Faith Commits to God

Hebrews 11
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Please open your Bible at Hebrews chapter 11, where Pastor Colin speaks about “Living by Faith”. With just two weeks left in the series, we’ve been exploring the real-life examples of faith demonstrated by biblical figures like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarai, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. We now turn our attention to Joshua, Moses’ successor, and a man of extraordinary faith.

Although Joshua was an important figure of faith, particularly in the conquest of Jericho, as chronicled in Hebrews 11:30, the sermon highlights a different personality mentioned right after Moses in Hebrews 11. Amazingly, the person is Rahab, whose story of incredible faith is somewhat unexpected since she was not an Israelite, nor did she live a righteous life, given her past as a prostitute.

Rahab’s story of faith starts with her harboring the Israelite spies in Jericho as recorded in Joshua chapter 2. Despite her limited knowledge of the one true God of Israel and her questionable past, Rahab made a crucial decision to side with God’s people—a decision driven by faith. Pastor Colin emphasizes that her faith was marked by simplicity, commitment, and trust in God’s promises.

From Rahab’s actions, we learn that one does not require extensive knowledge or answered questions to exercise faith. Instead, faith rests on the recognition of who God is, the acknowledgment of His deeds, and the certainty of His forthcoming actions. Rahab’s commitment to the spies was an act of faith that pointed towards her allegiance to God’s people over her own people and safety.

The sermon further discusses the profound implications of Rahab’s faith, particularly her family’s salvation marked by the scarlet cord and her eventual integration into the lineage of David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ. Pastor Colin invites listeners to reflect on the transformational power of God’s grace evident in Rahab’s life

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,320 Please open your Bible at Hebrews, 2 00:00:02,320 –> 00:00:05,780 And chapter 11, just two more weeks to go 3 00:00:05,780 –> 00:00:10,260 in our series entitled Living By Faith. 4 00:00:10,260 –> 00:00:12,620 We’ve been seeing that God teaches us 5 00:00:12,620 –> 00:00:15,860 in this remarkable chapter through a whole series 6 00:00:15,860 –> 00:00:19,100 of real-life examples. 7 00:00:19,100 –> 00:00:23,160 And, each one of them highlights an aspect of the faith 8 00:00:23,160 –> 00:00:25,340 to which every one of us is called. 9 00:00:25,340 –> 00:00:29,379 We’ve looked at the lives of Abel, and Enoch, and Noah. 10 00:00:29,379 –> 00:00:32,540 Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, and Jacob. 11 00:00:32,540 –> 00:00:34,180 We’ve looked at the faith of Joseph, 12 00:00:34,180 –> 00:00:37,139 and we’ve looked together at the faith of Moses. 13 00:00:37,139 –> 00:00:40,580 Now, who would you expect to come next 14 00:00:40,580 –> 00:00:44,419 as a hero of faith after Moses? 15 00:00:45,580 –> 00:00:48,759 Well, Joshua was the successor to Moses. 16 00:00:48,759 –> 00:00:53,759 And without any doubt, he was a man of extraordinary faith. 17 00:00:55,220 –> 00:00:58,060 He was the one who in the time of Moses 18 00:00:59,020 –> 00:01:03,439 was one of the 12 spies sent out by Moses. 19 00:01:03,439 –> 00:01:05,580 And you remember that at that time, 20 00:01:05,580 –> 00:01:09,779 10 of them returned with a really gloomy report. 21 00:01:09,779 –> 00:01:12,059 They said, the land flows with milk and honey, 22 00:01:12,059 –> 00:01:14,500 that was good, but then they said the people are strong, 23 00:01:14,500 –> 00:01:16,260 the cities are fortified, 24 00:01:16,260 –> 00:01:19,500 and we are not able to go up against them. 25 00:01:19,500 –> 00:01:21,540 The people are much stronger than we are. 26 00:01:22,739 –> 00:01:26,279 10 spies said, it cannot be done. 27 00:01:26,339 –> 00:01:30,080 But there were two spies who said, 28 00:01:30,080 –> 00:01:31,639 if the Lord delights in us, 29 00:01:31,639 –> 00:01:34,480 he will give us this land. 30 00:01:34,480 –> 00:01:35,639 And one of these was Caleb 31 00:01:35,639 –> 00:01:38,080 and the other one was Joshua. 32 00:01:38,080 –> 00:01:41,639 Joshua was a man of great faith. 33 00:01:41,639 –> 00:01:45,279 And when Moses died, 34 00:01:45,279 –> 00:01:48,040 the leadership of God’s people went to Joshua. 35 00:01:48,040 –> 00:01:50,879 He was the one who brought them into the land of Canaan. 36 00:01:50,879 –> 00:01:52,720 He was the one who led them 37 00:01:52,720 –> 00:01:55,839 as they marched around the city of Jericho 38 00:01:55,879 –> 00:01:58,839 on that occasion that we’re going to look at today 39 00:01:58,839 –> 00:02:01,599 at when the walls fell down. 40 00:02:01,599 –> 00:02:03,459 And that story is recorded, 41 00:02:03,459 –> 00:02:08,460 you’ll see in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 30. 42 00:02:08,699 –> 00:02:12,419 There’s no doubt that Joshua was a great hero of faith 43 00:02:12,419 –> 00:02:17,360 but his name does not appear in Hebrews chapter 11 44 00:02:19,199 –> 00:02:22,539 not even in regard to the falling down 45 00:02:22,539 –> 00:02:25,779 of the walls of Jericho. 46 00:02:25,800 –> 00:02:30,479 The next person named after Moses 47 00:02:30,479 –> 00:02:34,919 is not Joshua but Rahab. 48 00:02:34,919 –> 00:02:36,979 Verse 31 of Hebrews 11. 