My Reflection on Rahab's Redemption from Sin to Serving God
Rahab is one of my favorite examples that even a wanton woman is not far from the grace of God. Reading through Joshua 2 would actually help us realize the very description of her - she was a Canaanite woman and a prostitute. Methinks that she's most likely a temple prostitute due to the wicked religion of their day. She was supposedly doomed to be destroyed with her sinful people. God gave a command to the Israelites to utterly destroy the wicked people in the land. Yet she was spared for this reason - she had turned from the wickedness of the Canaanites for the one true God.
Joshua 2:9-13
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. [10] 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. [11] 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. [12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: [13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
This is the situation of every helpless sinner. God has commanded the destruction of sinners yet He waited for the cup of the Amorites to be full of wickedness (Genesis 15:16). God has given them all the room to repent but they didn't - now judgment was coming to the Canaanites and one woman made a difference. She hid the Israelites and even risked her life in doing so. If her lie was found out she would be in trouble. But she only cared about turning from her idols to the true and living God.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
James 2:25
Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
She was then commanded to tie the scarlet thread which signified redemption. This was serving as a covenant of redemption. She was supposed to be destroyed but God had other plans. Her redemption would serve as a testimony that even the most wanton woman can be redeemed. Later, Jesus would meet a wanton Samaritan woman who's had a loose sexual life (John 4) who would also be redeemed.
What would be interesting is that Rahab was soon found into the genealogy of David which leads to Jesus Christ. Here's the interesting note:
Matthew 1:5
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Rachab here is Rahab. She met a Jewish man named Salmon. Remember that by default the Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with the inhabitants of the land for religious reasons. But here was Rahab. She had converted away from the evils of the Canaanite religion. She was redeemed from a life of prostitution to purpose. It meant it was already for Salmon to marry Boaz. What should be interesting is that from Salmon and Ruth also came Boaz. That would mean that Rahab had become the second mother-in-law to the redeemed Moabite in Ruth.
What should be interesting is that the unsaved Jews have failed to see one thing that the Messiah didn't only come for Israel but for the whole world. Jew or Gentile is not the issue of salvation. If one's not born a Jew then how can one benefit from the Abrahamic Covenant? Rahab was certainly no Jew and neither was Ruth. Yet they were included n the Davidic Covenant. Anyone who receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is not only saved from the power of sin but also made part of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Galatians 3:6-14
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. [7] Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. [8] And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. [9] So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. [10] For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. [11] But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. [12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.