Yes — Rahab was saved through a genuine, though small, faith in the God of Israel, and God recognized that faith.
Rahab heard what the LORD had done for Israel and confessed that He was "God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). Les Feldick calls this confession "not much, but enough," and teaches that God recognized her little bit of faith as sufficient (Clips 0 and 1).
Joshua 2:11 — This verse records Rahab's confession that the LORD is God in heaven above and in earth beneath — the faith that led to her salvation.
Hebrews 11:31 — The New Testament explicitly says it was "by faith" that Rahab the harlot did not perish with the unbelieving Canaanites.
Matthew 1:5 — This verse places Rahab in the genealogy of the Messiah, showing the outcome of her faith.
In Joshua 2, Rahab hides the Israelite spies and tells them, "I know that the LORD hath given you the land" (Joshua 2:9). She explains that the inhabitants' hearts melted because they had heard how the LORD dried up the Red Sea and destroyed the two Amorite kings, and she declares, "the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). The Book of Hebrews states plainly that "by faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace" (Hebrews 11:31). Joshua 6 records that Joshua saved Rahab and her household alive when Jericho fell, and Matthew 1:5 places Rahab in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Scripture thus presents Rahab's confession and her reception of the spies as the faith that saved her.
Les Feldick calls Rahab's words to the spies "Rahab's confession of faith" and says it "wasn't much, but it was enough" (Clip 0). He teaches that God recognized that small faith and that her "little bit of faith was sufficient" (Clip 1). Les emphasizes that Rahab was a Gentile and a harlot, yet God placed her in the genealogy of the Messiah as one of only four women (Clips 1 and 4). Les also stresses the consistent biblical principle that salvation has always been by personal faith — even under the law — and that God counts believing what He says for righteousness, as He did with Abraham (Clips 3 and 5). For Les, Rahab is a Gentile example that a small, genuine confession of faith in the God of Israel was enough for God to save her.
Rahab told the spies, "the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). She had heard how the LORD dried up the Red Sea when Israel came out of Egypt and what He did to the two kings of the Amorites (Joshua 2:10). Les Feldick calls this statement "Rahab's confession of faith" and says it "wasn't much, but it was enough" (Clip 0).
Les teaches that God recognized Rahab's faith and that her "little bit of faith was sufficient" (Clip 1). He connects this to the broader truth that even under the law, the basic premise of salvation was personal faith (Clip 3). As with Abraham, who believed what God told him and was called righteous, Rahab's belief in who God was counted for her (Clip 5).
Les points out that Rahab was a harlot, a Gentile, and a non-Jew — categories the Jews were commanded to avoid — yet she appears in the family line of the Messiah. She is one of only four women listed in the genealogy in Matthew 1 (Clips 1 and 4; Matthew 1:5). For Les, this shows how God honored a Gentile's genuine faith.
Rahab's Confession of Faith
Les identifies Rahab's words to the spies as her confession of faith and says it wasn't much, but it was enough to save her.
A Little Faith Is Sufficient
Les teaches that God recognized Rahab's small faith and that she appears in the genealogy of Christ as one of only four women.
Who is Melchizedek? Understanding the "Most High God" & His Names
Then as you move into Israel's history, or as she's coming up through history, she's just recently come out of Egypt under Moses, many years after this now. And the first thing God promises Israel, that if they will be obedient, He will be their healing. Now, you'll find that then as Jehovah Rapha, R-A-P-H-A, who would be their healer, predominantly, of course, in the area of the physical.
Salvation Has Always Been by Faith
Les explains that even under the law, the basic premise of salvation was personal faith — the same principle behind Rahab's salvation.
A Gentile Harlot in the Lineage of Christ
Les highlights that Rahab was a Gentile and a harlot, yet God placed her in the genealogy of the Messiah.
Faith Counted for Righteousness
Les shows that throughout Scripture, when God tells someone something and they believe it, God counts that belief for righteousness — the pattern seen with Rahab.
From Genesis to Exodus: Understanding the Biblical Timeline of Israel
This is a biblical truth, and it all helps build, build, build to the plan of salvation as we now know it today. In fact, when we get a little further into the book of Exodus, we're going to jump right back to the New Testament and show how clearly, beginning with the night of the Passover and their trip through the Red Sea and all that, is a perfect illustration of our plan of salvation as we kno…
The Fear of God vs. Saving Faith
Les notes that the Amorite kings heard the same reports of God's miracles as Rahab and their hearts melted in fear, while Rahab's response became a confession of faith.
Joshua 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.
Rahab's opening confession to the spies — she knows the LORD has given Israel the land.
Joshua 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.
The report Rahab and the Canaanites had heard — the miracle at the Red Sea and the defeat of the Amorite kings.
Joshua 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.
Rahab's declaration that the LORD is God in heaven above and earth beneath — the heart of her confession of faith.
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.
The biblical record that Rahab and her family were saved when Jericho fell because she hid the spies.
Matthew 1:5: And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse.
Rahab is named in the lineage of the Messiah, showing the honor God gave to her faith.
Hebrews 11:31: By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
The New Testament's explicit statement that it was by faith that Rahab did not perish with the unbelievers.
Rahab said, "the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). Les Feldick calls this "Rahab's confession of faith" and says it "wasn't much, but it was enough" (Clip 0). Her confession came from hearing what God had done for Israel at the Red Sea and against the Amorite kings.
No. Rahab was a Gentile harlot living in Jericho. Les Feldick notes that God had told Israel to have nothing to do with Gentiles, yet Rahab appears in the genealogy of Christ (Clip 4; Matthew 1:5).
Les teaches that her "little bit of faith was sufficient" and that God recognized it (Clip 1). Hebrews 11:31 confirms it was by faith that Rahab perished not with the unbelieving Canaanites.
Yes. Matthew 1:5 lists Rahab as the mother of Boaz. Les Feldick points out she is one of only four women named in the genealogy (Clip 1).
Watch the Teaching: Rahab's Shocking Faith — How a Harlot Ended Up in Jesus' Genealogy