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Why is Rahab Remembered for Hiding the Spies
Why is Rahab Remembered for Hiding the Spies
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:31).
Tonight’s sermon will compare Achan and Rahab in the famous event of the march around Jericho. Studying the book of Joshua (chapters 2, 6, and 7) led to what I think will be a very profitable lesson, but there is one aspect of the story that I think will be best addressed in writing: Did Rahab lie to hide the spies? If so, why is she remembered for this?
In short, Rahab hides the spies in Joshua 2 because she has heard what God has done for the people of Israel and knows God will give them the land. Because she hides the spies, when the walls of Jericho fall she and her father’s household are saved. To answer our first question, in Joshua 2:4-5 Rahab does lie to the King of Jericho since she did know where the spies came from (Joshua 2:10) and did know where the spies were hiding (Joshua 2:6). This article will investigate the second part of the question: why is Rahab praised for hiding the spies if she lied to hide them?
Rahab Acts on Her New Faith
“Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” (James 2:25).
Rahab’s actions showed her allegiance to God. James 2 discusses that true faith will be acted upon, and Rahab is referenced as an example. Rahab knows that God will give the Israelites the land (Joshua 2:9), so she helps the spies take Jericho by sabotaging the King’s pursuit of the spies. Rahab is made an example of her faith in the New Testament because of her willingness to act on her faith. We learn from Rahab, a harlot and a liar, that God values her allegiance to Him even if she is ignorant of God’s laws. Rahab does lie, but she is praised for acting on her new faith by taking care of the spies. That being said…
Lying is Still a Sin
“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him… a lying tongue… a false witness who speaks lies…” (Proverbs 6:16-17).
Some will use Rahab as an example to justify lying in certain circumstances. Rahab being remembered for hiding the spies is not meant to teach us that it is sometimes
okay to lie. Rahab might not have saved the spies if she had not been a prostitute living on the wall of Jericho looking to host travelers, but she is not praised for being a harlot. In the same way, Rahab is not praised for lying. The New Testament encourages acting on our faith like Rahab, not being a harlot or lying like Rahab. Someone who already knew God and the six things He hates would be expected to act differently, but the Scriptures clearly show grace to this person who did not know the exact right thing to do according to God’s law.
What Does This Mean for Me?
All of us grow in our walk with Christ. We may look back at our younger selves and realize something that we thought was good at the time was not actually right. What matters to God is whether or not what we did was to show allegiance to Him from a genuine heart like Rahab. That does not mean that we should continue to act in a way that we know now is wrong, just like Rahab would not continue lying once she became part of God’s people. What matters is that we act on our faith. -William Speer
