From Harlot to Hero — Joshua 2:1–7

• It’s really hard to overcome a bad label that someone puts on you.

• Someone thinks you’re lazy once, so you’re always lazy. Blow up once? Angry. Miss one game-winning field goal, and now you can’t kick. People put labels on you, and those labels stick.

• if you’ve heard of Rahab from the Bible, you’ve probably never heard her name w/o her label.

• A lady of the night. A prostitute. A hooker. A whore. A harlot. Yes. Rahab was a harlot.

• that’s how she enters the biblical story. That’s not how she exits. This harlot was a hero.

• And coming off the women’s retreat, Built for Battle, the Lord has seen fit to put us in Joshua 2 this morning. Rahab, went from harlot to hero and she was a warrior. What makes a warrior?

1. A warrior knows where their allegiance lies

• Joshua sends these two men to spy secretly the land. Especially Jericho. So they went. 

• I love the two sides of the coin of allegiance here. The two spies and Rahab. Both all in

• The men put themselves in harms way for the greater good of Israel, but Rahab even more

• These men were Israel. They knew what was at Stake. Rahab was just joined to the story

• And here’s part of the story- She had heard the stories (v10)of Israel and her heart had changed

• You can see it in the text. She welcomed the men, gave shelter, hid them, deceived the king

• no allegiance to Jericho or its king. She made a choice. I’m siding with the God of Israel. 

• She’s a Canaanite. She’s from Jericho. The king of Jericho could command her allegiance. Yet when the king’s men show up, she protects the people of God. She risks all of her for YHWH

• The king sends men to her house, and Rahab defies his command and redirects his men on a ruse. All to protect the plan of God. 

• Every warrior has to know whos side they are on. She decided, I’m with God and God’s people.

• She didn’t have a scripture. Not born into Israel. Never saw a miracle. No one led her. 

• But she displays a deep warrior ethos here– I’m willing to do anything because of my allegiance. 

• Its interesting to look at the life of Rahab and put us in the same scenario: Where’s our heart?

• What level of allegiance do we have to the God that we serve? What are we willing to do?

• Repeatedly the Bible teaches us– Choose. Jos 24:15 choose this day whom you will serve. Matt 6:24 no one can serve two masters.1 Kings 18:21 Elijah asks, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

• Frankly, this is a central message to the ministry here at Faith and Victory: Make a decision

• its counter cultural. It strikes at the heart of the comfort of sin and self. Why make a change?

• Nothing in the text indicates that Rahab sought these men out looking for deliverance. They arrive at her house, and suddenly everything she has heard about YHWH demands a decision.

• This God I’ve heard about is real. I met his people. I must change. I must help. I can’t deny it

• Rahab’s allegiance shines a convicting light on those unwilling to risk anything for YHWH

• Many peoples allegiance goes no further than their comfort or self protectionism. 

• I am a follower of YHWH until it costs me more than I am willing to sacrifice. Until its costly. 

• Deut 6:5 love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, and strength.

• And sure, we’re not hiding spies. We’re not standing before kings. Its not tribal warfare. 

• Our allegiance is shown in how we spend our time. Our money. Our friendships. 

• Its so comparatively easy to have allegiance in our lives v hiding spies and facing kings. 

• Do we believe Acts 5:29 we ought to obey God rather than men. Gal 1:10 if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Rom 6:16 you are slaves of the one whom you obeuy

• If its true it shows in our lives. Our willingness to forgive because Christ forgave us. To sacrifice because Christ sacrificed for us. To serve because Christ served us. Our allegiance shows

• If you’re going to be a warrior have allegiance like Rahab. Be willing to sacrifice and risk all 

2. A warrior isn’t disqualified by their past

• I love that The Bible doesn’t clean up Rahab’s resume. She is known as the harlot. 

• Joshua 2:1 So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab…

• I’ve been pondering this so much this week. Why keep the label on her? Always the harlot

• Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab… James 2:25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works…

• This gal can’t catch a break. Long after she’s dead and Gone Heb and Jas keeps the label. Harlot

• And when you consider the whole of the parts you see She has the wrong nationality, wrong occupation, wrong background, wrong reputation and lives in a city under judgment.

• God could have moved on the king. But he didn’t. Same in the Gospels. Fishermen and tax collectors not Kings and Influencers. God often uses and used the outcasts of society. 

• 1 Cor 26:28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are

• Using a person of influence seems more impactful than using a sexually promiscuous woman

• But God in his wisdom knows: Status, wealth and influence can convince a person they don’t need anything, including God. 

• They have no need of God. Their bellies are full. Their pockets are fat. Influence protects them

• This why Jesus said- Matt 21:31 Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. THIS IS WHY RAHAB KEEPS THE LABEL THROUGH SCRIPTURE

• Here’s what God shows: The most broken people the people of the world discard: God uses

• James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

• Its who we are! People the world disqualifies God uses for his purposes and plans!

• Jesus- Psa 118:22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

• John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

• The story of our Savior is the story of us- born in a manger. A carpenters son. Rejected by men

• A warrior isn’t defined by their past. A warrior knows God is greater than their past. 

• 1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. 

• Your past may explain where you’ve been, but it doesn’t determine how God can use you now.

• The Church is filled with people that the world discards as useless and God labels- USEFUL. 

• These are the ones who have a past of wounds, weariness and warfare. I can use them

• 2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

• 1 Timothy 1:12–16 Paul openly names his past as a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent man, then points to the mercy of Christ and how God used him.

