In Joshua, chapter two, verse five, Rahab’s lie does not justify that New Testament believers are in distinctive circumstances. At this time, Rahab was not a member of the covenant community and was not bound to the moral laws of the covenant. Her lying never receives approval in scripture, only her faith, and her works. God in no way needed to rely on deception to fulfill His covenant promises or to protect the spies.
Rahab was a prostitute, and her place was a harlot’s house. Yet, her actions reveal her faith in Israel’s God was more than simply opinion. It was trusting genuine faith. It’s one thing to claim belief or have the knowledge, but Rahab demonstrated that she had absolute saving faith. Rahab courageously trusted the God of the Israelites, leading to her good deeds.
“By faith Rahab, the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies,” as stated in Hebrews eleven thirty-one. Genuine faith in God and good works always go together. Deeds do not save but naturally, flow from an appropriate relationship with Christ. Even though Rahab did something to help the spies, she lived as a sinful woman that still did ungodly things. Rahab’s lie shows the capability of right and wrong on any given day.
Today, like Rahab, believers can do some good and bad at any time.
Rahab’s lie does not mean we can mimic her because the situation is different. First, no one knew this situation would occur except God with Rahab’s response by helping those spies when they came across her path. Second, she was a sinful woman and not in a relationship like other Christians. Finally, all humans have sinned and fallen short, and believers are to daily repent because we never know what the day brings where temptation could occur for us to fall into sin.