Rahab: A Hooker with a Heart for God
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Call her a lady of the evening, if you like, or a streetwalker. Yet the Bible calls Rahab worthy, listing her among the faithful in Hebrews 11.
We meet our unlikely heroine when Joshua dispatched two spies to check out Jericho. Arriving in town, they "entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there" ().
Unfortunately, Joshua's men were spotted. The king of Jericho sent a message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you" (). Instead, Rahab hid the men and told the king's soldiers the spies had left town.
A Brave Profession
Rahab then made a beeline for the roof, where the spies were spending the night, and proclaimed, "I know that the Lord has given this land to you" ().
The citizens of Jericho had heard about the power of the Israelites' God—his parting the Red Sea and destroying neighboring kingdoms. "When we heard of it," Rahab confessed, "our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you" ().
If Rahab's honesty didn't win the spies' trust, surely her next words did: "For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" ().
You heard the woman: "God is God!" A genuine profession of faith, just as the apostle Paul described centuries later: "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" ().
Rahab asked these men to spare her family from certain death. The men assured her, "Our lives for your lives!" ().
After instructing the two men to run for the hills and hide, Rahab lowered them by rope through a window to safety outside the city wall. If you're looking for a strong female role model, take note. Rahab was brave, decisive, and quick to give orders.
She also took direction well. When the men told her to tie a scarlet cord in that same window, Rahab did so the minute they hit the ground.
Scarlet. Now there's a color that makes a statement. "Though your sins are like scarlet … " (). Rahab's sins were scarlet, all right, yet washed clean by the God she trusted to save her and all whom she loved.
A Miraculous Save
For seven long days Rahab and her family heard the Israelites marching around Jericho. On the seventh day Joshua commanded his people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!" (). You know the song: "And the walls came a-tumblin' down."
One house remained standing. "Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her" (). Because of her faith, God saved Rahab in every sense of the word. The Israelites welcomed her into their camp, where a man named Salmon chose her for his bride.
Rahab gave birth to a son, Boaz, who married a woman named Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David. And you know where that lineage leads.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2008, January/February, Vol. 30, Issue 1, Page 55
Related Topics:
Bible, Faith, forgiveness, Prostitution, Redemption
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Helen
Why were the spies needed in the first place.? the Israelites made a covenant with God that if He helped them they would destroy all who fought against them. From there on they became grat conquerors. Joshua did not need the information from the spies for he had a plan in place to conquer Jericho. As for the prostitute, why did the spies go there anyway. Did they have prior information about her. What was the point of it?
Cattie
This is awesome. I've been going through something recently where I believe God is intent on getting rid of all the crud in my life so that I can be free, and who He made me to be, and it's really been bumming me out. I've felt like crap lately because all my worse stuff has been coming to the surface (you've gotta drag it into the light before you can get rid of it, right?). So right in the middle of this "ugh, I'm the worst screw up in the world" feeling comes this story, of a woman whose sin most people in churches would totally abhor, and yet she is beautiful and treasured in the eyes of God. It truly makes me feel special, and also beautiful and treasured in the eyes of God. Sometimes I think I get so focused on God the teacher, or God the discipliner, that I forget that He's a Daddy, too. :)
Maddy
I guess you can say we all can be harlots at times. Maybe our sin isn't prostitution but we do prositute ourselves to other sins. God, being the loving father He is, will send someone into our lives to try to distract us from our sins. He did send His son Jesus as a huge distraction for us and we still sin. I know I do. So if God can use a woman like Rahab, He can and will us you and me. He can reach anyone. Who will he sent to reach you . Rahab was on a roof. Where are you? He can go there too.
Jackie
Let's keep the focus. God's redemptive power is available to everyone because God is no respector of persons, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That includes, Rahab, Kristin, Neci, Debbie, Jackie, and the model. My prayer is that the model has received Christ; and if she has, that she can rejoice over her salvation. My dear Kristin, you have a sensitive spirit; but like Jesus reminded Martha, I, too, remind you that the best thing in this situation is Redemption. Hallelujah!
SOLA IBITOYE
The article is appealing. It gives the assurance to a sinner who is able to retrace his/her steps and do things right under the auspices of the Holy Spirit that there is hope for his/her salvation. By all standard, Rahab was a condemned culprit - a harlot, but yet saved.The word "scarlet" has described it all.Therefore, let all workers of iniquity depart from their evil and come to the Lord.
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