Hebrews 11:30,31

Faith Accomplishes God's Promises

Hebrews 11 demonstrates what faith accomplishes in a person's life. Tonight, we examine two accounts: the walls of Jericho falling and Rahab the harlot not perishing with the unbelievers.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:30-31)

Faith is not concerned with means; it achieves its object because God intervenes for its vindication. God promises something, individuals believe, then God commands obedience while He accomplishes His promises. Faith trusts that God will fulfill what He has promised, allowing focus on obedience.

God promises salvation and preservation. You believe, repent from sin, and pursue godliness. All the while, God fulfills His promises perfectly. Faith recognizes that God will not fail.

Context from Joshua

God's Charge to Joshua

Joshua succeeds Moses. God tells him:

No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

Only be strong and courageous. Be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:7-8)

True strength and courage come through obedience to God. Meditate on and speak God's word continually. Success here means wise behavior—living in a way pleasing to God, with the gospel as your advisor.

Secular history, like the Amarna letters, confirms no one could stand against Joshua. Canaanite kings pleaded with Egypt for help against the 'Habiru' (Hebrews), but Egypt, crippled after the Exodus, sent none.

Rahab's Faith

Rahab, a harlot in Jericho, hides Israelite spies because she believes in God:

I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt... The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9-11)

God influenced her heart. Her faith aligned her actions with God's purposes. The faithful care for one another: Rahab protected the spies, and later Israel spared her family.

Three Key Lessons from Hebrews 11:30-31

1. The Unity of Faith

Verse 30 omits Joshua's name—the only instance in Hebrews 11 without a specific individual. Joshua commanded the entire congregation to march silently around Jericho for seven days, circling once daily for six days, seven times on the seventh, then shout after the trumpets. God had already delivered the city into their hands, despite no siege equipment.

This pictures church unity: leadership faithfully preaches God's word, the congregation obeys in unity. Faith demolishes strongholds, as in 2 Corinthians 10:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Unity in faith topples walls of arrogance and sin through preaching.

2. Faith Produces Righteousness

Faith creates an attitude of doing right—fulfilling God's purposes. Rahab did not perish with the disobedient because she believed and received the spies peaceably. Her actions aided Jericho's fall and saved her family.

Preach the gospel to lost family, standing on God's promises. He accompanies you, saving through the Spirit.

3. Faith Displays God's Grace and Redemption

Rahab, a Gentile harlot, was grafted into God's people by faith. She married Salmon, bore Boaz (who married Ruth), and entered Jesus' genealogy. Faith-produced works are gold, clothing the bride of Christ eternally.

Yet Scripture calls her 'Rahab the harlot,' heightening God's grace—like a diamond on black velvet. It magnifies redemption from depravity.

Truly I say to you, that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. (Matthew 21:31-32)

Christ redeems fully, presenting the church as a pure virgin (2 Corinthians 11:2). Stand firm in freedom (Galatians 5:1), free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2). Jesus bears your name before the Father, securing eternal life. Faith grasps this, producing Christlike living that glorifies God.