5 Women With A Connection…Part 2

Have you ever done something that you think eliminates you from being used by God for Kingdom purpose? 

The is the second in a series so please click this category to read part 1 if you missed the intro. The woman in scripture we will look at today is Rahab. First, think about the things you already know about her, if you know her at all from Joshua 2. One word that normally describes her is her occupation: prostitute.

We don’t know if she was without any support at all for her daily needs, or if she actually supported her family with this trade. One thing we do know, at this time in history women were dependent on men to provide for their financial needs.

Please take a few minutes to read her story in Joshua 2 in the Old Testament.

Rahab lived in Jericho, the center of idolatry in this area. God had directed Joshua and the Israelites to conquer this city because it was in the way of entering the Promised Land (now that they were going to do what God had told their ancestors to do 40 years earlier!)

The king knew spies were in his city and ordered them to be brought to him. Rahab was instrumental in the victory as she provided a hiding place and then sent them off a different direction than the kings men were looking.

Now to the best part. Rahab married Salmon, and later gave birth to Boaz. I hope that name rings a bell because next week we will look at this lady in Boaz’s life.

Rahab is the earliest recorded Gentile convert. She was saved by faith in a God she had heard about and believed to be the one true god. She could be considered a traitor to her own people, but she obviously feared God more than the king and his order to reveal who the Israelite spies were.

I wonder how she knew what she knew about God? Scripture says that her people had heard about Israel’s God who had done miraculous things, but what convinced her to help protect the spies? We see a reflection of the passover and the coming crucifixion in the “red” cord that was to be dropped from her window so she and her family would survive Israel’s attack on Jericho.

Why would God use her to help Israel? We aren’t sure at this point of in biblical history, but keep reading. And if you don’t know yet, wait for part 5 and you will.

Two passages in the New Testament describe Rahab and what she did. In one, she is listed in what is called “the hall of faith” of men and women who, though imperfect, were used mightily by God in His story of the Gospel.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Hebrews 11:30-31

In a second passage we see her faith was lived out in her actions. She risked her life to save the spies.

In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 2:24-26

How could she live victoriously and not dwell on past? The same way we can. No matter what we were in the past, we are new creatures in Christ and we can play a part in His Gospel story as well. Believe it! Walk in it in faith!

Watch for part 3 next week!

Banner photo by Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash