When Faith Betrays the World
Risk, Faith, and Obedience: A Reflection on Rahab and Christian Discipleship
The story of Rahab in the Old Testament offers a striking example of faith under pressure, moral complexity, and theological insight. Though she was not an Israelite, Rahab lived in the city of Jericho, destined to fall under God’s judgment. Her home was strategically located within the city wall, and when Joshua sent two spies into the land, Rahab welcomed them, hid them from the king’s men, and helped them escape (Joshua 2:1–21). In return, the spies promised her protection—on the condition that she remained silent and faithful to the agreement.
Why did Rahab take such a risk? And how could a woman of such background—often referred to as a prostitute—make a decision that would alter her destiny and even impact redemptive history? The answer lies in the nature of true biblical faith. Rahab had heard of the mighty acts of the God of Israel—how he delivered his people from Egypt, dried up the Red Sea, and defeated powerful kings along the way. She responded to this knowledge not with fear alone but with belief. Her confession in Joshua 2:11—"the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below"—demonstrates theological conviction and spiritual discernment, even as an outsider to the covenant.
Rahab’s faith was not passive but active. She risked everything—her life, her family’s safety, and her reputation—to align herself with the God of Israel. Her actions were born out of her belief that Yahweh is the one true God. In doing so, she chose divine allegiance over national loyalty. Her faith, which manifested in risky obedience, is celebrated in Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” Moreover, she was incorporated into the covenant community through marriage to Salmon of the tribe of Judah, becoming part of the lineage that led to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). Her faith did not merely save her from judgment—it grafted her into the very fabric of salvation history.
One natural question that arises is whether Rahab was a hero or a traitor. From the perspective of Jericho’s citizens and authorities, her actions could be seen as treasonous. She harbored enemy spies and deceived her own people, contributing to the fall of her city. Yet even if she had reported the spies, the outcome would not have changed—Jericho was under divine judgment. In contrast, from her family’s point of view, she was undoubtedly a hero. Because of her faith and courage, they were spared from destruction. Her willingness to risk everything likely won their lifelong gratitude and admiration.
Furthermore, Rahab’s elevated status within Israel suggests she was eventually seen not only as a survivor but as a woman of honor. She married into the tribe of Judah—something highly unlikely if she retained the full stigma of her past. Her transformation was made possible by the very faith that led her to risk her life. At the heart of this decision—between being seen as a hero or traitor—was one motivation: her faith in the God of Israel. Rahab was convinced that Yahweh, not the gods of Canaan, was the creator of the universe. Her insight compelled her to act—not merely out of self-preservation but from a deep recognition of truth. It was this allegiance to God that made her decision clear. Once she aligned herself with the Lord of heaven and earth, obedience—even risky obedience—became the obvious choice
The question of whether Rahab was a hero or a traitor is not merely academic. It invites reflection on the nature of moral judgment and loyalty. Sometimes faithfulness to God will make us appear disloyal to others. It will confuse human categories of ethics and legality. But the biblical witness affirms that Rahab’s actions were not only justified but honored, because she rightly prioritized allegiance to God above allegiance to earthly authorities.
Rahab’s story also opens up an important ethical and theological discussion. She lied to the authorities to protect the spies. Was this morally acceptable? Some argue that lying is inherently wrong, and thus her action was unethical. However, biblical narratives often emphasize theological orientation over rigid moralism. Rahab’s loyalty was not to the corrupt moral framework of Jericho, but to God’s redemptive mission. She chose to serve the purposes of the God she believed, even when it meant defying human law.
This ethical dilemma finds echoes in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 13 that believers should submit to governing authorities, for they are instituted by God. Yet Paul himself was frequently imprisoned for refusing to obey laws that contradicted his call to preach the gospel. When human laws stand in opposition to the commands of God, the Christian must choose divine obedience. This is confirmed by Peter and the apostles in Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than human beings.” True faith calls for discernment, courage, and sometimes defiance when earthly powers demand what contradicts God’s revealed will.
In our own time, we may not face life-and-death scenarios like Rahab’s. Thankfully, many of us live in nations—such as the United States—where laws still reflect Judeo-Christian values. Nevertheless, we still encounter moments when God’s truth and cultural norms collide. This tension often emerges around socially sensitive issues: abortion, sexual ethics, gender identity, and immigration. In such instances, Christians are called first to reflect on who God is and what he has revealed in Scripture. Only then can we properly interpret these complex issues and discern where our allegiance must lie.
This struggle is not limited to public ethics. It often plays out in everyday life—within families, workplaces, and even churches. Conflicts may arise between our values and God’s values, between social acceptance and biblical conviction. In these moments, we must ask: are we being faithful to God and his word, or compromising in the name of convenience? Like Rahab, we are called to obedience that may put us at odds with the dominant culture. Faithfulness may involve misunderstanding, ridicule, or loss. But it also leads to deeper communion with God and participation in his redemptive work.
Rahab’s example reminds us that faith is never merely intellectual. It is not enough to believe that God exists or even to affirm biblical truth. True faith acts—often at great personal cost. As James writes, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Rahab’s story is placed alongside that of Abraham in James 2 to show that faith is authenticated through courageous action.
In our modern age, faith is often misunderstood as a source of comfort rather than as a call to courage. Søren Kierkegaard insightfully warned against a safe and easy faith, describing true belief as a leap into the unknown—a willingness to trust God when reason and safety are exhausted. He wrote, "Without risk there is no faith. Faith is precisely the contradiction between the infinite passion of the individual's inwardness and the objective uncertainty." Faith drives us to abandon the illusion of control and embrace the mystery of God's call.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer echoes this in The Cost of Discipleship, where he declares, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Faith is not a matter of adding religion to an otherwise normal life. It is a radical reorientation. Bonhoeffer challenges modern Christianity’s tendency to seek grace without discipleship, stating, “Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves... the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance... grace without discipleship, grace without the cross."
Discipleship, then, involves risk. Jesus declared that anyone who would follow him must "deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23). This call is not metaphorical. It entails real cost—social, emotional, and sometimes physical. But as Rahab’s story shows, such risk, when rooted in trust in the true God, becomes the means of salvation and legacy. Her faith did not merely save her life—it made her part of the redemptive line through which the Messiah would come.
In light of Rahab’s example, Christians today must ask themselves: How much are we willing to risk for the sake of our faith? Are we prepared to be misunderstood, even labeled as traitors by society, in order to remain faithful to God? Rahab's legacy calls us to a discipleship that dares greatly, acts boldly, and trusts deeply in the God who saves.