Rahab
Matthew 1:5 , Joshua 2: 1-22, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25
“I know that the Lord has given you this land…Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.” (Joshua 2:9 & 12)
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites were finally ready to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Jericho. God promised that within three days, they would defeat the Canaanites and take possession of the land. As part of his preparation, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho to assess the agriculture and the layout of the city.
Upon arriving in Jericho, the spies went to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, who lived on the city wall. It is unclear how prostitutes were viewed in that time and place, but unmarried women then had few ways to support themselves beyond begging or prostitution. The Bible does not say why the spies chose Rahab’s house; perhaps strangers entering a prostitute’s home would have drawn less suspicion from neighbors.
Soon after the spies arrived, the king of Jericho learned that foreigners were in the city and sent soldiers to Rahab’s house to find them. But Rahab had already hidden the spies on the roof. She lied to the soldiers, telling them the men had already left. Although Rahab was a Canaanite, she knew of God’s promise to give Jericho to the Israelites. She made a choice: she would protect the spies if they promised to spare her and her family when the Israelites conquered the city. The spies agreed and instructed her to hang a red cord from her window when the fighting began. That cord would signal the Israelites to save everyone in her house.
Rahab demonstrated tremendous faith and courage. Though she may not have been highly regarded in her community because of her profession, that did not matter to God. He chose her to help the Israelites enter Jericho. Rahab recognized God’s power, and her belief led her to protect the spies so they could complete their mission and return safely. As God had promised, the Israelites crossed the Jordan, defeated the Canaanites, and spared Rahab and her family.
Later, Rahab married an Israelite named Salmon and gave birth to Boaz. She became the great-great-grandmother of King David. Despite her past as a prostitute, because of her faith and God’s grace, Rahab is one of only four women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
Devotional Lessons
Lesson 1: God Uses Imperfect People
Scripture Focus: Joshua 2:1–7; Matthew 1:5
Rahab was a prostitute, an unlikely hero by today’s standards. Yet God chose her to play a crucial role in Israel’s history. Her profession and past did not disqualify her from God’s plan. This teaches us that God often uses people whom society overlooks or judges, because He looks at the heart and faith, not outward status.
Study Questions:
- Why do you think the spies chose to stay at the house of a prostitute? What might this say about God’s perspective on “respectable” vs. “unrespectable” people?
- How did Rahab’s profession affect her standing in Jericho? How might that have helped the spies remain undetected?
- In what ways do Christians today tend to write off certain people as “unusable” by God? How does Rahab challenge that?
- Why is it significant that Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)?
Personal Reflection Prompt:
Think of an area of your past or present that makes you feel “unqualified” for God’s purposes. Write a short prayer confessing that feeling, then thank God that He specializes in using imperfect people.
Memory Verse:
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
Lesson 2: Faith Acts in Courage
Scripture Focus: Joshua 2:8–14; Hebrews 11:31
Rahab demonstrated her faith not just by believing in God’s power, but by acting on that belief—hiding the spies and lying to the king’s soldiers. Her actions put her own life at risk. True faith is never passive; it moves into courageous obedience even when the outcome is uncertain.
Study Questions:
- What did Rahab know about God (v. 9–11), and how did that knowledge lead to her actions?
- Why is hiding the spies considered an act of faith, not just survival instinct?
- What fears might Rahab have felt as she hid the spies and spoke to the soldiers? How did she overcome them?
- Hebrews 11:31 commends Rahab “by faith” for welcoming the spies. How can you translate your beliefs into courageous actions this week?
Personal Reflection Prompt:
Identify one situation where you feel God is calling you to act courageously—even if it’s risky or uncomfortable. Write down the first step you can take this week, and ask God for Rahab-like boldness.
Memory Verse:
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)
Lesson 3: Salvation Comes by Recognizing God’s Power
Scripture Focus: Joshua 2:9–11; Joshua 6:22–25
Rahab declared, “The Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” She recognized God’s sovereignty despite being a Canaanite. Her salvation was not based on her ethnicity or moral record, but on her acknowledgment of who God is and her alignment with His people.
Study Questions:
- What specific miracles of God had Rahab heard about (v. 10)? How did hearing about God’s works lead to her faith?
- How does Rahab’s confession compare to the faith of many Israelites who doubted God in the wilderness?
- The spies promised to save Rahab and her family. What does this tell us about salvation through Jesus?
- Why do you think God chose to save Rahab’s entire household, not just her?
Personal Reflection Prompt:
Reflect on a time when you recognized God’s power in your life—through a miracle, a testimony, or Scripture. Write a short testimony (2–3 sentences) of “What I know about God from that experience.”
Memory Verse:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16 (ESV)
Lesson 4: The Scarlet Cord – A Sign of Redemption
Scripture Focus: Joshua 2:15–21; Joshua 6:22–23
Rahab was instructed to hang a scarlet (red) cord from her window so that when Jericho fell, she and her family would be spared. This cord, a symbol of her covenant with the spies, points forward to the blood of Jesus Christ that delivers believers from judgment. The cord was not magical—it was a sign of trust in the promise.
Study Questions:
- What did the scarlet cord represent for Rahab’s household? What would have happened if they had refused to stay inside?
- How does the scarlet cord parallel the Passover lamb’s blood on the doorposts in Exodus 12?
- In what ways is the scarlet cord a picture of Christ’s sacrifice? (See also Isaiah 1:18 – “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”)
- Rahab had to act by placing the cord in the window and keeping her family inside. How does this illustrate that faith requires both trust and obedience?
Personal Reflection Prompt:
Draw or imagine a simple red cord. Write next to it: “What I need to be saved from” and “What saves me.” Spend a few minutes thanking Jesus for being your scarlet cord—your deliverance from judgment.
Memory Verse:
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” — Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)