Rahab is one of my absolute FAVORITE stories in the Bible. I love it so much, I could just read it over and over again! In case you aren't familiar, let me give you some context...
You may know Rahab because of her trade... she was a harlot. Rahab was also a Canaanite and therefore a hated enemy of Israel. Rahab and her people caught word that the people of Israel were coming to conquer Jericho (a prominent city within Canaan). This caused major fear in the people of Jericho because they knew God had delivered His people from Egypt and would do the same for them in the battle against Jericho. Without knowing Christ, Rahab knew the Lord's power and took it to heart.
Before the Israelites crossed the Jordan river, Joshua sends two men to scout out the land and get the low-down. These men find themselves hiding in Rahab's house when they are discovered by officials. Instead of turning the Israelites in, Rahab hides and protects them.
WHY would she do such a thing?? Good question. This is what she told the spies:
“I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
Joshua 2:9-11
After this, Rahab asked the men to show kindness to her and her family knowing that they planned to invade her home land and conquer everyone in it. She directly asked them to give her a sign that they would spare her family's lives. Rahab had faith in the Lord because of the things she had heard about Him and she clung to it in hopes that it would save her and her family in this scary time. The spies agreed to spare Rahab's family after conquering the city and proved their intentions by placing a scarlet cord out of her window. She and her family were later saved and then adopted into the nation of Israel. Rahab herself became a part of the genealogy of Jesus.
We can learn so much from the story of Rahab. Rahab was not exactly a person of God. She came from a land full of evil and was living in sin. She was the unlikely, the "too far gone," the "mess up." But she had heard of the Lord's mighty hand, had faith in Him, and obeyed His word. She turned from her sin, followed Christ, and was saved. Rahab listened to God's word and because of this, God was able to use her to bring salvation to many people. Rahab's faith and trust in the Lord make her an incredible example to us.
God loves using the unlikely and this story really showcases how beautiful it is when God turns a something unlikely for good. We are never too far gone for God to use us. We are never out of God's reach, if we only would reach out and grab His hand.
I hope Rahab's story gives you encouragement this week to put your faith in the Lord and trust that He will fulfill His promises. He will cover and protect you just as He did Rahab. She heard of His power and believed. Can we say that we do the same? When times are hard, do we trust in the God we know is faithful and sovereign?
My prayer for you this week:
God, thank you so much for the person reading this right now. I pray that you help us this week trust in you as we know you are good and faithful and a promise keeper! Please be close to us and make your presence known as we go through trials and difficult times. We need you and will always need you. Thank you for giving us stories like Rahab's to encourage and inspire us. Help us meditate on it and learn from it so that we can be more like you. Amen!