Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
a. NLT: It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
b. NIV: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
c. YLT: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved, having received the spies with peace.
d. Amplified Bible Classic: [Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].
e. Peshitta Eastern Text: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, for she had received the spies in peace.
1. “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not…”
a. [By] faith [Strong: 4102 pístis, pis'-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:—assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.]
b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
c. harlot [Strong: 4204 pórnē, por'-nay; feminine of G4205; a strumpet; figuratively, an idolater:—harlot, whore.]
d. Rahab [Strong: 4460 Rhaáb, hrah-ab'; of Hebrew origin (H7343); Raab (i.e. Rachab), a Canaanitess:—Rahab.]
e. perished [4881 * synapollumi; sun-together or with; alollumi-to destroy together][Strong: to destroy (middle voice or passively, be slain) in company with:--perish with.][Thayer: to destroy together, to perish together (to be slain along with)]
f. not [Strong: 3756 ou, oo; a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]
g. [with them that] believed not [544 * apeitheo][Strong: to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely):--not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving.] [Thayer: not to allow one's self to be persuaded, to refuse or withhold belief, to refuse belief and obedience, not to comply with.]
1). Very interesting definition, they refused to be persuaded, refused to believe or comply. Wow. More on this later.
2). Where did Rahab get the faith to believe? Before we get into this it is necessary to review some things from the beginning of Hebrews 11.
a). faith [pistis * 4102] [W.E. Vine: The main elements in faith in its relation to the invisible God…are especially brought out in the use of this noun and the corresponding verb, they are: 1. A firm conviction producing a full acknowledgement of god’s revelation or truth [His word]. 2. A personal surrender to Him. 3. A conduct inspired by such surrender.]
b). Pink: “Crediting the sure testimony of God, resting on His promises, and expecting the accomplishment of them, faith gives the object hoped for at a future period, a present reality and power in the soul, as if already possessed, for the believer is satisfied with the security afforded, and acts under the full persuasion that God will not fail of His engagement. Faith gives the soul an appropriating hold of them…it gives not an imaginary appearance to things, but a real subsistence.”
3). In order to have “faith”, previous instruction is required.
a.). Romans 10:17 So the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
4). In every verse that tells of a man or woman having faith, we must recognize that God had previously spoken, even though the text does not say it. The perfect example in our study is Hebrews 11:4, where because of faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Many people wonder why Cain’s offering was rejected and why Abel’s was not. It was because there was a previous instruction that Abel from the heart obeyed and Cain did not. Even though the text does not show a previous instruction, the presence of faith in Abel demands it. Now we can answer the question of where did Rahab get the faith to believe, the answer is of course revealed in Scripture. Most of the answer is found in Romans. God spoke through Moses and told Pharaoh that through the way that Pharaoh would resist God, God’s name would be declared throughout all the earth.
a). Exodus 9:13-16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
9:15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
5). Because of the mighty deliverance of Israel by God, it would be declared throughout all of Canaan.
a). Exodus 15:13-16 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
15:14 The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.
15:15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
15:16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.
6. One of the main reasons of course to proclaim the name of the LORD is to win the lost.
a). Romans 10:11-14 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
7). And that is exactly what happened in Rahab’s case, she heard and she believed. What is truly remarkable about this incident with Rahab is that part of what she was speaking of, the incident of the LORD drying up the Red Sea occurred 40 years previously.
a). Joshua 2:8-11 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
2:10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
2. “…when she had received the spies with peace.”
a. [when she] had received [Strong: 1209 déchomai, dekh'-om-ahee; middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively):—accept, receive, take.]
b. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]
c. spies [Strong: 2685 katáskopos, kat-as'-kop-os; from G2596 (intensive) and G4649 (in the sense of a watcher); a reconnoiterer:—spy.]
d. with [Strong: 3326 metá, met-ah'; a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between G575 or G1537 and G1519 or G4314; less intimate than G1722 and less close than G4862):—after(-ward), × that he again, against, among, × and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, ×and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]
e. peace [Strong: 1515 eirḗnē, i-ray'-nay; probably from a primary verb εἴρω eírō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication, prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, rest, +set at one again.]
1). Rahab could have very easily told the king’s men about the spies and turned them in. Instead she believed the LORD had given Israel the land and and hid them from danger and made a deal with them for her salvation and the salvation of her family.
a). Joshua 2:3-14 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
2:10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
b). Rahab chose to believe while the rest of her city chose not to believe. They refused to believe, they refused to be persuaded. How many people in the world are in that same condition, they refuse to be persuaded.
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