49 00:02:36,979 –> 00:02:41,940 By faith, Rahab the prostitute 50 00:02:41,940 –> 00:02:45,940 did not perish with those who were disobedient 51 00:02:45,940 –> 00:02:50,940 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 52 00:02:51,339 –> 00:02:55,940 To the spies, now of all the heroes and heroines 53 00:02:58,759 –> 00:03:01,559 of faith in Hebrews chapter 11, 54 00:03:01,559 –> 00:03:06,279 Rahab is without any question, the most surprising. 55 00:03:07,460 –> 00:03:10,279 Remember that God’s promises had been given to Abraham 56 00:03:10,279 –> 00:03:11,740 and to his descendants, 57 00:03:11,740 –> 00:03:16,240 and Rahab was not one of Abraham’s descendants. 58 00:03:16,240 –> 00:03:17,919 She was not one of God’s people. 59 00:03:18,839 –> 00:03:23,380 And clearly she had not lived a righteous life. 60 00:03:23,380 –> 00:03:27,119 We’re told in this verse she had been a prostitute. 61 00:03:27,119 –> 00:03:32,119 Yet, here she is held up for us as a model of faith. 62 00:03:34,539 –> 00:03:36,100 The writer to the Hebrews is saying 63 00:03:36,100 –> 00:03:37,539 after commenting on Moses, 64 00:03:37,539 –> 00:03:40,479 oh, if you want to know what faith looks like, 65 00:03:40,479 –> 00:03:43,919 just look at Rahab. 66 00:03:44,860 –> 00:03:47,600 So it seems that the Holy Spirit 67 00:03:47,600 –> 00:03:50,740 must have something very special 68 00:03:50,740 –> 00:03:55,320 to teach us from Rahab’s story. 69 00:03:55,320 –> 00:03:58,139 And that story is told in Joshua in chapter two 70 00:03:58,139 –> 00:04:02,199 which was read for us just a few moments ago. 71 00:04:02,199 –> 00:04:06,119 When God’s people were about to enter the promised land, 72 00:04:06,119 –> 00:04:10,259 Joshua sent out two spies to gather 73 00:04:10,279 –> 00:04:14,600 a particular intelligence about this city of Jericho. 74 00:04:14,600 –> 00:04:17,339 And when these men came to the fortified city, 75 00:04:17,339 –> 00:04:20,859 they lodged with Rahab. 76 00:04:20,859 –> 00:04:23,679 Clearly the spies had not been very successful 77 00:04:23,679 –> 00:04:26,079 in concealing their identity 78 00:04:26,079 –> 00:04:28,440 because verse two of Joshua chapter two 79 00:04:28,440 –> 00:04:33,200 makes clear that word about these men of Israel 80 00:04:33,200 –> 00:04:35,200 got about time there are visitors, 81 00:04:35,200 –> 00:04:38,299 there’s a couple of men that are from Israel. 82 00:04:38,299 –> 00:04:40,739 And since it was obvious that God’s people 83 00:04:40,739 –> 00:04:43,320 were heading towards Jericho, 84 00:04:43,320 –> 00:04:45,700 it was not at all difficult to work out 85 00:04:45,700 –> 00:04:48,380 why these men had come. 86 00:04:48,380 –> 00:04:53,100 And so when the king of Jericho heard about the visitors, 87 00:04:53,100 –> 00:04:58,059 he sent messengers to Rahab with an order 88 00:04:58,179 –> 00:05:03,179 that she should turn these visitors over to the messengers 89 00:05:03,880 –> 00:05:06,579 who would then escort them to the king. 90 00:05:07,579 –> 00:05:11,200 Well, Rahab must have guessed that this would happen, 91 00:05:11,200 –> 00:05:14,760 and before the king’s messengers even arrived, 92 00:05:14,760 –> 00:05:18,019 she had taken the spies up onto the roof of her house 93 00:05:18,019 –> 00:05:20,760 where she had laid out bundles of flax 94 00:05:20,760 –> 00:05:24,339 and hid them among the stalks of flax. 95 00:05:24,339 –> 00:05:26,980 And when the king’s messengers arrived, 96 00:05:26,980 –> 00:05:31,079 well, Rahab really sent them off on a wild goose chase, 97 00:05:31,079 –> 00:05:33,200 that’s the only way I can describe it. 98 00:05:33,200 –> 00:05:35,140 She said, well, these men have gone already. 99 00:05:35,140 –> 00:05:36,160 I don’t know where they’ve gone. 100 00:05:37,160 –> 00:05:39,519 But if you follow quickly, you’re sure to catch them. 101 00:05:39,519 –> 00:05:42,399 And so off went the king’s messengers 102 00:05:42,399 –> 00:05:45,019 on this wild goose chase after the spies 103 00:05:45,019 –> 00:05:49,359 who all the time were hidden under the stalks of flax 104 00:05:49,359 –> 00:05:52,179 on Rahab’s roof. 105 00:05:52,179 –> 00:05:55,320 And then the Bible records Joshua chapter two in verse seven, 106 00:05:55,320 –> 00:05:57,720 and the gate was shut 107 00:05:59,399 –> 00:06:04,399 as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 108 00:06:04,579 –> 00:06:05,459 You see what’s happening. 109 00:06:05,459 –> 00:06:08,239 The search for the spies was on 110 00:06:09,200 –> 00:06:12,700 and once the city gate was shut, 111 00:06:12,700 –> 00:06:14,779 well, the whole city was in lockdown. 112 00:06:15,899 –> 00:06:18,559 No one could enter the city. 113 00:06:18,559 –> 00:06:22,440 And with the gate shut, no one could leave. 114 00:06:23,779 –> 00:06:26,179 So now the spies had a real problem. 115 00:06:27,160 –> 00:06:29,140 They were stuck. 116 00:06:29,140 –> 00:06:31,140 They were trapped. 117 00:06:31,140 –> 00:06:34,619 How could they possibly escape from the city 118 00:06:34,619 –> 00:06:36,279 when the gate was shut? 119 00:06:37,859 –> 00:06:42,760 Well, now Joshua tells us that Rehob’s house 120 00:06:42,760 –> 00:06:45,899 was right at the edge of the city. 121 00:06:45,899 –> 00:06:48,920 In fact, verse 15 of Joshua and chapter two, 122 00:06:48,920 –> 00:06:53,920 the house itself was built into the city wall. 123 00:06:54,140 –> 00:06:56,059 So if you were in Rehob’s house 124 00:06:56,059 –> 00:06:57,440 and looked out from the front, 125 00:06:57,440 –> 00:06:59,980 you would look onto the streets of the city, 126 00:06:59,980 –> 00:07:02,179 but if you were looking out from the back, 127 00:07:02,179 –> 00:07:04,320 you would look right through the city wall 128 00:07:04,320 –> 00:07:08,000 out into the open countryside beyond. 129 00:07:08,880 –> 00:07:11,320 And so when darkness came, 130 00:07:11,320 –> 00:07:15,839 Rehob let the spies out of the city 131 00:07:15,839 –> 00:07:20,839 by lowering them on a rope out of her window. 