Rahab's faith concerning deliverance (Hebrews 11:31) follows Israel's obedience
of faith concerning the walls of Jericho which fell down flat (Hebrews 11:30)
Sarah's faith concerning the birth of her child (Hebrews 11:11) follows Abraham's obedience of faith concerning the city whose foundations are of God (Hebrews 11:8,10)
The testimony of faith ("We have heard", therefore, "I know")
Rahab's faith was based upon what she had heard
"... I know that the Lord hath given you the land
..." (Joshua 2:9)
The testimony of Rahab's faith bears witness to the fulfillment
of the song of Moses sang by Israel after their triumphant crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-5)
"The people shall hear and be afraid ..." (Exodus 15:14) is echoed by "... neither did there remain any more courage in any man ..." (Joshua 2:11)
"... all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt
away" (Exodus 15:15) is echoed by "...
our hearts did melt ..." (Joshua 2:11)
"Fear and dread shall fall upon them ..."
(Exodus 15:16) is echoed by "...
your terror is fallen upon us ..." (Joshua 2:9)
Her example (James 2:25) of "by works was faith made perfect" (James 2:22) is held up for consideration by the "twelve tribes scattered abroad" (James 1:1) living in the day when "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" as "the Judge who standeth
before the door" (James 5:8-9)
The reward of faith ("perished not")
Despite the fact that Rahab's house was built on the wall
of the city (Joshua 2:15), Rahab "perished not" (Hebrews 11:31) when the wall of the city fell down flat (Joshua 6:5)
Joshua sent the two men into Rahab's house (Joshua 6:22), who were spared by her kindness, to save her alive (Joshua 6:25) before the city was "straitly shut up" (Joshua 6:1)
The "scarlet cord" to be placed outside the
window of Rahab's house (Joshua 2:18) was God's token or "sign" (Joshua 2:12) to Rahab of deliverance to all that be in her house (Joshua 2:19)
The "scarlet cord", illustrates in type,
the same deliverance experienced by Israel in Egypt, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13)
Rahab's "work of faith" which evidenced her
"turning to God from idols" (Joshua 2:9-10) brought about the salvation of ALL her house and placed them "without the camp of Israel"
(Joshua 6:23) - note the multiplicity of ANDs to emphasize each item of detail, the figure of speech (Polysyndeton)
The future faithful tribulation remnant in Israel will
also be called upon to "go forth unto Him without the camp" (Hebrews 13:12-13) and forsake the idolatrous temple worship of Jerusalem and bear the
hatred of their own brethren (Isaiah 66:3,5 cf. Mark 13:12-14; Matthew 10:34-36), so that they may "seek the one to come" (Hebrews 13:14)
Rahab (the harlot) occupies a place in the Messianic
line as does Ruth (the Moabitess) - both were related to Boaz, a type of Christ as the Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 4:1-15); Rahab was his mother and Ruth was his wife (Matthew 1:5)
Both shared the same testimony of faith concerning
the true God