“And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.” (Joshua 2:21)
This action by Rahab saved her and her family. She hid the two spies sent by Joshua to Jericho. When they would return with the Israeli army to take Jericho, her obedience would save her and her family. It was a simple little act of obedience that would save Rahab. She was spared and went to live with the Israelites. She married Salmon and was the mother of Boaz who married Ruth. They became the ancestors of Jesse, the Father of David. (Matthew 1:5) She is in the ancestry of Jesus.
Rahab is only mentioned two more times, in Hebrews and James as a person whose faith and works (obedience) saved her. (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25) It takes both faith and works (obedience) to justify. “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” (James 2:22) The example James gives is Abraham’s obedience in believing that Isaac would be his heir even if God said to sacrifice him. (Genesis 22:9-12)
James writes, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17) James likens it to salvation. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26) Obedience for obedience’s sake is nothing. It comes from man’s determination and sacrifice. Anything that comes from the flesh is not acceptable to God. The flesh is opposed to the spirit and to God. But obedience produced by faith is perfect.
Obedience brought on by faith is perfect because it’s a demonstration of the faith that we have. In salvation, our obedience to God isn’t merely an act of obedience, but proof of a change in our nature. Our life transformation is a demonstration that God is in us and that we have been reborn of God. It’s the same with obedience in anything. It goes hand in hand with our faith. Rahab had faith in the word of the spies. And her obedience of placing the scarlet thread on the window saved her. Abraham had faith that through Isaac, his only son, he would be the father of many nations. His obedience even to the sacrifice of his son, was proof of that faith.
The kingdom was taken from King Saul because of his disobedience. (1Samuel 15:23) “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1Samuel 15:22) Obedience to God’s Word is evidence that we believe. Saul disobeyed because he couldn’t believe God would want him to destroy all the plunder that in his eyes had value, but which to God was defiled. (1 Samuel 15:9) He disobeyed because he wanted to please man rather than God. (1Samuel 15:24) God had commanded him to destroy everything. “Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.” (1Samuel 15:3) But he disobeyed.
A scribe came up to Jesus and asked Him which was the greatest commandment. When Jesus answered, the scribe responded. “And to love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (Mark 12:33) What he meant here is obeying the commandments of God is better than offerings and sacrifices because obedience is the demonstration of our faith in God.
The faith of Jesus in the Father’s promise led to His obedience to the cross. “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8) And it was through that obedience that salvation is possible. The disobedience of one brought judgement and condemnation to all mankind. The obedience of one, Jesus, brought salvation to all. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:18-19) The reality is that Adam and Eve doubted God. Jesus believed God even to death.
How is our obedience? Is it even “unto death” of self and even “unto death?” Do we or don’t we believe God’s promises? Is our obedience a reflection of our faith? “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Our obedience will reflect our faith.
Comments