132 00:07:23,119 –> 00:07:25,959 Now, why did Rehob do this? 133 00:07:25,959 –> 00:07:28,920 Why would she put loyalty to these two men 134 00:07:28,920 –> 00:07:31,540 who just had arrived at her house 135 00:07:31,540 –> 00:07:35,459 higher than loyalty to her own king 136 00:07:35,459 –> 00:07:38,140 who demanded that she hand the men over? 137 00:07:39,220 –> 00:07:41,459 Well, very clearly, Rehob saw 138 00:07:41,459 –> 00:07:44,820 that a great conflict was coming. 139 00:07:44,820 –> 00:07:47,859 She realized that she faced a choice. 140 00:07:47,859 –> 00:07:52,160 She chose a side and she made a commitment. 141 00:07:52,160 –> 00:07:57,140 And Hebrews tells us that she did this by faith. 142 00:07:58,140 –> 00:08:00,420 Now, I want us to learn three things 143 00:08:00,420 –> 00:08:02,859 from the story of Rehob this morning. 144 00:08:02,859 –> 00:08:07,859 And the first of them is the simplicity of Rehob’s faith. 145 00:08:09,140 –> 00:08:11,299 Notice Hebrews 11 and verse 31. 146 00:08:11,299 –> 00:08:14,519 By faith, Rehob did not perish 147 00:08:14,519 –> 00:08:15,940 with those who were disobedient 148 00:08:15,940 –> 00:08:20,940 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 149 00:08:22,600 –> 00:08:24,220 Now the first thing I’m suggesting 150 00:08:24,220 –> 00:08:26,299 that we’ll learn from Rehob’s faith, 151 00:08:26,299 –> 00:08:29,179 which after all, is held up in Hebrews as a model 152 00:08:29,179 –> 00:08:32,919 for us to understand what faith is and what it does, 153 00:08:32,919 –> 00:08:35,919 first thing we need to learn is that you do not have 154 00:08:35,919 –> 00:08:39,599 to have vast knowledge before you can believe. 155 00:08:41,179 –> 00:08:44,520 You do not have to have all your questions answered 156 00:08:44,520 –> 00:08:46,760 before you can trust. 157 00:08:47,960 –> 00:08:52,960 Rehob had a very limited knowledge of the truth. 158 00:08:53,979 –> 00:08:55,479 She was not an Israelite. 159 00:08:56,520 –> 00:09:01,099 No prophet had ever come and spoken the word of God to her. 160 00:09:02,340 –> 00:09:05,219 It’s very unlikely that she would have known the stories 161 00:09:05,219 –> 00:09:08,539 of Abraham or Isaac or Jacob or any of the revelation 162 00:09:08,539 –> 00:09:10,119 that God had given to them. 163 00:09:11,539 –> 00:09:15,760 But she did have some knowledge of the Lord. 164 00:09:15,760 –> 00:09:19,119 Notice verse nine of Joshua in chapter two. 165 00:09:19,119 –> 00:09:24,119 She says, I know that the Lord has given you the land. 166 00:09:24,679 –> 00:09:26,919 Now, do you notice that the word Lord 167 00:09:26,919 –> 00:09:30,400 there has four capital letters, LOD. 168 00:09:30,400 –> 00:09:33,440 And when you see the word Lord or the name Lord 169 00:09:33,440 –> 00:09:36,760 with four capital letters in the Old Testament, 170 00:09:36,760 –> 00:09:39,760 it signifies the name by which 171 00:09:39,760 –> 00:09:41,840 God had made himself known to Moses. 172 00:09:41,840 –> 00:09:45,840 Remember I am who I am. 173 00:09:47,280 –> 00:09:50,539 And Rahab, if you look closely in your Bible you’ll see this 174 00:09:50,539 –> 00:09:53,859 Rahab prefers to God by name. 175 00:09:53,859 –> 00:09:56,299 By the name that he had revealed to Moses, 176 00:09:56,299 –> 00:09:57,979 Lord, four capital letters, 177 00:09:57,979 –> 00:10:02,099 four times verse 9, verse 10, verse 11, and verse 12. 178 00:10:03,400 –> 00:10:05,659 Notice then what Rahab knew about God. 179 00:10:05,659 –> 00:10:08,500 She knew who God is, verse 11. 180 00:10:08,500 –> 00:10:11,419 The Lord, four capital letters, your God, 181 00:10:11,419 –> 00:10:15,599 he is God in the heavens above and the earth beneath. 182 00:10:16,619 –> 00:10:19,919 She says your God’s the Lord. 183 00:10:21,020 –> 00:10:23,799 The God that you worship, I’ve come to believe, 184 00:10:23,799 –> 00:10:26,880 reigns in heaven and rules over the earth. 185 00:10:26,880 –> 00:10:29,020 And what that means is that all our idols 186 00:10:29,020 –> 00:10:31,580 here in Jericho are going to fall before him. 187 00:10:32,739 –> 00:10:35,020 Rahab knew who God is. 188 00:10:35,020 –> 00:10:36,020 The Lord. 189 00:10:37,739 –> 00:10:39,380 Rahab knew what God had done. 190 00:10:39,380 –> 00:10:41,299 Look at verse 10. 191 00:10:41,299 –> 00:10:45,580 We have heard how the LORD, four capital letters, 192 00:10:45,580 –> 00:10:48,780 dried up the water of the Red Sea before you 193 00:10:48,780 –> 00:10:51,820 when you came out of Egypt. 194 00:10:51,820 –> 00:10:53,419 So it’s not surprising, of course, 195 00:10:53,419 –> 00:10:56,979 that this amazing story of what had happened in the exodus, 196 00:10:56,979 –> 00:11:00,419 the story of international significance, 197 00:11:00,419 –> 00:11:02,659 it had got around. 198 00:11:02,659 –> 00:11:05,799 Israel’s God parted the waters. 199 00:11:06,940 –> 00:11:09,979 He blew upon them and separated them 200 00:11:09,979 –> 00:11:12,119 so that they were piled up like great walls, 201 00:11:12,119 –> 00:11:14,059 defying the laws of nature, 202 00:11:14,059 –> 00:11:16,380 God intervened in his own laws. 203 00:11:17,320 –> 00:11:20,599 And his people walked over on dry ground 204 00:11:20,599 –> 00:11:24,260 and then God too away his hand 205 00:11:24,260 –> 00:11:27,820 and the waters came crashing down on the oppressors 206 00:11:27,820 –> 00:11:30,820 who were pursuing God’s people. 