| “I know the Lord has given you the land… for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11) |
The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It was time for them to cross the Jordan River into Jericho. God promised they would defeat the Canaanites and possess the land within three days. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to report back on the agriculture and the lay of the land.
When the spies got to Jericho, they went to the home of a prostitute named Rahab who lived on the Jericho wall. We do not know how prostitutes were viewed in that time and place. We do know that unmarried women had little or no means of financial support other than begging and prostitution. The Bible does not indicate why they went to Rahab’s house. Perhaps strangers going into a prostitute’s house would not raise suspensions among Rahab’s neighbors.
Shortly after the spies got to Rahab’s house the king learned foreigners were in Jericho. He sent soldiers to Rahab’s house to find out who they were. Rahab hid the spies on the roof of her house and lied to the soldiers telling them the spies had been there but left. Rahab was a Canaanite woman, but she knew of God’s promise of Jericho to the Israelites. She had a choice to make. She was willing to hide the spies if they promised to save her and her family when the Canaanites were defeated, and the Israelites possessed the land. She would hang a red cord from her window when the fighting began. The Israelites would know to save the family in that house.
Rahab demonstrated tremendous faith and courage. She may not have been highly regarded in her community because she was a prostitute, but that did not matter to God. Her house was strategically placed on the city wall at the gate. That provided the soldiers easy access to and from the city. God chose Rahab to facilitate the Israelites’ move into Jericho. Rahab knew God and her belief led her to hide the soldiers so they could fulfill their mission and return to their homes. Because of Rahab’s help the Israelites were able to cross the Jordan and defeat the Canaanites as God promised them. Rahab and her family were saved.
Rahab later married the Israelite Salmon. She bore Boaz and was the great great grandmother of King David. Despite Rahab’s life as a prostitute because of her faith and God’s grace she became one of only four women mentioned in the Book of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus. .
Biblical Principles
- Rahab lied to the king’s men who came looking for the soldiers. God can use deception to achieve His will. (Joshua 2:4)
- Even though Rahab was a prostitute and may have worshiped pagan gods she knew the power of God. (Joshua 2:9-11)
- In requesting the soldiers to spare herself and her family, she acted on her faith that God’s plan was for the Israelites to have the land. (Joshua 2:9-10)
- Rahab’s story is an example of family salvation. (Joshua 2:12-13)
- She was a courageous woman. (Joshua 2:15)
For Women Today
Prostitutes and women who do not live socially or morally accepted lives are seldom viewed as heroines, but Rahab was brave and heroic. God can use whomever He wants to fulfill His will. We may regret or be ashamed of things we have done in our past. Regardless of who we are or what we do our salvation is our belief in God, and our relationship with Him. When we sin, if we are living outside the arc of God’s safety, if we ask His forgiveness and turn away from sin, He welcomes us to His bosom and a new life filled with His grace. When we confess our sins to God, they are cast into the sea of forgetfulness. (Micah 7:19)
| “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19) |