The Story of Rahab
A Study of the Women in the Genealogy of Jesus
Joshua 2, Joshua 6:17, 20-25
Part 2
Rahab was a Canaanite Gentile, who lived in the city of Jericho and practiced prostitution. Some scholars have tried to whitewash that word over time, but there is little doubt that she was simply a prostitute and an outcast in the traditional sense. Her story, like Tamar’s, appears in the middle of a familiar story of the Old Testament, the fall of Jericho at the Lord’s command and direction.
Richard Bauckham (see resources) states that Rahab and Ruth are two of the best examples in the Old Testament of Gentiles who professed faith in the God of Israel and became part of God’s covenant people. This shows God’s openness even then to the Gentiles that the Messiah would later confirm. Of the five women in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, Rahab’s faith was acknowledged in the faith chapter of Hebrews (11:31). The only other woman mentioned in that chapter is Sarah.
Rahab used a combination of lies, trickery and guile to care for the spies that Joshua sent to Jericho. These spies came to see the lay of the land before battle and met up with Rahab. She lived on the city wall of Jericho and practiced the art of hospitality. There was a strong tradition of hospitality in that day. If someone was your guest, you had an obligation to protect and care for them. We find that Rahab went a step further and put her life on the line for these spies.
The king of Jericho sent a message and told Rahab to bring out the two men who were visiting her. She diverted the king by lying and saying they had been there, but had left the city. She further encouraged the king to go after them. Actually, Rahab had hidden the spies under stalks of flax on her roof. They remained hidden throughout the night.
Rahab talked to the spies during the night and shared her testimony of faith. She told them that stories of their God had put fear into the hearts of the people of Jericho. She finished by saying that she knew God was giving this land to their people and that He was the God in heaven above and the earth below (Joshua 2:11).
Rahab went on to ask the spies to save her and her family when they came back to destroy Jericho. The men responded, “Our lives for your lives” (2:14). They escaped down the outside wall of Jericho using a rope provided by Rahab. A red cord later became significant in the story as Rahab was instructed by the spies to hang it out her window so that they would be able to save her and her family on the day of destruction. In chapter six of Joshua, we read the rest of the story. Rahab did as instructed. As a result, she and her family were rescued and lived the rest of their lives with the Israelites.
Questions
- How was Rahab devious in saving and protecting the spies of Israel?
- How did Rahab respond to what she heard about the God of Israel? (Joshua 2:8–11) Was this prevenient grace?
- What does James 2:25 tell us about Rahab?
- As in the story of Tamar, did the actions of Rahab justify the end?
- What did the red cord mean to you?
- When and how did God reveal himself to you and to believe?
- Do you know a “Rahab,” a woman with a past who needs to know God loves her? How can you communicate with her?
- Do you identify with Rahab in some way because of your past? How can you “hang out your red cord” and share your past and hope for the future?
Digging Deeper
Despite her desire and her faith, Rahab would have perished unless she had hung the red cord out her window. The Hebrew words for the rope and the cord were different and this red cord could refer to many things. Red can represent our sin, our fallenness, but also the blood of Jesus who died to save us from our sin.
Before leaving Rahab, let’s put things in perspective. What is this fallen woman doing in the line of Christ? She was a sinner in a city given over to false gods and immorality and had little knowledge of or previous contact with God. She was ignorant of the 10 commandments, but her heart was open to receive God, and she received grace. Her past did not determine her future.