207 00:11:30,820 –> 00:11:34,059 Rahab knew who God is, she knew what God had done 208 00:11:34,059 –> 00:11:36,059 and she knew what God was about to do. 209 00:11:36,059 –> 00:11:37,140 Look at verse nine, 210 00:11:37,140 –> 00:11:40,179 I know that the Lord, four capital letters, 211 00:11:40,179 –> 00:11:42,840 has given you the land. 212 00:11:43,679 –> 00:11:48,599 She knew this because Rahab was part 213 00:11:48,599 –> 00:11:53,599 of a community with a long history of evil 214 00:11:55,500 –> 00:11:57,940 and God had determined that that community 215 00:11:57,940 –> 00:12:00,059 in its entirety would be destroyed. 216 00:12:01,859 –> 00:12:03,880 The very important reference, by the way, 217 00:12:03,880 –> 00:12:07,700 in Genesis chapter 15 and verse 16, 218 00:12:07,700 –> 00:12:10,080 way back in the time of Abraham. 219 00:12:10,140 –> 00:12:14,320 God said this to Abraham in the fourth generation, 220 00:12:14,320 –> 00:12:16,280 now that means in 400 years, 221 00:12:16,280 –> 00:12:20,559 but for lifetimes and to end in 400 years, 222 00:12:20,559 –> 00:12:22,960 your descendants will come back here, 223 00:12:22,960 –> 00:12:24,840 that is to the land of Canaan. 224 00:12:24,840 –> 00:12:26,780 And why will it take 400 years? 225 00:12:26,780 –> 00:12:27,880 Why will it be that long? 226 00:12:27,880 –> 00:12:29,119 Why that long delay? 227 00:12:29,119 –> 00:12:30,159 Here’s the answer 228 00:12:30,159 –> 00:12:35,159 For the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached full measure 229 00:12:35,760 –> 00:12:38,900 That’s Genesis 15 and verse 16. 230 00:12:38,900 –> 00:12:39,880 In other words, 231 00:12:39,880 –> 00:12:42,659 the sin of the Amorites was great, 232 00:12:42,659 –> 00:12:47,039 even in the time of Abraham, 400 years earlier. 233 00:12:47,039 –> 00:12:52,039 But God is always merciful. 234 00:12:52,039 –> 00:12:58,559 And he held back judgment on this defiant 235 00:12:58,900 –> 00:13:06,599 and evil community for 400 years 236 00:13:06,599 –> 00:13:13,559 until their sin reached full measure. 237 00:13:14,820 –> 00:13:19,219 And Rahab knew that in her day, 238 00:13:19,219 –> 00:13:21,340 she was part of a community 239 00:13:21,340 –> 00:13:23,700 whose sin had reached full measure. 240 00:13:23,700 –> 00:13:26,299 She realized that her city was going to be destroyed 241 00:13:26,299 –> 00:13:27,820 in the very judgment of God. 242 00:13:27,859 –> 00:13:30,000 And she said, I know the Lord 243 00:13:30,000 –> 00:13:33,739 has given you this land. 244 00:13:35,380 –> 00:13:40,659 Now, here’s what we learned from Rahab’s faith. 245 00:13:40,659 –> 00:13:44,219 Faith rests on who God is, 246 00:13:44,219 –> 00:13:46,299 what he has done, 247 00:13:46,299 –> 00:13:48,380 and what he will do. 248 00:13:48,380 –> 00:13:50,099 Who is God? 249 00:13:50,099 –> 00:13:53,799 God is the ruler of heaven and earth. 250 00:13:53,799 –> 00:13:55,619 What has he done? 251 00:13:55,619 –> 00:13:58,400 He has sent his son to save his people 252 00:13:58,400 –> 00:14:01,280 by given himself as a sacrifice for sin 253 00:14:01,280 –> 00:14:03,260 and then rising from the dead. 254 00:14:04,679 –> 00:14:06,400 What will God do? 255 00:14:06,400 –> 00:14:08,260 God will bring justice. 256 00:14:09,320 –> 00:14:12,219 God will destroy all evil. 257 00:14:13,200 –> 00:14:15,280 God will bring his people 258 00:14:15,280 –> 00:14:17,960 into all that he has promised a new heaven 259 00:14:17,960 –> 00:14:18,820 and a new earth, 260 00:14:18,820 –> 00:14:20,919 that will be the home of righteousness 261 00:14:20,919 –> 00:14:22,500 forever and forever. 262 00:14:22,500 –> 00:14:25,320 Now, do you see how simple Rahab’s faith was? 263 00:14:26,619 –> 00:14:28,419 I mean, she had no bible, 264 00:14:29,299 –> 00:14:31,580 she had no pastor, 265 00:14:31,580 –> 00:14:33,500 and she had no Christian friends, 266 00:14:35,739 –> 00:14:38,200 but she knew that there was a great God in heaven. 267 00:14:39,099 –> 00:14:41,599 She knew that he would bring judgment on the earth 268 00:14:42,479 –> 00:14:45,880 and she knew that God was with his people. 269 00:14:45,880 –> 00:14:48,359 You don’t need to know everything about the bible 270 00:14:48,359 –> 00:14:49,799 before you can believe. 271 00:14:50,940 –> 00:14:53,500 You don’t need to have all your questions answered 272 00:14:53,539 –> 00:14:56,219 before you can trust. 273 00:14:56,219 –> 00:14:58,640 Here’s what you need to grasp. 274 00:14:58,640 –> 00:15:02,900 God reigns in heaven and he rules over all the earth. 275 00:15:02,900 –> 00:15:04,539 He is who he is. 276 00:15:04,539 –> 00:15:07,020 He’s not whoever you want him to be. 277 00:15:07,020 –> 00:15:10,580 He will judge all sin and he will destroy all evil, 278 00:15:10,580 –> 00:15:13,700 but he has sent his Son to save his people 279 00:15:13,700 –> 00:15:17,780 and if you are among his people you will be saved. 280 00:15:19,900 –> 00:15:22,340 So do you see faith rests on who God is, 281 00:15:22,440 –> 00:15:24,320 what he has done, what he will do, 282 00:15:24,320 –> 00:15:29,320 and on that basis faith commits to God’s people. 283 00:15:30,919 –> 00:15:33,880 Now that brings me to the second thing 284 00:15:33,880 –> 00:15:36,739 that I want us to see from Rahab’s faith today. 285 00:15:36,739 –> 00:15:39,659 We’ve looked at the simplicity of her faith. 286 00:15:39,659 –> 00:15:41,140 What I want us to see second 287 00:15:41,140 –> 00:15:45,500 is the depth of her commitment. 288 00:15:45,500 –> 00:15:47,500 Notice what it says in Hebrews 11, 289 00:15:47,500 –> 00:15:51,580 by faith Rahab did not perish 290 00:15:51,580 –> 00:15:53,140 with those who were disobedient 291 00:15:53,140 –> 00:15:58,140 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 292 00:16:02,299 –> 00:16:04,940 Now Hebrews makes it clear, 293 00:16:04,940 –> 00:16:06,380 do you see this in the verse, 294 00:16:06,380 –> 00:16:11,380 that it was by faith that Rahab did not perish? 