EXPLORE THE TEXT
We can be encouraged that God’s acts will always demonstrate His character.
8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof
9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land
and that the terror of you has fallen on us,
and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt,
and what you did to Sihon and Og,
the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.
11 When we heard this, we lost heart,
and everyone’s courage failed because of you,
for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
12 Now please swear to me by the Lord
that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you.
Give me a sure sign
13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters,
and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
Contrast Rahab’s reaction to God’s works with the other residents of the land.
Affirm her confession of God in these verses:
Before the spies settled down for the night . .
[Rahab] went up to them to explain why she covered for them.
Rahab began by sharing her knowledge of Israel’s God,
declaring, “I know that the Lord has given you this land.”
She used the Lord’s personal, covenant name,
revealing that she had an understanding of who He is.
What’s more, Rahab used the past tense, “given,” not “is giving” or “will give.”
Her faith in the Lord was such that she believed whatever He said was as good as already done. (PSG, p. 23)
Rahab knew about the way God had parted the Red Sea decades earlier.
And she knew about Israel’s more recent victories over Sihon and Og.
As a result, she embraced Israel’s God as the one, true God.
The Hebrews associated the heart with the emotions, thought, and human will,
The phrase we lost heart can mean “our hearts melted.”
It means the weakening of morale.
Rahab’s confession of faith:
The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
First, Rahab affirmed God’s reign over all creation.
Second, she asserted that the idols her people worshiped were not true gods.
Third, the reference to heaven and earth
emphasize God’s sovereignty and His right to exclusive worship
The Lord’s mighty acts on Israel’s behalf had convinced Rahab
that He was the true God,
and she had altered her entire worldview based on that conviction.
Point out that her request for kindness was rooted in her demonstration of kindness.
Note that this was Rahab’s attempt to live out her faith in a meaningful way.