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Treason:
Is Rahab's Choice Your Choice?

Rahab committed treason. She helped her city’s enemies escape and overthrow the city. Were her actions sinful? Should she have remained loyal to her city even though it was an evil place? The fact is we have all been traitors on one or more levels which is why I have labelled treason the inescapable choice.

Treason is defined as:

"1. Violation or betrayal of the allegiance that a person owes his sovereign or his country, esp by attempting to overthrow the government; high treason

2. Any treachery or betrayal” www.thefreedictionary.com

In order to understand this concept and Rahab’s actions, we have to understand the big picture.

In fact, let’s go back to the beginning.

“In the beginning God created…” [Gen. 1:1]

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Since God created all things, including each individual, He has the right to complete obedience and unquestioning loyalty. At some point in the past [probably during Creation Week], Satan and some angels rebelled. They attempted to overthrow God. It was the height of arrogance to think they even had a chance of success. Needless to say, the attempt failed. Although guilty of high treason against their lawful sovereign, they were not immediately sentenced to Hell - their ultimate destination.

God created the physical universe and placed Adam and Eve as His representatives to rule over and develop it. It was meant to be a team project: God and mankind working in unity to create a fully developed world for everyone's enjoyment. However, the human heart had to be tested. Would Adam and Eve remain loyal to their sovereign, or would they join the rebellion?

Eve was an individual, and her decision would affect only herself. However, Adam represented the human race, so his decision would represent every human being who ever lived. We know that Eve was deceived by Satan. She joined the rebellion without realizing exactly what she was doing until it was too late. Adam knew he was making the decision for the entire human race and deliberately choosing high treason against his Creator and lawful Sovereign.

Treason: Our Position

Because of that decision, the entire human race is convicted of and under the death sentence of high treason against its Creator and lawful Sovereign. Before you cry unfair, consider that every time we violate God’s laws and ways, we willfully rebel and agree that Adam made the right decision. Not one of us can claim innocence or unfair treatment. Having Adam as our representative into rebellion is actually a mercy because it means we can also have a Representative out of rebellion and into peace with our Creator and lawful Sovereign.

So every human being is born a traitor, and each of us, through our actions, confirms that choice. To expand on that, every government is required to rule according to the laws of God as revealed in the Bible. To the extent that they fail to do so, they are in deliberate, active rebellion against their lawful Sovereign and under the judgment of treason, just as individuals are. This is one reason we are instructed to pray for government officials, for their guilt and judgment are compounded if they, both as individuals and government representatives, rebel.

Treason is an inescapable choice. We are all traitors and terrorists by nature - intentionally or unintentionally - wreaking havoc on God’s creation and harming ourselves and others in a cycle of abuse. So if we remain as we are, we are traitors to our Creator and lawful Sovereign and will one day justly join Satan and his angels in the dungeons of Hell, even as we joined him in his rebellion. On the other hand, if we make peace with God and reassert our loyalty to Him, acknowledging Him as our God and lawful Sovereign, the Kingdom of Darkness, in which we currently live, will consider us as traitors. It is a decision of ultimate loyalties which each of us must face [if we ignore it, we are, by default, choosing to continue in rebellion]. And each of us will live with the eternal consequences of our decision.

Regarding civil governments, God requires His people to respect and obey them. Christians are to be the most loyal citizens in a nation. Even if the governments are in rebellion - as long as they are not requiring people to violate the Word of God - they are to be obeyed and supported. Daniel worked for three world rulers without violating his loyalty to God. In cases where we or others are required to violate God’s Law or injustice is being done [such as the murder of children called abortion], then we must stand on our ultimate loyalty. We may have to endure the temporary consequences of resisting the rebels to remain loyal to our true Sovereign and earn eternal rewards. The problem of some Western Christians is that they falsely view their nations as Christian nations and unquestioningly support government policy over Biblical principles. The Western nations have not been Christian nations for a very long time. Remember, Daniel deliberately and publicly defied the king when he required people to stop praying to God. Daniel could have gone into a "prayer closet," but he chose to publicly expose the king's wickedness at the risk of his life.

While Rahab was committing treason to her City-State, she was returning to where her true and ultimate loyalty lay. It was a State in rebellion against God that forced her into such a decision. She chose peace with God and submission to her real Sovereign, even if it caused her to endanger her life and leave behind everything she had known. It was a courageous step and a true step. We should all be in resistance to satan and loyal to our ultimate Sovereign. It may mean we are misunderstood and mistreated by those around us, but where should our real loyalties lie?

Glenn Davis is a Christian author and Bible teacher whose work draws on more than 40 years of study, writing, and teaching in local churches. He has written 700+ articles, created five Bible courses, published three books, and shared 300+ Bible videos on YouTube. Readers can find his books on Amazon, follow his teaching on YouTube or visit Glenn Davis Books. Away from the keyboard, he enjoys time with family, reading, walking, and board or card games.

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