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Discovering Faith: The Story of Rahab

Who is Rahab?

Rahab is a Canaanite woman. She lived in Jericho and was a prostitute. We are introduced to her in The Book of Joshua Chapter 2. 

What is Rahab’s Story?

Joshua and the Israelites planned to storm the city of Jericho, the gateway city to The Promised Land. Jericho was a fortress, the city hidden behind walls. Even so, those who were less fortunate lived in homes that were not permitted to be inside the city walls. Due to Rahab’s financial circumstances coupled with her occupation, it is here that she lived. Joshua sent out two Israelite spies whose mission was to get a lay of the land. 

The spies ended up going to Rahab’s house. The king of Jericho caught wind of the spies. 

So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land.” (Joshua 2:3)

Instead of telling the king where the two men were, she responded, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.  At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (Joshua 2:4-5)

As the Canaanites went hunting the two men, Rahab went to the rooftop. She had been harboring a secret all along. What she didn’t tell the king was that she had hidden the two men under stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. 

She spoke to the two spies. and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.  We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” (Joshua 2: 9-13)

The Israelite spies promised Rahab that her life and the lives of her family would be spared. They instructed her to tie a scarlet cord to a window and to ensure that her family members would be inside of her house when the invasion took place. Rahab let the men climb out her window and informed the men to hide in the hills for three days and they would not be caught. After 3 days, the men started their journey back to report to Joshua. In Joshua 6:17 we see that Joshua showed mercy to Rahab and her family. During the invasion, Joshua tells his army, “the city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent.”

The entire city of Jericho was destroyed. All of the men, women, young and old, cattle and donkeys. 

Joshua 6:25 continues to tell us that not only was Rahab and her family spared, they were welcomed with open arms to join the Isrealites:

But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

What Significance is in Rahab’s Story?

Rahab was a known lady of the night. She was a Canaanite and an enemy of the Israelites. Yet, Rahab had enough insight and sudden faith to recognize that the Israelites were following the promise of God. She acknowledged that it was her responsibility to save these men. 

She, who was once a sinner, chose to follow God. 

Hebrews 11:31 reads:

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

James 2:25-26 reads:

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Rahab became a woman of faith. 

We are not perfect, we have all sinned, and we will continue to do so throughout our lives. But we do not have to be defined by our sins. We can learn from them, we can grow from them. We can choose to do better next time. We can have the faith that God will forgive us for our sins and continue to help us. 

A Cool Note

Matthew 1:1-6 tells us the lineage of Jesus:

 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of King David.

This means that Jesus is a direct descendant of Rahab. 

To Sum it All Up

Granted, Rehab was an unlikely candidate to become a tool in God’s plan. But she put her trust in the Lord, and because of her faith and the actions she took, the Israelites were one step closer to The Promised Land. She became righteous and her sins were forgiven. As mentioned above in James 2:26, faith without deeds is dead. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

Just to clear up some confusion:

Psalm 87:4 and Psalm 89:10 refer to Rahab as well as Isaiah 30:7 and Isaiah 51:9, and then again in Job 9:13 and Job 26:12. If you go and read the verses, you might experience some confusion. 

Rahab is a Hebrew term. It is a more poetic way of referring to Egypt.  In the mentioned scriptures above, they are referring to Rahab as Egypt. 

Rachab is the name for Rahab of Jericho. This change is because of translation. In Hebrew, the correct spelling of her name is Rachab, however, the spellings are the same once translated into English. 

 

36 Bible Verses about Faith

Why Do We Need Faith?

When we are leading our lives in faith, we are:

• Following His word
• Adept at warding off temptation
• Granting God authority to help us when we call upon Him
• Wholly put trust in Our Lord
• Receive spiritual blessings
• Embolden and restore faith in others

By taking the time to reflect on your faith, you have an opportunity to rejuvenate your intimate relationship with Him.

We’ve compiled a list of 36 Bible verses focused on faith. Read them as a reminder as to why your faith is important. 

Verses Referring to Faith

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

John 11:40

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:10

 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Mark 9:23

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:52

 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.

Ephesians 3:16-17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:22

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

John 6:35

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Psalm 119:30

For we live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:7

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:10

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.

Hebrews 11:11

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1:17

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Galatians 3:26-27

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”

Acts 16:31

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Romans 10:17

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 1 Timothy 6:12

 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

James 5:14-15

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:5

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”

Matthew 21:21

See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness.

Habakkuk 2:4

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:17

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Jude 1:20-21

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

Romans 1:11-12

Free Printable

Print this free printable out and place it somewhere you see often so you can be reminded of the importance of faith. 

Plato once said, “we are twice armed if we fight with faith”. In all of your endeavors, remember to keep your faith.

-Torrance Church of Christ

The Ins & Outs of Prayer Requests

What is a Prayer Request?

A prayer request is simply someone requesting a prayer. When someone is experiencing an event or situation that they feel they need people to pray for, they send in a request urging others to pray. 