295 00:16:11,919 –> 00:16:15,239 Right clear at the top of this verse. 296 00:16:16,219 –> 00:16:18,700 But do you see that this verse also makes clear 297 00:16:18,700 –> 00:16:20,739 that the proof, or the evidence, 298 00:16:20,739 –> 00:16:22,460 that her faith was genuine 299 00:16:22,460 –> 00:16:26,679 was that she gave a friendly welcome to the spies? 300 00:16:27,960 –> 00:16:30,700 In other words, the strength and genuineness 301 00:16:30,700 –> 00:16:33,440 of Rahab’s faith was shown 302 00:16:33,440 –> 00:16:36,380 in her commitment to God’s people. 303 00:16:37,619 –> 00:16:41,580 Now we have seen that faith believes what God has revealed 304 00:16:41,580 –> 00:16:43,859 and that faith trusts what God has promised, 305 00:16:43,859 –> 00:16:45,520 that’s what faith is. 306 00:16:46,700 –> 00:16:48,419 But the whole point of Hebrews 11 307 00:16:48,460 –> 00:16:50,859 that we’ve been learning all the way through these weeks 308 00:16:50,859 –> 00:16:54,440 is that faith shows itself by what it does, 309 00:16:54,440 –> 00:16:56,299 that’s how you know it’s genuine. 310 00:16:56,299 –> 00:17:01,299 There are certain marks by which faith makes itself known. 311 00:17:01,599 –> 00:17:03,580 For example, we saw in the story of Abel 312 00:17:03,580 –> 00:17:05,880 that faith listens to God. 313 00:17:05,880 –> 00:17:09,319 We saw in the story of Noah that faith fears God. 314 00:17:09,319 –> 00:17:13,819 We saw in the story of Moses that faith depends upon God. 315 00:17:13,819 –> 00:17:16,040 Now we’re seeing in the story of Rahab 316 00:17:16,160 –> 00:17:18,880 that faith commits not only to God 317 00:17:18,880 –> 00:17:22,500 but to His people in particular. 318 00:17:22,500 –> 00:17:27,500 Faith shows itself in what it does. 319 00:17:27,500 –> 00:17:30,920 And of course that is the great theme 320 00:17:30,920 –> 00:17:34,359 of the letter of James in the New Testament 321 00:17:34,359 –> 00:17:38,959 and very significantly, James chooses Rahab 322 00:17:38,959 –> 00:17:41,479 as one of his shining examples, 323 00:17:41,479 –> 00:17:44,599 James chapter two and verse 25. 324 00:17:44,599 –> 00:17:49,599 And in the same way was not also Rahab, 325 00:17:50,060 –> 00:17:54,920 the prostitute, justified by works 326 00:17:56,119 –> 00:17:58,479 when she received the messengers 327 00:17:58,479 –> 00:18:01,339 and sent them out by another way? 328 00:18:01,339 –> 00:18:02,640 You look at the screen and you say, 329 00:18:02,640 –> 00:18:03,920 is there a typo there? 330 00:18:03,920 –> 00:18:05,479 No, there is not! 331 00:18:05,479 –> 00:18:08,020 Justified by works? 332 00:18:08,020 –> 00:18:10,880 Paul says, we are justified by faith. 333 00:18:12,339 –> 00:18:13,420 Now here’s the important thing 334 00:18:13,420 –> 00:18:16,319 to understand and to grasp is very important indeed. 335 00:18:17,900 –> 00:18:22,619 James and Paul used the word justified 336 00:18:22,619 –> 00:18:24,239 in two different ways. 337 00:18:25,640 –> 00:18:28,979 Paul speaks about the declaration 338 00:18:28,979 –> 00:18:31,520 by which God makes us right with him. 339 00:18:32,939 –> 00:18:36,160 James speaks about the demonstration 340 00:18:36,160 –> 00:18:38,819 by which we show that our faith is genuine. 341 00:18:39,640 –> 00:18:42,400 Paul speaks, to put it another way, 342 00:18:42,400 –> 00:18:46,579 about a sinner being set free from condemnation. 343 00:18:47,979 –> 00:18:51,839 James speaks about a believer 344 00:18:51,839 –> 00:18:53,900 being shown to be the real deal. 345 00:18:55,099 –> 00:18:59,939 And Hebrews is right in line with both Paul and James. 346 00:19:01,439 –> 00:19:03,439 As Paul would say, 347 00:19:03,439 –> 00:19:06,540 by faith Rahab did not perish. 348 00:19:07,479 –> 00:19:10,300 Rahab believed who God is, 349 00:19:10,300 –> 00:19:13,540 what he had done, what he was about to do. 350 00:19:13,540 –> 00:19:15,660 And by faith she did not perish 351 00:19:15,660 –> 00:19:19,180 with those who were disobedient. 352 00:19:19,180 –> 00:19:22,939 And as James would say, 353 00:19:22,939 –> 00:19:24,780 the evidence 354 00:19:24,780 –> 00:19:28,819 that Rahab’s faith was genuine was this. 355 00:19:28,819 –> 00:19:32,140 She committed herself without question to God’s people. 356 00:19:33,380 –> 00:19:36,119 And for her to commit herself to God’s people 357 00:19:36,160 –> 00:19:38,939 was a massive risk. 358 00:19:38,939 –> 00:19:39,780 I mean, think about it, 359 00:19:39,780 –> 00:19:41,839 when the King’s messengers came and said, 360 00:19:41,839 –> 00:19:44,680 hand these men who’ve come to your house over, 361 00:19:45,640 –> 00:19:50,560 if they had been discovered hiding in the flax on the roof, 362 00:19:50,560 –> 00:19:54,319 Rahab’s life would have been over. 363 00:19:54,319 –> 00:19:56,079 She took an enormous risk 364 00:19:56,079 –> 00:19:59,040 in identifying herself with God’s people. 365 00:19:59,040 –> 00:20:01,260 But you see the strength and the genuineness 366 00:20:01,260 –> 00:20:04,239 of Rahab’s faith was seen in the depth 367 00:20:04,260 –> 00:20:07,319 of her commitment to the people of God. 368 00:20:09,040 –> 00:20:10,520 Now, this is very important 369 00:20:10,520 –> 00:20:12,640 and that’s what Hebrews is highlighting for us. 370 00:20:12,640 –> 00:20:15,140 How do you know that faith’s genuine? 371 00:20:15,140 –> 00:20:18,140 What does genuine faith look like? 372 00:20:18,140 –> 00:20:21,680 Well, you see we live in a highly individualistic culture. 373 00:20:21,680 –> 00:20:23,119 It’s so easy for us to say, 374 00:20:23,119 –> 00:20:24,939 oh, faith, yes, I know all about that. 375 00:20:24,939 –> 00:20:27,239 That’s a little private deal between me and God, 376 00:20:27,239 –> 00:20:28,719 nobody else is involved. 