"30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies."
Hebrews 11:30-31
The story of Jericho continues the glorious account of the achievements of faith. Nothing could be more thrilling than the dramatic downfall of the heathen city through the faith of these warriors of God - faith in His promise and obedience to His commands. One practical lesson it teaches for the spiritual life is that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual, and that when we are content to use the weapons God provides for us we also shall see strongholds pulled down and inroads made into the kingdom of darkness. But it requires faith to believe that the weakness of God is stronger than men - and this is perhaps why preaching - one of God's chief means of saving men - has so often been at a discount in the life of the Church. A recovery of belief in the power of biblical preaching would have a revolutionary effect in the nation.
But what is this in 31? Joshua - Rahab? No, there is no mistake. Rahab had heard tell of the God of Israel (see Joshua 2:9-11), and faith had come by hearing, and a silent and effectual work of salvation had been wrought in her. And the wonderful thing was that she was redeemed into the glorious purposes of God, and by His grace was caught up into His plan for the redemption of the world. For her name appears in the genealogy of our Lord (see Matthew 1:5). She was brought into a noble destiny, lost and broken as her life had once been. That is what the grace of God can do, and what a word of hope it is! There is no life so useless and marred but it can be taken up and used in the purposes of God, and it is never too late for faith to be born in a human heart. Rahab stands in Holy Scripture as a reminder of the possibilities that exist for people in the unlikeliest places and circumstances if only they can hear the Word.