Why was lying sometimes rewarded, like when Rahab hid the spies?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that Rahab was rewarded, not for her lie, but for her faith in the living God. Her action demonstrates a radical truth: loyalty to God and the protection of the innocent must always override human commands or even general moral laws. Her dilemma was a conflict of duties—she had to choose between being loyal to her wicked city (by telling the truth) or being loyal to the God of Israel (by protecting His agents and saving their lives). She chose God.
The commendation of her action in Scripture (Question 96) celebrates her courage and her faith-driven choice to align herself with God's purposes, even when it required breaking a moral rule to uphold a greater moral command—the defense of life.
The Simple Answer
The story of Rahab hiding the spies (Joshua 2) presents a scenario where two moral laws conflict: the law against lying versus the law commanding the preservation of life (and loyalty to God).
Rahab's choice was commended by God, and she is listed as a hero of faith (Hebrews 11:31), for two main reasons:
Motive of Faith: Rahab's lie was motivated by a deep, radical faith that the God of Israel was the true, powerful God who was giving the land to Israel (Joshua 2:9-11). She demonstrated a saving faith that risked everything for God's plan.
Greater Command: In this desperate situation, preserving the lives of God's agents against the murderous intentions of wicked authority was the higher moral duty. The action was judged by the priority of the commands—preserving life took precedence over verbal truthfulness in the face of evil.
The New Testament affirms her actions as works of faith, never affirming the lie itself as a good deed.
The Deeper Dive: Conflict of Duties and Divine Purpose
Theological discussion often places this event under the principle of "Conflict of Duties," where following one moral command necessarily means breaking another.
1. The Nature of the Command
The Ninth Commandment forbids lying: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). The context focuses on legal settings and acts designed to maliciously harm another person. Rahab's lie was not intended to harm her neighbor (though it was against her king); it was intended to save the innocent from the wicked.
Her lie did not violate the spirit of the commandment (which is to protect justice and relationships) but the letter of the commandment in service of a higher good.
2. Comparison to Other Instances
The Bible records other instances where deception is used to save life, such as the Hebrew midwives deceiving Pharaoh to save baby boys (Exodus 1:17). In that case, God rewarded the midwives, suggesting that God places a higher value on the preservation of innocent life and resistance to tyranny than on verbal accuracy toward the unjust.
3. Rahab's Redemption
The reason Rahab is celebrated in the New Testament is entirely about her transformation and commitment:
“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” — Hebrews 11:31 (KJV)
Her lie was the flawed means she used, but her faith was the reason for her salvation and reward. God honored her desperate, courageous choice to align her destiny with His people, working through her sinful means to achieve His perfect goal (Question 98).
God's Assurance
God assures you that His primary nature is truth and justice, and He gives us the Holy Spirit to discern the highest moral path in complex situations.
“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…” — 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)
You are assured that while God never endorses sin, His grace always reaches out to those who act in faith, even when their human methods are imperfect.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not use Rahab's story as permission to lie casually. Instead, see it as a powerful illustration that faith is always rewarded, and loyalty to God transcends all other allegiances. When you face a situation where moral duties conflict, trust that preserving life, seeking justice, and protecting the vulnerable are the principles that demonstrate true faith.