377 00:20:28,719 –> 00:20:30,339 But Hebrews is telling us 378 00:20:30,339 –> 00:20:32,260 that faith, genuine faith, 379 00:20:32,260 –> 00:20:34,760 shows itself in commitment to God’s people 380 00:20:34,760 –> 00:20:37,239 and what that means for us today is the church. 381 00:20:39,239 –> 00:20:44,239 And Rahab made a lifelong commitment to God’s people. 382 00:20:45,900 –> 00:20:47,520 After the destruction of Jericho, 383 00:20:47,520 –> 00:20:50,119 we read in Joshua chapter six in verse 25, 384 00:20:50,119 –> 00:20:55,119 Rahab has lived in Israel to this day. 385 00:20:56,339 –> 00:20:59,599 It’s writing at the end of the time of Joshua, of course. 386 00:20:59,599 –> 00:21:02,040 She continued, it was a lifelong commitment 387 00:21:02,619 –> 00:21:04,359 because she hid the messengers 388 00:21:05,459 –> 00:21:09,040 whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 389 00:21:09,920 –> 00:21:12,180 Now do you see, this is very important. 390 00:21:13,079 –> 00:21:17,800 Faith shows itself in commitment to God’s people 391 00:21:18,959 –> 00:21:22,040 and the strength, the genuineness of Rahab’s faith 392 00:21:22,040 –> 00:21:27,040 is demonstrated in the depth of her commitment 393 00:21:27,359 –> 00:21:29,680 to the people of God. 394 00:21:29,979 –> 00:21:30,839 Nice comment. 395 00:21:32,560 –> 00:21:36,619 So we’ve looked at the simplicity of Rahab’s faith. 396 00:21:36,619 –> 00:21:41,140 We’ve looked at the depth of Rahab’s commitment. 397 00:21:41,140 –> 00:21:43,060 Here’s the third thing today. 398 00:21:43,060 –> 00:21:47,819 The promise of Rahab’s safety. 399 00:21:47,819 –> 00:21:50,579 And I want you to notice, from Joshua in chapter two, 400 00:21:50,579 –> 00:21:54,520 that before Rahab lowered the spies to safety 401 00:21:54,520 –> 00:21:59,520 from her window, she asked them to swear a solemn promise. 402 00:22:00,280 –> 00:22:03,020 Joshua 2, verse 12. 403 00:22:03,020 –> 00:22:08,020 Now then, please, swear to me, 404 00:22:08,359 –> 00:22:12,140 by the Lord, for capital letters, 405 00:22:13,239 –> 00:22:15,699 that as I have dealt kindly with you, 406 00:22:15,699 –> 00:22:20,079 you also will deal kindly with my father’s house. 407 00:22:20,079 –> 00:22:24,780 Now do you see that Rahab pressed the spies 408 00:22:24,780 –> 00:22:26,579 not only for a promise 409 00:22:27,140 –> 00:22:32,140 but for a promise made in the name of the Lord. 410 00:22:33,180 –> 00:22:35,180 Why did she do that? 411 00:22:35,180 –> 00:22:38,079 Because she knew that a promise 412 00:22:38,079 –> 00:22:41,199 with God’s name attached 413 00:22:42,199 –> 00:22:44,300 was a promise that would always be kept. 414 00:22:45,880 –> 00:22:48,540 And the spies gave that solemn promise 415 00:22:48,540 –> 00:22:51,599 in the name of the Lord. 416 00:22:51,599 –> 00:22:53,479 And they said this, Joshua chapter two 417 00:22:53,479 –> 00:22:55,199 in verse 18, behold, 418 00:22:55,219 –> 00:22:56,939 when we come to the land, 419 00:22:56,939 –> 00:22:59,439 you shall tie this scarlet cord 420 00:22:59,439 –> 00:23:02,719 in the window through which you lead us down. 421 00:23:02,719 –> 00:23:04,520 And you shall gather into your house, 422 00:23:04,520 –> 00:23:08,140 your father, your mother, your brothers, 423 00:23:08,140 –> 00:23:12,439 and all of your father’s household. 424 00:23:12,439 –> 00:23:16,400 And Rahab trusted this promise 425 00:23:16,400 –> 00:23:19,640 because God’s name was attached 426 00:23:19,640 –> 00:23:23,579 swear to me by the Lord. 427 00:23:24,500 –> 00:23:26,660 And the promise was clear, 428 00:23:26,660 –> 00:23:31,140 if you will tie the scarlet cord in the window, 429 00:23:31,140 –> 00:23:36,140 then anyone in your house will be saved. 430 00:23:37,099 –> 00:23:40,500 And Joshua records very simply in verse 21, 431 00:23:40,500 –> 00:23:45,500 she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 432 00:23:46,900 –> 00:23:48,339 Now, do you see what we’re learning here? 433 00:23:48,339 –> 00:23:53,339 It’s very clear, faith commits to God’s people 434 00:23:53,859 –> 00:23:56,699 because of who God is, what He has done 435 00:23:56,699 –> 00:24:01,699 and what He will do and faith trusts God’s promise. 436 00:24:03,939 –> 00:24:05,339 That’s what Rahab did. 437 00:24:05,339 –> 00:24:08,739 This is why she has held up in the book of Hebrews 438 00:24:08,739 –> 00:24:13,739 as a model, an example of faith for us today. 439 00:24:14,540 –> 00:24:16,819 This is what we must do, 440 00:24:16,819 –> 00:24:19,839 we must commit to God’s people on the basis 441 00:24:19,839 –> 00:24:21,839 of who God is and what He has done, 442 00:24:21,959 –> 00:24:25,540 what He will do, and we must trust the promise of God, 443 00:24:25,540 –> 00:24:29,800 the promise that is given to us in His name. 444 00:24:31,239 –> 00:24:34,540 Well let me tell you the continuation of the story. 445 00:24:34,540 –> 00:24:35,560 It’s remarkable. 446 00:24:36,560 –> 00:24:40,260 Sometime after the spies had gone, 447 00:24:41,939 –> 00:24:45,339 the people of God appeared on the horizon. 448 00:24:46,199 –> 00:24:48,959 I’ve no doubt that Rahab, looking through her window, 449 00:24:48,959 –> 00:24:50,739 saw them in the distance. 450 00:24:51,739 –> 00:24:54,000 And as soon as she did, 451 00:24:54,000 –> 00:24:56,699 she went to gather all of her family. 452 00:24:57,959 –> 00:25:02,619 When you believe, you have a great desire 453 00:25:02,619 –> 00:25:05,780 that your loved ones should believe with you, 454 00:25:05,780 –> 00:25:07,780 and that they too should be saved. 