Rahab: Not the Girl She Used to Be

Hello, fellow believers! As a community of Christians, we stand unapologetically on the solid rock of God's inerrant Word, the Bible. It's our guide, our authority, and our source of truth in a world that's increasingly hostile to biblical principles. Today, I want to dive into a story that's as timeless as it is transformative: the account of Rahab from Joshua chapter 2. I've framed this blog post around a homily I recently shared, but I've expanded it here to unpack the layers of God's grace, faith, and redemption. If you've ever felt defined by your past or wondered if God could really use someone like you, Rahab's story is a powerful reminder that in Christ, you're not the person you used to be.

The Setting: A City on the Brink

Let's set the scene straight from Scripture. Joshua 2:1-24 transports us to the ancient city of Jericho, a pagan stronghold in Canaan. This wasn't just any city—it was a symbol of defiance against God, filled with idolatry and immorality that had reached its fullness, as God Himself declared in Genesis 15:16 and Deuteronomy 9:4-5. The Canaanites worshiped false gods like Baal and Ashtoreth, engaging in practices that the Bible condemns outright.

Enter Joshua, the faithful leader who succeeded Moses. As Israel prepared to claim the Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies to scout Jericho. They ended up at the house of Rahab, whom the Bible doesn't mince words about: she was a prostitute (Joshua 2:1). In our fundamentalist view, we call sin what it is—no watering it down. Rahab's life was entangled in the moral rot of her society, much like the warnings against harlotry in Proverbs 7:10-27 or the list of sins in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 that bar the unrepentant from God's kingdom.

But God had bigger plans. When the king of Jericho got wind of the spies and demanded Rahab hand them over, she didn't comply. Instead, she hid them on her roof under flax stalks and misled the king's men (Joshua 2:2-7). This act of deception might raise eyebrows, but remember, Rahab was operating in a wartime context, protecting God's servants from a wicked regime. Her motivation? Pure faith in the one true God.

Rahab's Confession: Faith Amid Fear

Rahab's words in Joshua 2:9-11 are a stunning declaration: "I know that the Lord has given you the land... for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." She'd heard the reports—the miraculous parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14), the crushing defeats of the Amorite kings (Numbers 21)—and unlike her fearful countrymen, she believed. In a city paralyzed by dread, Rahab alone recognized Yahweh's sovereignty.

In return for her help, the spies swore to spare her and her family during the conquest, instructing her to hang a scarlet cord from her window (Joshua 2:12-21). This cord echoes the blood on the doorposts during the Passover in Exodus 12:13—a symbol of protection through faith and obedience. Rahab lowered the spies to safety via a rope from her wall-embedded home, and they returned to Joshua with a report of certain victory: "Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands" (Joshua 2:24).

What a pivot! From a life of sin to becoming a key player in God's conquest. But Rahab's story doesn't end in the Old Testament—it's woven throughout Scripture as a testament to redemption.

Rahab in the Hall of Faith and Beyond

Fast-forward to the New Testament, where Rahab shines in Hebrews 11:31: "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." In this "faith hall of fame," she's listed alongside Abraham, Moses, and David. Why? Not her works alone, but her faith that pleased God (Hebrews 11:6). As we affirm in our fundamentalist doctrine, salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), a gift that transforms sinners into saints.

James takes it further in chapter 2:25: "Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?" This isn't a contradiction—it's harmony. True faith produces action (James 2:14-26). Rahab's risky obedience proved her belief was genuine. And the ultimate honor? Matthew 1:5 places her in Jesus' genealogy: Rahab married Salmon, bore Boaz, and became part of the Messianic line leading to David and Christ. From the margins of society to the family tree of the Savior—only God's grace could orchestrate that!

To expand on this, consider the parallels with other redeemed women in Scripture. Rahab mirrors the Samaritan woman in John 4, whose multiple marriages and sinful lifestyle didn't deter Jesus from revealing Himself to her. She left her waterpot behind, transformed, and became an evangelist to her town. Or think of Mary Magdalene in Luke 8:2 and John 20:11-18—once demon-possessed, she was the first to see the risen Lord and proclaim His resurrection. These stories underscore 1 Corinthians 1:27: God chooses the weak and despised to confound the mighty. As Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Lessons for Us in a Modern Jericho

So, what does Rahab teach us today? Our world is a modern Jericho—walls of secularism, moral relativism, and outright rebellion against God's design for marriage, gender, and life itself. Abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism are celebrated, while biblical truth is labeled "hate speech." In this cultural siege, Rahab's story hits home.

First, no past is too dark for God's light. If you're reading this and carrying shame from addiction, broken relationships, or choices that haunt you, remember Romans 5:20: "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." Rahab wasn't defined by her profession; she was redefined by her faith. Salvation comes through confessing Christ as Lord and repenting (Acts 16:31; 2:38)—it's available to all who believe.

Second, faith demands action. Like Rahab hiding the spies, we must align with God's kingdom, even when it costs us. In these end times, as prophesied in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, we're called to be bold witnesses, fearing God more than man (Proverbs 14:26). Are we providing refuge for truth in our homes, workplaces, and churches?

Third, extend grace to the "Rahabs" around us. Society writes people off, but God redeems. Think of the prodigals, the addicts, the lost—invite them into the story of salvation. As a fundamentalist community, we're not about compromise; we're about compassionate truth-telling that points to Jesus.

Finally, Rahab challenges us to trust God's providence. Her house on the wall survived Jericho's fall (Joshua 6:22-25), a divine preservation. In our trials—persecution, economic woes, or personal struggles—God delivers those who trust Him.

A Call to Transformation

Friends, Rahab was not the girl she used to be because she encountered the living God. The same power that raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20) is at work in us. Let's live as new creations, claiming God's promises like the spies claimed the land.

If this resonates, share your thoughts in the comments—how has God rewritten your story? And if you're not yet in Christ, today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Reach out; we're here to point you to the Savior.

In closing, let's echo this prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Rahab's example. Transform us by Your grace, and help us proclaim Your redemption boldly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Stay strong in the faith, brothers and sisters. Until next time, keep standing on the Word!

DMMC 

10-25-25