Bible Question: Where did Rahab first hear about God? Did she hear what he did in other cities and know of His power and believe. To do the things she did (risk her life for the Isrealite spies) she must of been very strong in her faith. |
Bible Answer: Hello prayon! Nelson's NKJV Study Bible suggests, "Rahab's use of God's personal name Yahweh, translated here as LORD, indicates that she had come to faith in the living God (v. 11). God had graciously opened the heart and mind of a foreign prostitute to accept Him as Lord. 'the terror of you has fallen on us': Israel's reputation went before them. God already had dramatically delivered the Israelites in many ways, and the report had been spread throughout the nations. Rahab mentioned two miraculous deliverances: the crossing of the Red Sea and the victories over two kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og (v. 10; see Ex. 14; Num. 21:21-35)." After reading Joshua 2:1-24, we see that Rahab was indeed a believer and had faith in the God of the Israelites! First, she calls Him LORD (Yahweh), and tells them that all the inhabitants of Jericho are 'fainthearted' because of Israel (providing them with the covert information that they came for, and by doing so gives them encouragement), and then she gives the basis for her faith: which was the miracle at the Red Sea and their military prowess over the kings of the Amorites! We can see that even in these early days of the Israelite's conquering of Canaan, that information spreads fast! Jericho obviously had its share of spies and messengers. And when the people of the land of Jericho heard the news of the ever-advancing Israelites, the result was fear.. However, (due to God's grace) the result upon hearing this news for Rahab was faith in God instead of fear! And this faith is what had prepared her for this moment, where she would aid the spies, and save herself and family from annihilation by the Israelites. Good study! Nolan Keck |