The Faith of Rahab—An Unexpected Hero

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

If you have ever felt too far outside God’s grace, you need to know Rahab’s story. God includes her in the faith chapter in Hebrews because she demonstrated great trust in God despite intense personal risk. Her story is told in connection with the story of the walls of Jericho in the book of Joshua.

Once Joshua successfully led God’s people across the Jordan River after their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they came to the valley of Jericho. The city of Jericho sat as a looming, impregnable fortress. In order to know the city’s weakness, Joshua dispatched spies to assess Jericho’s walls.

While scaling the walls at night, the spies encountered Rahab, whose apartment lay tucked in the side of one of Jericho’s outer walls. She no doubt had witnessed Joshua and the army of Israel marching around the city walls. Now it was her time to show faith in God’s power and goodness!

If God showed grace to Rahab, a prostitute, and woman who would feel the scorn of society, how much more will He offer His grace to all who turn to Him?

The Bible is full of stories of unexpected people like Rahab coming to faith in God. People of all walks of life, troubled by all manner of life’s issues, turn to God and receive His grace. The list goes on and on in Hebrews 11. God graciously reaches into the lives of people who may feel as if life has passed them by or at times when all hope seemed lost. But God is always gracious. That’s His way. He longs to meet you where you are and show His grace to you. Just like He did with Rahab.

Many of the names near the end of Hebrews 11 might sound familiar to you. They each have a story of how they showed their faith in God. All the details of their lives are different, but they have something in common: They believed in God. There was a category of ruler or warrior. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and Samuel all held significant roles in God’s story as prophets to His people Israel. David, one of the most beloved kings of Israel, conquered his most trying circumstances by believing God’s Word—they all lived by faith.

What an amazing litany of courageous warriors of the faith who subdued kingdoms, battled on the frontlines for causes of righteousness, received the promises of God, and even stopped the mouths of lions!

The prophets of old faced hardship, persecution, and even death, as well, because they aligned themselves in faith with God. And those who followed after them in the time of the early church faced similar trials, persecution, and threats.

Also listed among the heroes in Hebrews 11 are a company of people who lived by faith, simply called “others.” These “others” past, present, and future suffer greatly for their faith. The suffering has ended for many of them, and they have already gone into the presence of the Lord and will never have to die again. You can draw strength and encouragement from their stories in your own struggle to endure suffering for His name. God offers the promise of eternal life and His sufficient grace and presence for those who suffer for their faith.

When you’re tempted to shrink back because of trouble or doubt your faith in a time of difficulty, you can be encouraged by the lives of those who have gone before you and stood firm in their faith. Recalling the faith of loved ones gone to be with the Lord, or people in your life who were steady sources of encouragement to you, can shore up those times when trusting God seems impossible.

1. Do you think the choice to have faith in God was an easy one for Rahab? How did her faith change her life? If Rahab could experience such a dramatic change in her life, is there someone in your life who seems too far gone, but that God may still be able to reach? Do you have faith that God could change them?

2. God worked mightily through the people of faith in Hebrews 11, but the list includes many who were martyred and persecuted. Why did some suffer so much in spite of their faith?

3. What role do God’s promises, fulfilled and unfulfilled, have in increasing our hope and faith?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's complete teachings of Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 11:3-6, Hebrews 11:5-7, Hebrews 11:8-19, Hebrews 11:20-20, Hebrews 11:31-34, Hebrews 11:35-40.