Rahab

[joshhuntnm]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Is it OK to lie in war in the same way that many believe it is OK to kill in war?

Josh

 

[ebia]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Is it OK to lie in war in the same way that many believe it is OK to kill in war?

Josh

The midwives in Egypt are another case.

 

[Zoe of Elyon]

Leviticus 19:16 says "you shall not do anything that is against the life of your neighbor" (ZAP or Zoe's Arbitrary Paraphrase version). Perhaps this commandment supercedes the other. Remember, true morality is not about the letter of the law, but about the spirit of the law. What counts is doing the right thing, and in that situation, the right thing was to protect the lives of the spies.

 

[2KnowHim]

Rahab, is a beautiful picture of someone who hides The Word in their house (heart) and is saved thereby.


Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.



Jos 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.


Who is our messengers today?
Are they not (through the Spirit of God) Jesus, Peter, Paul, John, James, Luke, Matthew, Mark, etc. etc.....???


Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Jos 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.
Jos 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.
Jos 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.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Is it OK to lie in war in the same way that many believe it is OK to kill in war?

Josh

You could see some similiarities, or parallels in the gospels between Joshua and Jesus (what He says) and what was done to rectify faith with Rahab a bit better.

These are clipped from an older post, Jesus says...

Luke 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,when she had received the spies with peace.

Mat 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Josh 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]tim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho.

And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

1Ti 5:10... if she have lodged strangers

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Joshua 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

And we know faith cometh by hearing and speaks of the same of Rhab

By faith the harlot Rahab

And we also know

Gal 5:6 ...Faith which worketh by love.

And love worketh no ill to his neighbor

Romans 13:10 And Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.


Salvation came also to the chief publican Zachaeus the day (even Jesus entered Jericho in His day as well). Its sorta ironic he speaks of both publicans and harlots (even as Rahab is noted as one) as entering into the Kingdom before to others. How both are seen in that particular city (also)

Jesus sent his out "two by two" as Joshua is shown sending two spies out. The same with Sodom (before it was destroyed) two angels come under Lots roof.

So the messengers were sent

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


Romans 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.


John 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.


Josh 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.


Josh 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:


Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.


Peace it the key and the token whereas ever Jesus said...


Mat 10:13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.


And likewise...

Mat 10:14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.



Mat 10:15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.




Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,when she had received the spies with peace.

John 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.


Again peace, which is in them, Christ, and the gospel of, can be shown within the keyword of peace


John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.


Likewise...

Ephes 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.


Again...should not perish


Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,when she had received the spies with peace.


John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Theres few ways to show it though if you try every angle on it. For example Obadiah he hid the prophets of the Lord also

 

[toLiJC]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Is it OK to lie in war in the same way that many believe it is OK to kill in war?

Josh

Hi

the lie in the bible is the evil, while the truth is the good, i.e. the lie is when someone causes harm to any other - how is it possible the devil to be true, after it does only evil?!, or how if somone causes you harm, will be able to convince you that it is true to you?!

John 8:44 "the devil..... he was a murderer(ie a causer of harm) from the beginning, and abode not in the truth(ie in the good), because there is no truth(ie because there is no goodness) in him. When he speaketh a lie(ie an evil), he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar(ie because it is evil), and the father of it(ie and the father of all evil).",

1 John 1:5-7 "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.",

1 John 2:9-11 "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.",

1 John 3:14-15 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not |his| brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him(viz. and you understand that no murderer is conformable to the eternal life)."

Blessings

 

[brinny]

Leviticus 19:16 says "you shall not do anything that is against the life of your neighbor" (ZAP or Zoe's Arbitrary Paraphrase version). Perhaps this commandment supercedes the other. Remember, true morality is not about the letter of the law, but about the spirit of the law. What counts is doing the right thing, and in that situation, the right thing was to protect the lives of the spies.

Excellent response sister.

 

[Clare73]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Is it OK to lie in war in the same way that many believe it is OK to kill in war?

Josh

Preservation of innocent human life trumps all other morality.

 

[Fireinfolding]

Heres another, Obadiah was the govenor of Ahabs house but Obadiah feared the LORD far more then men and would not do evil to the prophets of the LORD

Shown here...

1Kings 18:13 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly)

1Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water)

Elsewhere speaking to Elijah, he asks, "Have ye not heard what I did"?

And yet in accord Jesus said...

Mat 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward;

And we also know...

Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water)

Jesus also said...

Mark 9:41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

As Jesus says here...

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
　
Because he who receives you, receives me and he who receives me receives Him who sent me

Whats kooler is that Moses would never go beyond the Jordan, it was Joshua who was to take them over and thats what Rahab mentions

Josh 2:10 For we (Rahab said) 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.

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed themthat believed not.


Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with themthat believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.


Though delivering one (who is innocent) over to death might be shown as an act of betrayal verses lying, in respects to ones allegiances. Just as Judas (who told the truth) actually (as to where Jesus was) is called both a traitor and betrayer, and this handing Jesus over.

Betraying innocent blood (in otherwords)

 

[Fireinfolding]

I know we tend to look at this as lying, and perhaps we can say (and honestly so) that it wasnt being truthful. Though I do believe it might better fall under the realm of whats termed a traitor or a betrayer. Given the OP speaks of war (and Jesus in respects to counting the cost).


We know (for example) that Rahab (if caught) would probrobly be considered a betrayer to her own country, but (before God) she was not a betrayer to the messengers of Joshua (the servant of God).


So, where she might have lied to the intent to protect them (the servants of the living God) from harm (handing them over to death). Her actions concealed them (because she knew Whom she believed). What is lawful before God (in such cases) if in your own power to do? To save a life or destroy it?


Now, Judas on the otherhand (who is noted as the Lords betrayer) told the truth (and in respects to where to find Jesus). Judas knowing "the place" where Jesus frequented with his own disciples. And this to specifically to hand him over (which was to his death).


So one (Rahab) lied (and protected) and Judas who told the truth (and betrayed).


Might depend where someone believes their allegience is, whether its an allegiance unto God (and their citizenship) whether in heaven or whether we profess our allegiance and citizenship on earth. Getting that a tad confused might have brother betraying brother, or parents their children (etc) in the name of doing what is right. Meaning handing over the LORDS to the enemies of the LORD.



Same with Obadiah (and he was Ahabs governor). So he is witholding information from him (in that earthly stewardship). And this because he greatly feared the LORD (as did the Hebrew women) who would not do as the King said (to kill) and the same of Obadiah, he would (quite contrarily) see that the prophets of the Lord be protected from harm. Because he feared, and reccognized there was One who was higher then they.


Jesus speaks of brethren betraying brethren unto death to, so betrayal might make for an interesting topic.

And also, among the ungodly (which fear not God) I do believe it shows where one's loyalties lie in that sense. Abraham asked Sarah to show kindness to him by acknowledging him as "my sister" (which she was) but not my wife (which she was) because for the sake of the later they might kill him (to take her) but if they knew he was just her brother they wouldnt see he as a threat and treat him well (for the sake of a brother) verses a husband. It was actually a wise move, though Isaac did the same and it was less true in Isaacs case.


Heres an authority after Paul here (a govenor with a garrison with him after Paul) And Paul says...

2Cr 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

2Cr 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Paul was LET DOWN. Paul was being HELPED there. So its quite apparent that there are brethren (who will not betray their brethren) and who will risk their necks for those in Christ. And this in the face of a governor with an entire garrison behind him.

Now I have heard its wrong to lie in every case, and all I can say is if there was an oppressive government seeking to kill my brethren in Christ I would do the same. I too would hide them, or let them down through a window (as was Paul). And if those seeking them asked me "which way did they go"? I'd point (the opposite direction) and say "that a way"! (way the other way).

Handing over a innocent brother in the Lord to his death (into the hands of the ungodly) is not something I would want to be guilty of.

Though we know Jesus does speak of brethren betraying brethren unto death. I'd rather be considered a liar verses a participant in their death. And I'll let God judge my actions (in respects to my alligience) and the intent of my heart (to save) rather then destroy another.



It could be seen as a catch 22 (sorta) but not really, because he that says he loves (God) but hates (his bother) is a liar. So it doesnt really doesnt take an outright lie (as we might think of it) to make that one a liar. However, in the same breath if anyone hates his brother is also a murderer. So again it doesnt take laying a hand on him to be one. And we are our brothers keeper, it speaks laying down your life for one another, and this is in the context of greater love.


But then again, how could I love my brother if I betray him into the hands of those who want to put him to death?



As I said before, I hope to God there are Rahabs around if my time ever come (in a time similar to the Nazis) because most are like, "I dont want to lie (and be like Rhab) I'd rather be like Judas (and tell)

See what I mean?


Better yet may God allow me the priviledge of concealing my brethren if they are just going to turn each other in for the sake of telling the truth to the enemy


Im all for saving the butts of my brethren who serve our Lord Jesus Christ, and I sure hope God forgives me for pulling a Rahab (or Obadiah) move

Im glad Rahab is in there "as an example" of faith. So I could say, hey I can actually do that

 

[Rose_bud]

Nowhere is Rahab ever commended for lying... I'm sure God wasn't pleased with her being a prostitute either...She is however commended for her Faith. and acting out in the best way she knew how *she wasn't exactly an Israelite at the time who had the Law to guide there actions*...

 

[x141]

Why was Rahab commended for lying? Josh

There is always a truth hidden in the lie like a treasure hid in a field.

When satan showed all the kingdoms to Jesus and told him, if he bowed down to him, this image, he would give them to him, it was a lie. All things that the Father has was the son's just as it is now ours.

 

[2KnowHim]

There is always a truth hidden in the lie like a treasure hid in a field.

When satan showed all the kingdoms to Jesus and told him, if he bowed down to him, this image, he would give them to him, it was a lie. All things that the Father has was the son's just as it is now ours.

Amen, it all depends on where our Identity is.
That's what the testing in the wilderness was all about, "IDENTITY".

Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?

 

[x141]

Amen, it all depends on where our Identity is.
That's what the testing in the wilderness was all about, "IDENTITY".

Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?

The difference between the twelve stones layed in the jordan and the twelve stones layed in the land ... the one who rules the night or lesser light was layed in the jordan. Two can not walk as one unless they agree.

We've gone from a Where art thou to a Who art thou, but the answer is still found in the where ... a coming up out of the jordan ... out of the wilderness ...