Biblical Definition of Courage:
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD you God will be with you wherever you go.”
Character Study:
Rahab – Joshua 2:1-22 and 6:22, 23; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25
The first time we meet Rahab is in Joshua 2:1 when the spies entered the house of a prostitute (possibly an innkeeper) and stayed there. In vv12-13 we see that she lived there with her father, mother, brothers, sisters and extended family. She lived in Jericho and therefore grew up in a pagan environment worshipping idols and false gods.
Hebrew 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
She was married to Salmon and the mother of Boaz. Matthew 1:5
Rahab is known for her:
Courage:
In Joshua 2:2-7 we read that the king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab to bring out the men who had come to her house because they were spies. She acknowledges that the men had come to her, but that at dusk when the city gates closed, they had left and she did not know which way they had gone. She had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. It was not only dangerous for her to hide the spies, but she also had to trust her family not to give her secret away. It took courage as it was a case of life and death if she had been found out.
Faith
In Joshua, 2:8-11 she tells the spies that when the people of Jericho heard how the LORD had dried up the water of the Red Sea and their victory over Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, their hearts melted with fear. She believed that: Joshua 2:11b “the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Because Rahab chose faith in the face of fear, she showed her faith in God and for this reason, her family was spared.
Love
Joshua 2:12-16 shows her love for her family. Her request to the spies was that they would not only spare her life, but also the lives of her father, mother, brothers, sisters and all who belong to them, from death. After the spies assured her that they will treat her kindly and faithfully when they invade the land, she lets them down by a rope through the window, because her house was part of the city wall.
*Jewish tradition says that Salmon, one of the two spies was her husband and their son was Boaz. They were the great-great-grandparents of David, the most influential king of Israel. Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse and Jesse the father of David. Ruth 4:20-22. Matthew 1:5 mentions Rahab in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
Prostitute
Noun for prostitute – a woman who engages in sexual intercourse for money; whore; harlot. (Dictionary.com)
Prostitutes were the social and moral outcasts in Israel.
Why would the spies stop at the house of Rahab, a prostitute? The spies could gather information; her house was built into the city wall; we see God’s hand in this because He knew her heart was receptive to Him and so she would be instrumental in the Israelite’s victory over Jericho
What the Bible teaches about courage:
Old Testament:
In Deuteronomy 31:1-8 Moses went out and spoke to the people, assuring them that the LORD will cross over the Jordan River ahead of them. As he will not be going with them Joshua will cross over ahead of them. They need not fear the nations on the other side, because the LORD will deliver them to the Israelites.
In Joshua 1:1-9 after Moses’s death, the LORD commands Joshua with the same instructions that Moses had given him.
In 1 Chronicles 28:9-21, King David gives his son Solomon principles to live by and also specific plans to build the Temple. In v20 David tells Solomon to be “strong and courageous.”
In 2 Chronicles 32:1-8 When Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah; Hezekiah did everything he could to deal with the situation:
– He blocked off the water springs outside the city;
– He worked hard to repair all the broken sections of the wall and build towers on it and he built another wall outside that one, reinforcing the supporting terraces of the City of David;
– He appointed military officers over the people, assembling them before him in the square at the city gate;
He encouraged them to trust God.
Isaiah 41:10-13.Reading through the Old Testament, we see how God punished the Israelites. We also read that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounds in love. God encourages not only the Israelites but also us.
New Testament:
We see in the Gospels of the New Testament how Jesus on several occasions encouraged people:
Matthew 9:2 Some people brought to Jesus a man that was paralyzed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic: v2b “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” v6b Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” (NLT)
Mark 6:45-50 Jesus had told His disciples to get in a boat and go to Bethsaida. During the night a strong wind came up and Jesus saw them straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Jesus proceeded to walk towards them. When they saw Him they were terrified. Jesus spoke to them reassuring them not to be afraid.
Luke 8:43-48 One day as Jesus was surrounded by the crowd a woman, who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, came up behind Jesus, touching the edge of His cloak. When Jesus asked who had touched His cloak the woman came trembling and fell at His feet. She told Jesus that she had been instantly healed
John 16:33 Jesus encouraged His disciples that in the future they will have trouble after His death. v33 “I have told you these things, so you may have peace in me. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Acts 22:30 – 23:11 In this passage Paul is ordered to appear before the commander of the Roman troops because he wanted to find out the reason why Paul was being accused by the Jews. A dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees broke out, so the commander was afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces. He ordered the troops to take him away from them and back to the barracks. v11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 In his final instructions to the church in Corinth, Paul urges them to v13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. v14 Do everything in love.
Application:
In a world where we read/hear/see daily the evil that takes place not only in the world but also in our communities; it takes courage to face our fears. One of the things we get from studying our Bible is that God commands us to be courageous. As we saw, in Deuteronomy 31:6 God commands us “to be strong and courageous.” Living courageously is easier said than done. We so easily say we live by faith and not sight, but courage is not the absence of fear; it is acting in spite of fear.
In a world where living an immoral lifestyle has become the order of the day; it is not easy to live a life with traditional and moral Christian values. Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24-26 that we need to deny ourselves take up our cross daily and follow Him.
Conclusion:
1 John 2:28 And now dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 27:1-14 One of the antonyms of courage is fear. We can know that God offers help for today and hope for the future. We learn from David that he sought God’s presence every day. He trusted God at all times. At times it feels as if we are waiting on the Lord in vain and our prayers are not being answered. David had experienced waiting periods in his life – anointed as king when he was 16, but he only became king of Judah at 30. Through it all, he had experienced he could still say that he had confidence in the goodness of the Lord and encourages us with v14 Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. (New Living Translation – NLT)
Thank the Lord for His faithfulness, because as children of God 1 John 3:1, His compassion never fails; they are new every morning. Ecclesiastes 3:22, 23
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: