Lessons of Faith from Rahab, the Protective Prostitute.

Sunday school always seemed to focus on the well-known heroes of the Bible: Moses, Jonah, David, and Noah. Let’s be honest; no self-respecting children’s nursery would fail to depict an Ark overflowing with bright, smiling animals or, at the very least, a Fisher-Price replica.

Strangely, I don’t recall anyone talking about Rahab, the prostitute who would become Ruth’s Mother in Law, David’s Great Great-Grandma, and Jesus’ Great Great (lots of Greats) Granny. Matthew 1. Rahab, who managed to save not only her entire family but the whole lineage of Jesus Christ. Maybe it’s the prostitution part that gives Sunday school teachers pause.

Nevertheless, Rahab was the first Biblical hero who made a lasting impression on me. Perhaps it was the idea of a woman, single and alone, who showed incredible courage, strength, faith, and cleverness despite her past and gripping fear that spoke to me.

Rahab and the Spies

In case the story of Rahab was not on your Sunday school lineup, we find our heroine, the prostitute Rahab, living in the wall that surrounded Jericho, the next stop on Joshua’s crushing crusade to take the lands promised to the Israelites. Joshua and his soldiers were on the other side of the Jordan River, preparing to take the city and destroy every living thing in it. No kidding. Every living thing. Joshua 6:21. And the people of Jerico, including Rahab, knew it; they heard of the conquests of Joshua and the miracles God had performed to ensure the Israelites’ success. Joshua 2:9-11.

Before attacking the city, Joshua sent two spies to observe and report the lay of the land. It seems the spies made it no further than Rahab’s place before the word was out that spies had come to Jericho. The king of Jericho sent messengers to Rahab, ordering her to send out the spies. Not sure why the king of Jericho thought to search for spies at a prostitute’s house. Nonetheless, he did, and the king was right. Anyway, moving on.

Rahab’s Choice

Rahab had a choice to make. This choice would determine her fate and the fate of her entire family. Does she reveal the spies knowing the strength and power of the God they serve? Or, does she hope they’ll spare her if she keeps them secret? No pressure.

What did she choose? By the time the kings’ men got to her place, she had already hidden the spies on her roof under stalks of flax (whatever that is). When the king’s men demanded she turn over the spies, Rahab lied. She told the king’s men the spies had been at her place but had left. She must have been pretty convincing because the king’s men bought her story and set off to find the spies. Rahab made her choice, and there was no going back.

Mercy for Mercy

These men were part of an army that would bring total devastation to the city where she lived.  This army was on course to lay waste to every living thing in Jericho. Nonetheless, later that same night, Rahab went to the spies with a proposal of mercy for mercy. Rahab had saved their lives. Now, she wanted the spies to save her and her family. Good grief! That woman had guts!

The spies agreed to spare Rahab and her family as long as she kept secret the Israelites plan to take the city. To show the Israelite army that she had kept her word, Rahab was to hang a scarlet cord from the window.

Weeks later, Joshua and his army crossed the Jordan and took the city of Jericho. Joshua 6:10. The Israelites wiped out every living thing in the city. Joshua 6:21. However, Joshua kept the promise the spies had made to Rahab, and she and her family were spared. Joshua 6:17.

Act of Faith.

Let’s stop, take a deep breath, pull out our mental microscopes and really consider Rahab’s extraordinary actions.

First, this is a woman-a prostitute. She had no status, no rights, no protection, and no immunity. Without question, the spies could have killed her. What’s one dead prostitute, after all? Certainly, they didn’t owe her any allegiance. Not to mention, Rahab had heard how God had performed miracles for them, and how political strongholds had been wiped out by this army because they had the strength of God behind them. Everyone was afraid of them. She was afraid of them. Their hearts melted in fear, and their courage failed because of the strength of Joshua’s army. Joshua 2:8-11.

However, despite her fear, Rahab helped the spies. More than that, she lied for them; sent them off in the opposite direction of the king’s men, and told them where to wait until the coast was clear. Joshua 2:16. She faced a desperate, gripping fear and placed her hope in a God that she didn’t fully know yet. Joshua 2:11. With zero assurances, she acted with faith and relied on God’s grace.

Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of mine.

And she waited.  She stayed in the city of Jericho knowing she had harbored the enemy, lied to the king, and that an army backed by God was preparing to completely wipe out the city.  Nevertheless, she waited.  For days, weeks, the scarlet cord hung in her window. A small symbol of faith and obedience.  She never knew for certain whether she would experience the mercy and kindness she had been promised, but she kept her part of the bargain. She kept the faith, and God responded.

On the day of the siege, Rahab and her entire family were spared, and she “lives among the Israelites to this day.” Joshua 6:25. In other words, Rahab lived happily ever after.

More than an incredible story of courage, Rahab teaches us lessons in faith.

What is Faith?

Faith is the confidence and certainty of a fact even when we can’t see it. Hebrews 11:1. Rahab never saw God. According to the notes from my handy dandy study Bible, it’s believed the people of Jericho worshiped some sort of moon god. So it’s unlikely she knew anyone who worshiped God. But she had heard of Him. She knew He parted the Red Sea and toppled governments to fulfill His promise to the Israelites. That was enough for her to put her faith in God. As a result, her faith changed history. Matthew 1. More importantly, it led to her salvation, and faith leads to our salvation, as well. 1 Peter 1:8-9.

Faith In Action

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” I love this. Especially for Rahab. I can only imagine what Rahab felt when she took the first step up the stairs to where the spies were hiding. Each step getting closer to these men who could have killed her to make sure their secret was safe.

More than that, each day she made the same decision to keep the scarlet cord in the window. Each day the city stood was another day where her faith could have faltered, and she could have chosen to give up on God.

I wish I could say I definitely would have made the same choices as Rahab, but I’d be lying. I can’t say that at some point during those weeks of waiting, I wouldn’t have had doubts. However, one thing is certain; I would have needed a ton of Pepto.

But not Rahab. Rahab’s faith was made complete by her action. James 2:25-26. She kept the faith, and God rewarded her faithfulness just as He’ll reward ours. Hebrews 11:6.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your continuing faithfulness. You are always faithful to me, even when I slip. Help me to see ways I can act on my faith, and give me the strength to follow through. And thank you for reminding me that regardless of my past you love me and call me yours. Amen.

Scarlet

P.S. Sometimes (a lot of times if you’re Scarlet) songs are the Father’s favorite way of communication. I think Rahab would have loved this song. Enjoy this blog bonus: