We begin by acknowledging our deep need of God. Though we are in different places, we come together before Him in one spirit, waiting at His feet and at His gates. Especially in these last days, we need to hear His voice—so that we may be encouraged, strengthened, and found faithful to Him until the end.
A Surprising Name in the Hall of Faith
Scripture records many godly women who stand as examples to us—women such as Anna the prophetess, who waited faithfully and was granted the joy of seeing the infant Jesus (Luke 2:36–38). Yet among these noble names, there is one that surprises us: Rahab the prostitute.
Her name appears in Hebrews 11, the great “hall of faith,” alongside men and women whose lives were marked by trust in God. That God would choose Rahab—a woman known publicly for her sinful past—as a heroine of faith is both astonishing and deeply encouraging. It reminds us that God picks us up from filthy and broken places and transforms us by His grace.
The apostle Paul writes that when we were dead in our sins and disobedience, God made us alive by grace and showed “the immeasurable riches of His kindness” toward us (Ephesians 2:1–7). Rahab stands as a living illustration of this truth. God did not look at her past; He justified her, cleansed her, and treated her as though she had never sinned.
The Historical Setting: Jericho and God’s Commander
Rahab’s story is found primarily in Joshua 2, with further references in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25–26. After Moses led Israel to the edge of the Promised Land, leadership passed to Joshua. Joshua, one of the two faithful spies years earlier, now stood before his first great challenge: the fortified city of Jericho.
Jericho’s massive walls and heavily guarded gates made the task seem impossible. Israel had neither the weapons nor the experience for such a conquest. As Joshua surveyed the city, burdened with questions and fears, he encountered a man standing with a drawn sword. When Joshua asked whether he was friend or foe, the man replied, “No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come” (Joshua 5:14).
What comfort this must have brought to Joshua. The battle was not his to win; God Himself was in command. This truth applies to us as well. When we face walls of sickness, family struggles, financial uncertainty, or fear for our children and the future, the Lord assures us: “The government shall be upon His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6). He is in charge.
Rahab Hears and Believes
Joshua still acted responsibly by sending two spies into Jericho. Faith never excuses irresponsibility; we trust God while doing our part. These two spies came to the house of Rahab, which was strategically located on the city wall near the gate.
Rahab had already heard of Israel’s God—how He delivered His people from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and gave them victory. Faith was born in her heart long before the spies arrived. She had begun to turn away from idols and place her trust in the true and living God.
She told the spies plainly, “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” (Joshua 2:9–11). This was a clear confession of faith.
Faith That Acts Courageously
When the king’s officers came searching for the spies, Rahab risked her life to protect them. She hid them under stalks of flax on her roof and boldly misdirected the soldiers. Her faith was fearless when it came to doing what was right.
Later, she pleaded not only for her own life but for the lives of her parents and siblings. The spies agreed, on the condition that she remain loyal and display a scarlet cord from her window. Rahab carefully obeyed every instruction.
This scarlet cord speaks powerfully to us today. It points to the blood of Jesus—the only means of salvation. There was no room for delay or embarrassment. Obedience meant safety.
Salvation Within the House
Rahab gathered her family into her house and kept the plan secret. Their safety depended on remaining inside. This mirrors both the Passover in Egypt, where protection came through the blood on the doorposts (Exodus 12:13), and the ark in Noah’s day, where those outside perished.
Our spiritual safety is found within God’s household—among His people. Scripture exhorts us not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25). The church is not perfect, but it is where God has placed His protection and provision for our spiritual lives.
Walls Fall by God’s Power
As Rahab watched from her window, she saw an astonishing sight. Israel did not attack with weapons. They marched silently around the city, led by priests, trumpets, and praise. On the seventh day, the walls collapsed.
This confirmed a timeless truth: “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD (Zechariah 4:6). Our victories come not through human strength or cleverness, but through dependence on God.
Lessons from Rahab’s Faith
God Redeems the Past
Rahab’s sinful history did not disqualify her. God wiped her past clean. This is the meaning of justification—being treated as though we had never sinned. When we repent and forsake our old ways, God makes us new (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We must also learn not to judge others by their past. Jesus Himself was despised for His background (Mark 6:3). May God give us eyes to see people as He sees them.
Faith Produces Works
James reminds us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Rahab’s faith moved her to action—protecting God’s people, risking her life, and obeying God’s instructions fully.
Compare her action with that of Lot’s wife. When the Lord told Lot and his family to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot's wife looked back, because she could not bear to think of leaving behind all her valuables in that city that God was destroying. But Rahab acted on her faith and forsook everything – thus proving that her faith was real.
Hospitality with Wisdom
Rahab welcomed God’s servants into her home. Scripture encourages hospitality, but without grumbling (Hebrews 13:2). True hospitality flows from faith and love, guided by wisdom.
Burden for Family
Rahab’s concern extended beyond herself. She interceded for her family and ensured their safety. Likewise, we are called to pray persistently for our loved ones, especially those in our own households.
Loyalty to God Above All
Rahab’s loyalty was not to Jericho but to the Lord. She chose God’s people over her culture, her city, and her past. God still asks us where our loyalty lies—with the world or with Him.
Willingness to Bear Reproach
After her rescue, the Israelites kept Rahab and her family kept outside Israel’s camp for a time (Josh.6:23). She could then have thought, “Here I have helped these people and now they are keeping me outside their camp like this”. But she did not think like that. She humbled herself and accepted that reproach.
We have an example in Jesus Who also suffered “outside the gate”; and we are called to go outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13:12–13).
God’s Rich Reward
Faith is always rewarded. Rahab was spared, welcomed into Israel, and later married Salmon, a leader from the tribe of Judah. Their son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Through this line came King David—and ultimately Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
What grace! Rahab was not only forgiven; she was woven into the royal lineage of Christ. God lifted her from shame and seated her among princes, just as Psalm 113:5–8 declares.
A Name Written in God’s Book
Rahab’s name appears in Hebrews 11, but Scripture tells us there is also a book of remembrance. “Those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened… and a book of remembrance was written before Him” (Malachi 3:16).
May our lives likewise be marked by faith, reverence, and obedience—so that when the Son of Man comes, He will indeed find faith on the earth (Luke 18:8).
Conclusion: Women of Faith
Rahab stands as a trophy of God’s mercy and grace. Her story assures us that no past is too dark, no life too broken, for God to redeem. He lifts us from the dust and sets us among His children.
May God make us women of faith—trusting Him in difficult days, leading our families in faith, and following Christ willingly, even outside the camp. What a privilege it is to belong to Him.
“Praise the LORD… He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes.” (Psalm 113:7–8)