The statement “hearing is believing” is perhaps the biblical counterpart to the common expression “seeing is believing.”
This statement, “hearing is believing,” definitely characterized the life of Rahab the harlot in Joshua 2.
When she welcomed the spies and provided refuge for them from the King of Jericho’s men, she told them what she heard about their God and what she believed.
Rahab never saw the Exodus nor did she ever see the march of Israel through the land of the Amorites east of the Jordan.
Rahab said, I know that the Lord has given you this land, we heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea, we heard what you did to Sihon and Og, and when we heard all this our hearts melted in fear (2:8-10).
In response to what she heard Rahab declared, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below (2:11).
Out of this declaration of faith, Rahab appealed to the Israelite spies to spare her and her family when they return to destroy the city of Jericho (2:12-21).
“Hearing is believing” Rahab heard about the work of God, Rahab believed, and Rahab demonstrated the reality of her faith by welcoming the spies (cf. Hebrews 11:31).
Are you believing the Word of God that you are hearing? Are you hearing the Word on a daily basis? Are you hearing the Word of God when it is preached and taught?
May God open the ears of hearing so that our hearts will confidently embrace the Word of God that we hear so often in the daily routines of life.