Articles
Rahab's Faith
Abraham is the epitome of a man of faith. Paul called him “the father of all who believe” (Romans 4:11). He wrote, “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer” (Galatians 3:9). James uses Abraham to illustrate that acceptable faith is obedient faith (2:21-24).
James then reinforces his point about the essentiality of working faith by turning from Abraham to another example: Rahab. “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (v. 25). Rahab’s story is recorded in Joshua 2, with the conclusion in Joshua 6:22-25.
In many ways it is hard to imagine two more dissimilar characters than Abraham and Rahab. Besides being opposite genders, he was a Hebrew, she was a Gentile; he was an upright, godly man, whereas she was a harlot; he was the progenitor of God’s chosen people, while she was a citizen of an accursed nation.
These differences may be the very reason James chose Rahab as his second example. Together, a patriarch and a prostitute illustrate the universality of the principle that saving faith is demonstrated in works.
A careful reading of Joshua 2 reveals the propriety of selecting Rahab as an example. In her statement to the spies, Rahab said “we” have heard of the Lord’s deeds (v. 10). “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer . . .” (v. 11). Everyone in Jericho heard. Everyone believed. Everyone had the same emotional reaction to the truth. But only Rahab acted on her faith by appealing for mercy, siding with God and His people, and doing what she could to aid them. Saving faith works, regardless of what others do.
Rahab’s working faith was rewarded by more than deliverance and a place among the people of Israel (Joshua 6:25). God also made a place for her in Jesus’ lineage (Matthew 1:5) and included her in the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 (v. 31).
“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (v. 26).