What Can I Request a Prayer For?

No prayer is too big or too small! If you feel inspired to ask for prayers, then ask. Prayer requests come in a wide range, and even if your request is similar to someone else's, no two requests are exactly the same.

Here are some common prayer request categories:

• Heal a disease or illness
• Recovery from a disease or surgery will be quick and painless
• Test results are what you hope they will be
• Help someone turn back toward God
• Help strengthen faith
• Ease undue stress and anxiety
• Ask for guidance with a relationship
• Ask for inspiration related to financial burdens
• Ask for wisdom and understanding about a specific circumstance
• Unspoken requests

It is Important to Note

There is no reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed to reach out for help. In fact, when you let someone else pray for you, you are empowering them, permitting them to strengthen their own faith and relationship with God.

How Do I Write a Prayer Request?

Writing a prayer request isn’t difficult, however, depending on the format of the platform where you place your request if it isn’t catchy it does risk the chance of being overlooked. This isn’t to say people won’t see your request and won’t pray, but it doesn’t hurt to appeal to the masses. 

Here are some helpful recommendations for you to design an engaging request:

• Create an eye-catching headline or first sentence- Depending on the format you are using to submit your request, you may or may not have a headline or subject line to fill in. If you don’t, make this your first sentence. In one sentence, summarize your request. Keep it short, but attention-grabbing. 
• Focus on one request at a time- While contemplating your request, you may realize you have a slew of prayers you’d like to request. Set your intentions for one request at a time, don’t ask for help figuring out a way to pay your mortgage that month as well as ask your son to find a job soon. Make a separate request for different needs. 
• Be detailed without being overly detailed- Express the reasonings you are asking for prayers. Allow the reader to get a glimpse of who you are and your needs. But be sure to not say too much. Don’t ramble on. Keep your description clear and to the point. 
• Show your gratitude- Add a line in your request thanking those who are praying for you. Let them know that you appreciate the time they are taking to pause their life and focus their attention on petitioning God on your behalf. 

Where Can I Submit a Prayer Request?

There are so many options available to you for submitting your prayer requests. Often, your church will have a way for members to submit a request. There are prayer lines you can call and add your request to, social media groups dedicated to requests, and online forums that you can submit your request to. 

Generally, your request can be submitted as anonymous if it makes you more comfortable. On most of these platforms, you will be able to see other requests, allowing you the opportunity to pray for others. 

We Will Pray for You

If you submit a prayer request to us, you can be rest assured we will pray for you. Every Friday we post a Prayer Request announcement on our Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can post your request in the comment section of the post or message us anytime on either platform with any requests you have.  If social media isn't your thing, we have a site where you can submit your prayers to. You can find that site here. 

Tips for Praying for Others who’ve Requested Prayers

Throughout our mortal lifetime, we will all run into some bumps in the road. Sometimes these bumps are small, mere annoyances, while other times, they can be life-altering events, frightening challenges which we may not know how to overcome; especially in the moment. Some matters may not be considered a hardship, rather someone you know has a job interview and they need some extra encouragement. Whatever the circumstance may be, you can guarantee situations will arise that will affect us, our family members, our friends, their family members, our co-workers, our acquaintances, and everyone. During an incident, someone you know may reach out to you and ask you to pray for them. 

Here are some helpful suggestions to pray effectively for someone else (or even yourself):

• Pray for all involved- When someone asks you to pray for them, assess the request so you can make the most of the prayer. An example would be your friend coming to you with a request to pray for their sick mother. Take a moment to examine the situation. What is really being asked here? How can you create a better prayer? Of course, you pray and ask God that the mother may be healed, but that’s only scratching the surface. You need to ask God to give guidance to her doctors; set them on the right path. You need to pray for your friend and help them find comfort and peace in this time. You need to pray for the family, the extended family. Ask that they all remain steadfast in their faith. Ask that His presence be made known to them. 
• Don’t push your perspective onto the prayer- Instead of oversaturating the prayer with your wants and needs, try to discover and understand God’s intentions and for His will to be done. Ask God to reveal His purpose to you. This can help you figure out what you truly need to pray for. 
• Banish fear- Too often, our prayers are generated from fear. Fear over a disease, fear over finances, fear over the unknown. God wants us to turn to Him in times of fear, and to trust in Him fully. When you are fearful and anxious, first pray that He will rid you of those feelings, ask Him to share some revelation, and then pray for what you are asking. 
• Don’t forget to check in- Check in with the person who requested the prayer. See how they are doing, if things are better or not. By following up, you are showing them that they are cared for, that they are important and loved. 

Lastly

Our Father wants to hear from us and to help us. He wants to see us succeed. When we pray, we are communicating with our creator, put our needs in His hands, and trusting that He will take care of us. This doesn’t mean you will get the exact answer you think you want. Fully trusting Him means you will get the answer He knows you need most. 

-Torrance Church of Christ