Rahab of Jericho is one of scripture's starkest contrasts between a former life and a divine purpose. Her name, synonymous with a life of harlotry, might seem an unlikely candidate for a place among the faithful, yet the Bible elevates her as evidence of God's boundless grace and the transformative power of genuine faith. Her story, preserved in the book of Joshua and celebrated in the New Testament, reveals a woman whose choices, born of conviction, played a pivotal role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan, ultimately placing her in the very lineage of the Messiah.

The Arrival of the Spies

As the children of Israel stood poised on the brink of the Promised Land, the formidable walls of Jericho loomed as their first great obstacle. Joshua, the new leader, sent two men to spy out the land, specifically Jericho. Their mission was discreet, yet the Lord's hand was guiding them to a most unexpected ally. They entered the city and, providentially, lodged in the house of Rahab, which was situated upon the town wall. The king of Jericho, hearing of their presence, immediately sought their apprehension, demonstrating the pervasive fear and suspicion that gripped the city.

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Joshua 2:1
KJV

Her profession, often viewed with disdain, did not disqualify her from being an instrument in God's sovereign plan: God often chooses the weak, the overlooked, and the unlikely to confound the wise and mighty.

Rahab's Act of Faith

Upon learning that the king's messengers were searching for the Israelite spies, Rahab did not hesitate. Her actions were swift and decisive, showing courage and conviction. She hid the spies on the roof of her house, covering them with stalks of flax. When the king's men questioned her, she deftly misled them, sending them on a futile chase towards the Jordan. Her deception, though morally complex, was an act of loyalty to the God she was coming to believe in, prioritizing divine justice over allegiance to her pagan king and city.

And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

Joshua 2:4-5
KJV

This immediate and risky action reveals a heart already turned towards the God of Israel. It was not a calculated gamble but an act of faith in the God of Israel: she knew "that the LORD hath given you the land" (Joshua 2:9). Her decision placed her life, and the lives of her family, in grave peril, showing the depth of her commitment.

Confession of Faith

After the king's men had departed, Rahab returned to the spies and articulated the basis of her actions. Her confession is one of the most powerful declarations of faith in the Old Testament, coming from a Gentile woman in a pagan city. She acknowledged the universal dread that had fallen upon Jericho and the surrounding lands, born of the reports of Israel's miraculous victories and the Lord's mighty deeds. She had heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea and what He did to the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og.

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Joshua 2:9-11
KJV

Rahab did more than acknowledge a powerful deity; she declared that the LORD, the God of Israel, "is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" — a monotheistic declaration from someone who had grown up in polytheistic idolatry. Her faith was not blind; it was informed by the undeniable evidence of God's power and His faithfulness to His people. This intellectual assent coupled with her courageous actions demonstrates a living, active faith.

A Covenant of Grace

Having confessed her faith, Rahab then made a plea for mercy, not just for herself, but for her entire family. She asked the spies to swear by the LORD that they would spare her father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all that they had. The spies, recognizing her genuine faith and invaluable assistance, agreed to her request, establishing a covenant with her. The sign of this covenant was a scarlet thread, which she was to bind in her window. This thread, visible and distinct, would be the mark of salvation for her household when Israel conquered Jericho.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Joshua 2:14
KJV

The scarlet thread, like the blood of the Passover lamb that marked the houses of Israel for safety from the destroying angel, set one house apart from the judgment on the city. Matthew Henry notes that, being of the same colour, it has been read as a picture of the safety of believers under the blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience. Rahab’s faith extended beyond her own salvation, demonstrating a deep concern for her family, a characteristic often seen in true believers.

Deliverance and Integration

When the appointed time came, and the walls of Jericho miraculously fell after the Israelites marched around the city for seven days, the scarlet thread remained a beacon of hope and salvation. Joshua commanded the spies to go into Rahab's house and bring her out, along with her family, as they had promised. She and her entire household were brought out and left outside the camp of Israel (Joshua 6:23), a time Matthew Henry takes to be for purifying her from Gentile superstition and preparing her for admission as a proselyte.

And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Joshua 6:25
KJV

This verse confirms Rahab's complete deliverance and her subsequent dwelling "in Israel even unto this day." This signifies her full assimilation into the covenant community of God's people. Her past was not held against her; by faith she was saved and given a new place among God's people. This act of salvation and integration shows God's willingness to welcome all who turn to Him in faith, regardless of their background or previous transgressions.

Rahab in the Lineage of Christ

Rahab's story does not end with her salvation and integration into Israel. Her ultimate significance is revealed in the New Testament, where she is named in three passages. In the book of Matthew, she is explicitly named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ:

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Matthew 1:5
KJV

Here, we learn that Rahab married Salmon, son of Nahshon who was captain of the children of Judah (Numbers 2:3), and became the mother of Boaz, who would later marry Ruth and become the grandfather of King David. This places Rahab, a Gentile harlot, directly in the royal lineage of King David and, most astonishingly, in the very ancestry of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This inclusion demonstrates God's grace, His sovereign plan to include Gentiles in His covenant, and His ability to redeem even the most unlikely individuals for His divine purposes. It shatters human prejudices and highlights the truth that God's ways are higher than our ways. Hebrews names her among the faithful: "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace" (Hebrews 11:31). James asks, "was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" (James 2:25).

Lessons from Rahab's Faith

Rahab's life provides invaluable lessons for believers across all generations:

  • Faith is not dependent on one's past or social standing: God's grace extends to all, regardless of their background or previous sins. Rahab's former life as a harlot did not disqualify her from God's plan or His saving grace.
  • True faith is active and courageous: Rahab's faith was not merely intellectual assent; it was demonstrated through bold actions that put her life at risk. She believed and she acted.
  • Faith brings salvation and new life: Rahab and her entire household were saved from destruction because of her faith. Her integration into Israel signifies a complete transformation and a new identity in God's covenant family.
  • God uses the unlikely to fulfill His purposes: God often chooses the weak and despised things of the world to confound the wise, demonstrating His power and glory.
  • The universality of God's grace: Rahab, a Gentile, is a prime example of God's plan to extend salvation beyond the boundaries of Israel, welcoming all who come to Him in faith. She embodies the truth that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, but all are one in Him.

Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, is remembered for heroic faith. God sees beyond our labels and past mistakes, offering redemption and an eternal place among His people to all who believe and act upon that belief. Her faith, demonstrated in a moment of crisis, reverberated through generations, culminating in her honored place in the lineage of the King of kings, Jesus Christ.