her in the line of Jesus, the Messiah. Moreover, she was enshrined in the New Testament "Hall of Faith": "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she received the spies with peace." (Hebrews 11:31) She was also proclaimed by James, as an example of what works of faith look like: "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way." (James 2:25)