455 00:25:08,900 –> 00:25:12,260 And Rahab was concerned not only about her own safety, 456 00:25:12,260 –> 00:25:14,979 but about the safety of her father, 457 00:25:14,979 –> 00:25:18,020 and her mother, and her sisters, 458 00:25:18,020 –> 00:25:20,680 her brothers and all of their families too. 459 00:25:21,979 –> 00:25:24,260 And so Rahab gathered her family. 460 00:25:25,680 –> 00:25:28,319 This city’s going to be destroyed, Dad. 461 00:25:30,160 –> 00:25:32,420 Come to my house and you will be safe. 462 00:25:32,420 –> 00:25:33,739 I’ve been given a promise, 463 00:25:33,739 –> 00:25:36,579 and I’ve been given that promise in the name of the Lord. 464 00:25:37,859 –> 00:25:39,359 I wonder what they made of it. 465 00:25:40,859 –> 00:25:42,459 I expect Rahab had caused 466 00:25:42,459 –> 00:25:45,459 her mother and her father all kinds of anxiety 467 00:25:45,459 –> 00:25:46,780 over many, many years. 468 00:25:46,900 –> 00:25:49,380 I mean, can you imagine if Rahab was your daughter? 469 00:25:51,040 –> 00:25:52,380 Rahab what are you up to now? 470 00:25:54,819 –> 00:25:57,819 And no doubt she explained her very simple faith 471 00:25:57,819 –> 00:25:58,920 to her family. 472 00:25:58,920 –> 00:26:03,099 Listen, there’s a great God in heaven. 473 00:26:03,099 –> 00:26:05,959 He’s about to bring judgment on our city 474 00:26:05,959 –> 00:26:07,979 for all the evil we have done. 475 00:26:07,979 –> 00:26:10,979 But I have been given a promise of safety in his name. 476 00:26:10,979 –> 00:26:14,660 Believe that promise with me and come into my house. 477 00:26:15,579 –> 00:26:17,619 And so the family gathered. 478 00:26:18,500 –> 00:26:22,719 All of them packed into Rahab’s house. 479 00:26:23,599 –> 00:26:27,020 And then what did they make of this strange scene 480 00:26:28,079 –> 00:26:30,920 as the armies of the people of God arrived 481 00:26:30,920 –> 00:26:32,540 and did not attack the city. 482 00:26:33,660 –> 00:26:36,500 Instead, what they did was they marched 483 00:26:36,500 –> 00:26:41,500 all the way around the city in silence. 484 00:26:41,920 –> 00:26:45,099 And at the end, nothing happened. 485 00:26:46,739 –> 00:26:50,939 On the second day, new picture, Rahab’s family 486 00:26:50,939 –> 00:26:54,140 leaning out the window, watching the armies 487 00:26:54,140 –> 00:26:56,859 of God’s people going around the city, 488 00:26:56,859 –> 00:27:00,839 and at the end of the second day, nothing happened. 489 00:27:02,020 –> 00:27:04,140 It was the same on the third day 490 00:27:04,140 –> 00:27:08,420 and the fourth day and the fifth day and the sixth day, 491 00:27:08,420 –> 00:27:13,420 but every time Joshua’s army marched around that city, 492 00:27:13,739 –> 00:27:16,540 they would see that scarlet cord 493 00:27:16,540 –> 00:27:19,119 hanging from this one window. 494 00:27:20,319 –> 00:27:25,319 The people in that house are with us. 495 00:27:26,260 –> 00:27:28,300 When the walls come down, 496 00:27:28,300 –> 00:27:32,020 make sure they are taken to safety. 497 00:27:33,859 –> 00:27:35,739 And then on the seventh day, 498 00:27:36,000 –> 00:27:41,000 the armies of God’s people marched round the city not once, 499 00:27:42,020 –> 00:27:46,780 but seven times, they sounded the trumpets 500 00:27:46,780 –> 00:27:51,780 and the great walls of this fortified city fell down. 501 00:27:52,540 –> 00:27:56,079 And remember that Rahab’s house 502 00:27:56,079 –> 00:27:58,780 was built into the city wall. 503 00:27:58,780 –> 00:28:02,500 What that means is, that when the city wall fell down, 504 00:28:02,500 –> 00:28:05,380 one entire side of her house was completely exposed. 505 00:28:05,439 –> 00:28:07,099 There they are in the house looking straight out 506 00:28:07,099 –> 00:28:08,780 into the country with no protection 507 00:28:08,780 –> 00:28:11,239 and the armies of the people of God outside. 508 00:28:13,459 –> 00:28:16,719 But Rahab’s house had been marked with the scarlet cord. 509 00:28:18,199 –> 00:28:19,699 She was one of God’s people. 510 00:28:20,739 –> 00:28:22,680 And so when the walls came down 511 00:28:23,800 –> 00:28:26,400 and she was completely exposed, 512 00:28:27,500 –> 00:28:30,859 she and her family were ushered to safety. 513 00:28:30,880 –> 00:28:35,880 Rahab, her father, her mother, her sisters, 514 00:28:35,880 –> 00:28:40,540 her brothers, and all of their families. 515 00:28:42,920 –> 00:28:44,420 Friends, in these last moments, 516 00:28:44,420 –> 00:28:48,339 let me make these three very simple and brief applications 517 00:28:48,339 –> 00:28:52,900 of this amazing story that teaches us so much. 518 00:28:52,900 –> 00:28:57,900 The first is that God’s grace covers real sins. 519 00:28:58,819 –> 00:29:03,339 God’s grace covers real sins. 520 00:29:03,339 –> 00:29:07,239 I mean, Rahab had lived a deeply immoral life. 521 00:29:08,959 –> 00:29:12,619 Her sins before she believed were many. 522 00:29:15,140 –> 00:29:20,140 And Scripture records the lie 523 00:29:20,599 –> 00:29:22,300 that she told to the messengers, 524 00:29:22,300 –> 00:29:25,880 which was clearly after she had believed, 525 00:29:28,540 –> 00:29:32,420 any Christian has some awareness that our sins, 526 00:29:32,420 –> 00:29:35,300 though they were many before we came to believe, 527 00:29:36,619 –> 00:29:38,959 are many after we came to believe too. 528 00:29:40,920 –> 00:29:43,180 It’s very interesting to me that some writers 529 00:29:43,180 –> 00:29:46,819 seem to pay more attention to the lie that Rahab told 530 00:29:46,819 –> 00:29:48,459 than the truth that she believed. 531 00:29:49,780 –> 00:29:51,540 But there is no doubt and we shouldn’t try 532 00:29:51,540 –> 00:29:54,319 and hide from it, I mean she broke the ninth commandment. 