“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).
God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). The same obedient faith which justified the patriarch Abraham also justified the heathen prostitute Rahab (James 2:23-25). Faith is God’s ultimate dividing line.
Because the righteous live by faith and the unrighteous do not (Hebrews 10:38), salvation awaits the faithful and perdition is the eternal sentence of the unfaithful (Hebrews 10:39).
Though Rahab did not have the Scriptures to read and study, she was confident that Jehovah was going to give the land of Palestine to the Israelites, led by Joshua. She had heard of the crossing of the Red Sea and the conquest of Israel’s enemies east of the Jordan River, and she believed that Jehovah is God in heaven above and earth beneath (Joshua 2:10-11). The conquest of Jericho and then all the land was certain in her mind; therefore, she acted upon this faith (Joshua 2:12-13).
Though Rahab’s past was polluted with the sin and guilt of harlotry, her faith in God saved her and her family (Joshua 6:22-24). Because of her faith, Rahab became one of David’s great, great-grandmothers (Matthew 1:5-6).
What a significant decision it is to cross the line which separates disobedient unbelievers from obedient believers.
