Rahab, heroic liar?

[David from New Bern]

There is one listed in the hall of faith chapter of Hebrews...chapter 11...her name Rahab. A prostitute by profession and a liar we are told by the Joshua account of her hiding the spies. But for the act of hiding the spying Israelites and misdirecting the pursuing Canaanites she is spared by God and given a place of honor among the great examples of faith.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31 KJV

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? James 2:25 KJV

Her work of faith was being deceptive and treason? What do you think? Are there grey areas? Can lying sometimes be the right thing to do?

[Openly Curious]

There is one listed in the hall of faith chapter of Hebrews...chapter 11...her name Rahab. A prostitute by profession and a liar we are told by the Joshua account of her hiding the spies. But for the act of hiding the spying Israelites and misdirecting the pursuing Canaanites she is spared by God and given a place of honor among the great examples of faith.

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31 KJV

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? James 2:25 KJV

Her work of faith was being deceptive and treason? What do you think? Are there grey areas? Can lying sometimes be the right thing to do?

Edited March 22, 2006 by Openly Curious

[ElijahSK]

Good question. I would tend to agree with Openly Curious on this one. That is was an act of self perservation and not to slander.

This is not the first time God had found a liar to be righteous by faith. In Genesis 12 starting at verse 11, you'll find Abram telling Sarai to lie lest they kill him and take her alive. If you keep on reading you'll find she did, and they were found out. You'll find them again lying again in Genesis 20:2 and 26:7. God Himself sends a lying spirit into the mouth of some prophets in 1 Kings 22:21-22.

Now when the choice comes to perserve self by slander, or in other words to perserve yourself by denying your faith/denying your God I would always stay on the safe side and die before I would deny my faith in God.

[Marnie]

Most definitely, all is fair in love and war. Excellent, well reasoned post, OC!

[Kabowd]

Rahab isn't the only instance in the bible where someone lied and it was excused. I've posted this before in another topic, but it's appropriate here.

What about the people who harbored Jews in their homes to protect them from the Nazis?

What about those who deceive a country in order to enter it to present the gospel?

Here's how Webster defines a "lie":

1 a : an assertion of something known or believed by the speaker to be untrue with intent to deceive b : an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker

2 : something that misleads or deceives

So is withholding the whole truth a lie? According to Webster it is. In fact, according to him, anything that is done to mislead or deceive constitutes a lie. This becomes very complicated biblically because there are several instances in Scripture where ppl were not punished for their lying (or deceiving), and in fact prospered. Here's just a few:

* Rahab hides the Spies and lies to the king's men (Joshua 2:1-24)

* Hebrew midwives lied to Pharoah in order to protect baby boys (Exodus 1:15-21)

* David pretended to be insane (I Samuel 21:2, 13)

* David lied about who he had been fighting (I Samuel 27:10)

* Michal lied to protect David (I Samuel 19:13-27)

* Jonathan lied to protect David (I Samuel 20:5-8, 27-29)

* God Himself gives Samuel permission to deceive Saul:

"The LORD said to Samuel,

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings,

I am reminded of:

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

At the time of Rahab, we hear:

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.

This was the condition under which Rahab operated. She acknowledged the God of the Jews and certainly she was as terrorized of them as was the rest of the community. She had the option of siding with God or with Jericho. She chose wisely.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Kabowd]

She chose wisely.

lol...that reminded me of Star Wars.

[WISDOM]

If we do question Rahab's action, what does that say about King David (murderer/adulterer); Samson (womanizer OUTSIDE the Israelites); Jacob (thief), Abraham (liar), Moses (murderer), and the COUNTLESS OTHERS we know nothing about?

Gray areas? Hmmmmm....I don't think so. MOTIVES of the heart...now, there's an area only our FATHER knows the "who,what,when,where, why and how" about. I believe that's why HE gave us their examples to be viewed today in HIS Holy Word!

[Dad Ernie]

If we do question Rahab's action, what does that say about King David (murderer/adulterer); Samson (womanizer OUTSIDE the Israelites); Jacob (thief), Abraham (liar), Moses (murderer), and the COUNTLESS OTHERS we know nothing about?

Gray areas? Hmmmmm....I don't think so. MOTIVES of the heart...now, there's an area only our FATHER knows the "who,what,when,where, why and how" about. I believe that's why HE gave us their examples to be viewed today in HIS Holy Word!

[David from New Bern]

Most of us conservative bible expositors don't like this test case that is not as black and white as we would like it to be. This is one of those letter of the law versus the spirit of the law questions. What good would it do to preserve your own integrity while allowing someone innocent or godly to die when you could stop it. Is the greater good to save a life or avoid a lie. The greater good of course is to preserve life. Jesus didn't save us to be rule keepers but to experience and give genuine love