533 00:29:55,160 –> 00:29:57,400 The spies are gone, she said, 534 00:29:57,400 –> 00:29:59,880 when they were hiding on her roof! 535 00:29:59,880 –> 00:30:01,479 If you hurry, you’ll catch them. 536 00:30:03,359 –> 00:30:05,900 The Bible never defends the lie. 537 00:30:07,439 –> 00:30:09,800 God commands us to speak the truth. 538 00:30:10,719 –> 00:30:14,319 But what I want you to notice is that Hebrews 539 00:30:14,319 –> 00:30:17,319 passes over the lie completely 540 00:30:18,359 –> 00:30:22,520 and focuses only on Rahab’s faith. 541 00:30:23,359 –> 00:30:25,239 Now that’s grace. 542 00:30:26,479 –> 00:30:30,739 God’s grace covers a multitude of sins. 543 00:30:31,599 –> 00:30:32,939 Real sins. 544 00:30:34,839 –> 00:30:37,380 And that’s what gives us believers hope. 545 00:30:39,800 –> 00:30:40,640 Second, 546 00:30:41,800 –> 00:30:45,439 God’s grace offers real hope. 547 00:30:46,880 –> 00:30:51,420 If ever there was a person who was likely to think 548 00:30:51,420 –> 00:30:55,079 there may be hope for others but there will not 549 00:30:55,079 –> 00:30:57,640 be hope for me, it would have been Rahab. 550 00:30:59,079 –> 00:31:01,000 Rahab could have said what I have done 551 00:31:01,000 –> 00:31:03,439 and what I have done for years has shaped the person 552 00:31:03,439 –> 00:31:06,000 that I have become and the person that I am. 553 00:31:07,339 –> 00:31:10,560 But Rahab found hope because she believed. 554 00:31:12,000 –> 00:31:13,599 Jeremiah records an occasion. 555 00:31:13,599 –> 00:31:15,839 This is Jeremiah 18 in verse 12 556 00:31:15,839 –> 00:31:19,400 where God calls people to turn back from evil ways 557 00:31:19,400 –> 00:31:20,939 and the response of the people 558 00:31:21,020 –> 00:31:23,339 is to say there is no hope 559 00:31:25,500 –> 00:31:29,619 and because there is no hope we will follow our own plans. 560 00:31:31,979 –> 00:31:33,939 It’s possible to get to a place like that. 561 00:31:33,939 –> 00:31:35,680 You say I’ve done this so long there is no hope 562 00:31:35,680 –> 00:31:36,780 but I’ll ever change. 563 00:31:39,739 –> 00:31:43,400 But you see the story of Rahab says that there is hope. 564 00:31:44,859 –> 00:31:47,180 Where there is even the simplest faith, 565 00:31:47,199 –> 00:31:52,079 the door to a new and different life truly is open. 566 00:31:54,160 –> 00:31:56,920 Draw near to God in faith and repentance 567 00:31:56,920 –> 00:31:59,439 and whatever your past sins may have been 568 00:31:59,439 –> 00:32:04,439 you will be forgiven and accepted and loved and saved. 569 00:32:06,420 –> 00:32:10,880 And no sin however great however long repeated 570 00:32:10,920 –> 00:32:13,760 can stop you from receiving the mercy of God 571 00:32:13,760 –> 00:32:16,459 if you will trust in His promise 572 00:32:17,680 –> 00:32:18,839 as Rahab did. 573 00:32:20,040 –> 00:32:22,780 Rahab did not perish 574 00:32:24,079 –> 00:32:25,819 with those who were disobedient. 575 00:32:27,140 –> 00:32:28,560 And God so loved the world 576 00:32:28,560 –> 00:32:30,280 that He gave his one and only son 577 00:32:30,280 –> 00:32:33,579 that whosoever believes in him should not perish 578 00:32:35,500 –> 00:32:37,060 but have everlasting life. 579 00:32:39,000 –> 00:32:40,079 The last thing is this 580 00:32:40,079 –> 00:32:42,839 that God’s grace brings real change 581 00:32:42,839 –> 00:32:45,020 real change, wonderful change. 582 00:32:45,959 –> 00:32:50,000 We’ve seen that Rahab became one of God’s people 583 00:32:51,119 –> 00:32:52,619 but the best part of the story 584 00:32:52,619 –> 00:32:53,959 was really yet to come. 585 00:32:55,300 –> 00:32:56,400 And it’s told for us 586 00:32:56,400 –> 00:32:58,280 at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel 587 00:32:59,400 –> 00:33:02,079 where we discover that Rahab 588 00:33:02,079 –> 00:33:05,000 married a man by the name of Salmon 589 00:33:05,939 –> 00:33:07,920 and they had a little boy 590 00:33:07,920 –> 00:33:10,420 whose name was Bāwaz 591 00:33:10,420 –> 00:33:14,000 and Bāwaz was the father of Obed 592 00:33:14,079 –> 00:33:17,660 and Obed was the father of Jesse 593 00:33:17,660 –> 00:33:22,520 and Jesse was the father of King David. 594 00:33:22,520 –> 00:33:27,520 Rahab became the great great grandmother 595 00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:29,420 of King David 596 00:33:30,439 –> 00:33:32,859 and it was into the line of David 597 00:33:34,219 –> 00:33:37,880 that Jesus Christ was born. 598 00:33:39,040 –> 00:33:42,400 That’s what God’s grace did for Rahab 599 00:33:44,339 –> 00:33:47,859 Now think what God’s grace can do for you. 600 00:33:48,800 –> 00:33:50,300 Let’s pray together, shall we. 601 00:33:52,800 –> 00:33:56,439 Father we thank you for your marvelous grace 602 00:33:57,719 –> 00:34:01,060 which opens up hope for us 603 00:34:02,599 –> 00:34:06,979 and causes us to draw near to you in faith. 604 00:34:08,479 –> 00:34:10,320 Help us in the light of who you are 605 00:34:10,320 –> 00:34:12,520 and what you have done and what you will do, 606 00:34:13,419 –> 00:34:18,320 truly to trust in the promise that is given in your name 607 00:34:19,419 –> 00:34:23,159 and to find mercy, to find grace, 608 00:34:24,080 –> 00:34:29,080 to find repentance, to find newness of life, 609 00:34:30,379 –> 00:34:34,500 to find the blessing that can be found in Jesus Christ 610 00:34:36,199 –> 00:34:40,699 for all who will seek him in faith and in repentance. 611 00:34:41,580 –> 00:34:43,419 Hear our prayers 612 00:34:43,419 –> 00:34:46,780 and receive our thanks in Jesus name. 613 00:34:48,020 –> 00:34:48,860 Amen.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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