• How dare you believe that your past disqualifies you from being used by God for his plan

• A warrior knows their past, but they don’t let their past define them. YOU ARE NOT YOUR PAST

• help the spies. hide them in the flax. Have allegiance to the King of Kings not an earthly king.  

• Phil 3:13–14 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.

• Do we believe? Romans 8:1 no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

• And here’s the best part-  eventually Rahab doesn’t merely survive Jericho. She enters Israel and appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:5. She’s in the bloodline of Jesus! The harlot!

3. A warrior fears God more than man

• Joshua 2:3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab… That’s the king sending people to her house.

• And Rahab says “I don’t think I will” she says to the king “I don’t know where the men went”

• Now we’re not going to deep dive into the theology of lies here. She’s lying. Spies are lying. 

• What she knows is this- I am more concerned on how I stand before v how I stand before kings

• The power differential here is front and center: Prostitue v King. And She chooses YHWH. 

• This king could have easily destroyed her, her family, made a public spectacle of her. Not fazed. 

• This warrior fears God more than man and it shows in her actions. If I’m found out its everything

• I do not care. I cannot deny what I know- when the battle starts I want to be w God’s people. 

• Pro 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

• Put yourself in her situation: what would you say? What would you do? Heart is pounding etc

• Like Lucretia Mott helped slaves escape on the Underground Railroad and Corrie Ten boom who helped jews escape death in Nazi Germany, Rahab made a decision– I fear God more than man. 

• Peter is a story in the NT who failed this test. He turned over on Jesus and denied him. 

• he failed when it mattered but he was eventually redeemed and came to his senses

• Ac 5:29 but Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

• The point isn’t rebellion against authority. It’s that no human authority outranks God.

• If you are going to be warrior for Jesus you must decide that fear of man will not control you

• Jesus said- Matt 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Fear Him who has authority beyond that.

• Exodus 1:17 The Hebrew midwives feared God and therefore did not obey Pharaoh’s command to kill the male children.

• Daniel 3:16–18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refuse the king because their allegiance to God is greater than their fear of Nebuchadnezzar.

• Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

• There will always be a single or ongoing time where you have to determine who you will fear

• Am I going to fear what my friends and family will think, or what God will think?

• Will I choose momentary comfort over eternal significance. Is Jesus enough to sustain me?

• Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

• Tonight your very life will be demanded of you- Will you fold to fear or flourish in faith?

• When a warrior is faced with a battle of Faith they stand against fear of man. Decisions matter

• And again. You’re probably not going to be asked to hide spies in the flax, but there are large and miniscule decisions you make daily that determine- Am I operating under the fear of man

• We must share the Gospel that saves. We must live demonstratively for the Lord w/o FEAR

• We need to live so strong in our faith that no man can hold us back from what God decrees

• Hebc13:6 So we may boldly say: The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

4. A warrior takes action

• Rahab didn’t merely say she believed in Israel’s God. She backed it up with action. 

• She received the spies.
She hid them.
She covered them with flax.
She misdirected their pursuers.
She eventually helped them escape.

• Jas 2:25 was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?Jas 2:17 faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

• Who of us hasn’t been affected by a person who’s faith goes no further than words. 

• This warrior just didn’t believe something. Her faith moved her to do something. 

• It was costly. She put her self and her situation on the line and took action. 

• We see this time and time again in the Bible. People taking demonstrative costly action. 

• These stories are to inspire us to take action! Not just a cool story we read in the past. 

• She isn’t just posting something inspirational about being courageous. She’s hiding enemy spies on her roof while the king’s men are standing at her door. #BeCourageous

• Hebr 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

• Her Faith was connected to Josh 2:10-11 READ  we have heard ….hearts melted…courage gone

• Jericho heard the same Rahab heard. Their hearts melted in fear. Rahab responded in faith.

• They didn’t. Their hearts melted. They lost courage and they died at the hands of Israel. 

• truth- if you take no action when you can if you have the info and don’t?, it could destroy you

• Whats the application for us? We need to be people of action! Not just in our words. 

• Many people know what they need to do, but they don’t do what needs to be done. 

• “My master delays his coming” “if they knew when the thief would come”

• Our savior was a man of action, we should be warriors of action as well. 

• John 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

• Most of what we believe as Christians isn’t surprising or unknown to us. We know what to do

• Its not surprising to us that God wants time with us. Wants us to serve, give, fellowship, change

• We know this, we just delay delay delay. We want more time. The standard doesn’t change

• Church-1 Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

• My encouragement to you is this- take the actions you know, when you know you can do it. 

• Time is not always on your side. Do It while you can. Be like Rahab the hero- Take action. 

• Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.

• Close- Please don’t miss what God did with this woman. Rahab wasn’t merely rescued from Jericho. Matthew 1 puts her in the lineage of Jesus Christ. The woman Jericho knew as a harlot became part of the story through which the Savior came.

• That’s what Jesus does. He doesn’t just save you from judgment. He gives you a new name, a new people, a new purpose, and makes your life part of His story. From Harlot to hero

• Rahab heard judgment was coming, believed the God of Israel, and responded in faith. Jericho fell, but Rahab was saved. And that is still the Gospel. Judgment is coming, but God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ. The question isn’t merely whether you’ve heard. Jericho heard. The question is what you will do with what you’ve heard. TAKE ACTION