Influential Women Of The Bible: Rahab

Influential Women Of The Bible: Rahab

Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Soon after Moses’ death, God told Joshua that he and the people were to cross the Jordan River and occupy the Promised Land. Before crossing, Joshua sent two spies into the land to scout out the city of Jericho. Upon entering the city, the spies quickly found their way to an inn which belonged to a prostitute named Rahab. As the news of the spies arrival reached the king of Jericho, he demanded that Rahab reveal their whereabouts. She cleverly admitted to seeing them but insisted that they had left the city at nightfall. Actually, the spies were hiding under the stalks of flax on the roof of her house. When night comes, Rahab goes to her roof and tells the men of her faith in God. She then asks them to spare her and her family when the Israelites attacked. They agreed and Rahab let them down from her roof by a scarlet rope. The men told her to protect herself and her family by hanging the same scarlet rope in her window during the attack. When the Israelites attacked, God caused the walls of Jericho to fall down in a great victory for Israel and Rahab and her family were saved.

When you look at it from the outside, you would think that Rahab, who was a Canaanite prostitute, would not be a likely candidate to be in Hebrews 11 as one of the heroes of faith. Like it or not she is! She was a highly intelligent and perceptive woman. She was able to identify the spies for who they were and hid them before the Kings men arrived. Because of her story the men didn’t search her house for fear of risking the spies getting away. Her wisdom allowed them to leave the city undetected. She also advised them to hide in the hills for three days before crossing back over the Jordan. Rahab didn’t know the God of Israel but she feared him. No doubt because of her occupation she had learned from many men that the Israelites were to be feared. She heard the stories of their escape from Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the wanderings in the wilderness, and their recent victories in battle. She learned enough to say to the spies in Genesis 2:11, “for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on he earth below.” She knew that the victory belonged to Israel. She had just one chance for salvation and she took it. She showed her faith by her works of tying a scarlet cord in the window. Because of her faith, Rahab and her family were the only survivors of the battle. They were led to safety by the very men she had saved. As a result, Rahab leaves prostitution, marries Salmon, and becomes the mother of Boaz who will marry Ruth. Both Rahab and Ruth are named in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

Rahab’s life reminds us that God never excludes anyone and neither should we. No one is beyond God’s redemptive power. No sin is beyond God’s ability to forgive. Regardless of our past, God still desires to use us.