Scriptural References:
Joshua 2; Joshua 6:17-25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25
Name Meaning:
fierceness or insolence
Introduction:
The Bible outlines the lives of many women, both women who are holy and pure as well as those of disrepute. From these women’s lives we see not only how women should live today but also God’s life changing power given through grace. Rahab’s life is one of these stories, the story of a prostitute turned faithful servant of God. What can we learn from this woman of faith?
Lesson:
Jericho was one of the strongest cities standing when Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, but it was also a very wicked place. The Israelites were instructed to destroy the city and its inhabitants. But to launch a successful attack and bring about destruction, one must know the area. Spies were needed for entering the city and gathering intelligence.
Rahab was a woman of ill repute, a harlot. Her home was part of the city wall (walls were thick, not like we think of walls today). Her profession was such that strangers entering and leaving her home was a common occurrence. She was one of three women who happened to be less than pure, of the four women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, an honored position to hold.
Because of her occupation Rahab knew of the Israelites. Their God was not something new to her. Many historians and theologians have tried to explain her profession away, saying she was an innkeeper and not a harlot. But the Bible is clear that she was indeed a harlot. The Hebrew word zoonah and the Greek word porne are used when speaking of Rahab. These are literally translated as harlot – one who yields herself indiscriminately to every man approaching her, whether for pay or pagan worship.
Rahab was probably also a businesswoman. This is indicated by the flax she hid the spies under and the dyed linen and cords (Joshua 6:26). But she was still known for her occupation of prostitution, which ultimately was an important aspect leading to her salvation. She welcomed the strangers into her home. These were men of God, different from her other male callers.
She professed her faith in their God (Joshua 2:9-11). And she also risked her life for them. She chose to lie to their pursuers, placing her faith in their God to save her through these men. She hid them, helped them escape, lied about them, all for the assurance that she and her family would be saved when the Israelites attacked. Had she been caught she would have been put to death for treason.
Jericho fell to the Israelites and Rahab’s life was preserved. She is recorded as having married Salmon, who is assumed to be one of the spies, though him being a spy is simply speculation. She became part of the line of Kings and ultimately, she was an ancestress of the King of Kings.
What is the spiritual application we can glean from Rahab’s life? We see the beauty of grace. God can take the dirtiest, the filthiest, the less than pure and make them a faithful servant. Each time she is referred to in the New Testament it is with high respect, showing how faithful she was, showing that in Christ the old becomes new again. (Yet despite the respect shown, she is always labeled as a harlot or prostitute. She never escaped that designation.) We see through Rahab that each of us, worthy or not, is precious in His eyes. Our sins can be washed away, and our lives made new.
Let Jesus wash away your sins. If you have not let go of things in your past or are still living in sin because you think you aren’t worthy, then you are right. None of us are worthy. But Jesus loves you so much that He died for your sins. He doesn’t care if you are worthy or not. Trust Him. He is waiting now. Tell Him you are a sinner and need to be set free. Invite Him into your life. He can make you a faithful servant like He did with Rahab – if you let Him.
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