belief – The Pillar and Ground of Truth

Faith is a conviction or belief that one holds. To be convicted of something is to be convinced, and to have a belief is the “mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another.”[1]

Rahab showed her complete faith in the God of the Hebrews by her statement, “The LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”[2] This is why she could hide the two spies and then put out the red cord.

She did it in faith and because of this the scripture states, “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.”[3]

The action on Rahab’s part was a response to the fact that she was convinced of the omnipresence and complete deity of God because she believed that He was the only God of heaven and earth. This is why James wrote, “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”[4]

When we have faith, we will also have a response to that faith. Rahab’s response to her complete faith in Jehovah was in helping the spies. Thus, “…faith without works is dead.”[5]

[1] Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=belief.

[2] Joshua 2:9-11

[3] Joshua 6:25

[4] James 2:25

[5] James 2:20