Rahab: A courageous woman

Our Theme for 2024 is Possessing the Land

We are studying the book of Joshua, but I want to begin with another story.

There is a story in the book of Esdras

(which are supposed to be the writings of Ezra the scribe)

it is part of scripture that is called apocrypha -

like an appendix to the Bible - it’s still in the Catholic Bible, but not protestant Bibles

these writings are considered important, but not inspired, and most likely historically true.

In this story in Esdras chapter 3 - there are three bodyguards of King Darius who are having a competition to see who is the wisest by answering the question, “Not who, but what is the strongest?”

The first one says that wine is the strongest.

Because it changes the people who drink it.

It makes kings act like fools.

And it makes fools act like they are kings!

The second one says that the king is the strongest.

This is obviously an appeal to the male ego, because he goes on to say how men are so strong and the king is the strongest of all men.

The king can tell anybody he wants to do anything and they will do it.

Of course, since the king is the most powerful person in the room, he must be the strongest!

The third one argues that actually women are the strongest, but notes that there is something else that is stronger than all of them.

Why are women the strongest?

Because women plant the vineyards, women make the wine and women give birth to men - even the king is born of a woman.

Not only that, but when a man kills a lion or defeats an army, who does he come to give the spoils to? - to the woman he loves, his wife!

And as far as the king being so powerful, he has a mistress who sometimes sits next to him when he is on his throne.

She takes the crown off his head and puts it on her own head.

While she flirts with him, she will slap him on the cheek and he just smiles and laughs.

When she gets mad at him, he flatters her in return - tells her how lovely she is. He will do anything to appease her.

Aren’t women really the strongest?

Oh but that’s not the end of the story - because there is something stronger than all of these - the truth.

The New Revised Standard Version The Speech about Truth

37 Wine is unrighteous, the king is unrighteous, women are unrighteous, all human beings are unrighteous, all their works are unrighteous, and all such things. There is no truth in them and in their unrighteousness they will perish. 38 But truth endures and is strong forever, and lives and prevails forever and ever. 39 With it there is no partiality or preference, but it does what is righteous instead of anything that is unrighteous or wicked. Everyone approves its deeds, 40 and there is nothing unrighteous in its judgment. To it belongs the strength and the kingship and the power and the majesty of all the ages. Blessed be the God of truth!”

The person who wins the competition, according to Ezra, is none other than Zerubbabel who becomes the governor of Judea.

Later, God would say to Zerubbabel through the prophet Zechariah, that power and strength are not what he thinks they are.

Zechariah 4:6 ESV

6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

Sometimes the truth is, that things are not what they seem.

That is the way it often is with the women of the Bible, like Rahab.

God delights in using people whom we would least expect to accomplish his plans.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Who is the strongest? - certainly not who you think!

Who is courageous?

I think the answer has more to do with truth than the story that is told.

Anyone can make a person look courageous by the way they tell the story,

But a courageous person lives the truth in a way that might not always make them look like the hero.

This week we have a unlikely example of courage - the woman Rahab from Jericho who hid the spies.

Women in the Bible is a very interesting study - and Rahab is certainly one of the most colorful characters in that study.

She ends up in the family ancestry of King David and of Jesus Himself.

But she starts out as someone we probably would not want to associate with.

The story of Rahab is a foreshadowing of the story of redemption.

An unlikely example of courage.

have you noticed, we tend to treat Bible characters as if they were all perfect.

In fact, the Bible does not portray it’s characters as perfect.

They are portrayed as human, and that is rarely ever perfect.

Some of the heroes in the Bible are actually people that you might not like at first.

Rahab is one of those characters.

Forget for a moment that she is mentioned in the Hebrews “Hall of Faith.’

Never-mind that the Apostle James lists her, along with Abraham, as someone whose works gave evidence of faith.

Forget that she is one of four righteous women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.

Before any of that happened, what is the first thing that we learn about Rahab?

Rahab was a prostitute.

Joshua 2:1–2 ESV

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”

I don’t know what possessed these two men to seek lodging with a prostitute, but that is how they met Rahab.

Josephus calls her an Innkeeper (He was probably being discreet),

because all of the other Hebrew and Greek references to her make it clear that she was a sex-worker.

I know that there are girls who get trapped into the sex trade because they are the victims of unfortunate circumstances

or perhaps they were blatantly deceived or threatened into offering their bodies for sale.

We don't’ know Rehab's back story, but the clues that we do have suggest she is anything but innocent.

The first clue is her name.

I have never been to a brothel or even a gentleman’s club, but I used to work in construction with guys who did frequent those places and I have heard them talk about it.

Prostitutes don’t often use their real names - not if they know what’s good for them.

They come up with wild names that play on guys fantasies.

Rahab means “Storm” or “Tumultuous” in Hebrew and it was also the name of a legendary sea monster.

Isaiah 51:9 ESV

9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?

This passage from Isaiah describes God as a dragon slayer - and the dragon is called Rahab!

Sounds like a WWE wrestler, right?

Rahab wasn’t just a prostitute, if her nickname is any indication, she was a pretty aggressive one.

I imagine these two spies who have spent the last forty years in the wilderness and its their first time in the big city.

They heard that there is a Inn in Jericho with a prostitute named after Rahab the legendary sea monster.

Suddenly, their testosterone levels mix with endorphins and adrenaline and go through the roof!

“Wow, we got to see that!”

But that isn’t the only clue we have about Rahab.

Rahab was a courageous liar.

Joshua 2:3–5 ESV

3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”

OK. That was a bold-faced lie.

From what we know about Rahab, we should not be surprised that she would lie -

what is surprising is that she would lie to protect these strangers.

Why would she do that? - more on that later!

Right now I just want to pause to note how God uses people who are less-than-perfect.

If I were writing the Bible, I wouldn’t use Rahab in my story.

This is the Bible - we read this to our children!

How am I going to explain to them what Rahab was or the fact that she is lying, but in this case, somehow it’s OK.

And it’s not just Rahab, we also have Samson, Judah and Tamar, even King David.

Now thank God that He uses you!

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

And such were some of you!

It doesn’t matter how you started - what matters is how you finish the race!

That is actually what makes the Bible completely unique from all of the other literature of ancient times.

We have lots of other manuscripts, like the apocrypha, which tells stories of kings and people groups, some of which were bigger and around a lot longer than Israel.

But in all of those manuscripts and stories you only ever hear about people’s successes - you never hear about their failures.

You only hear about the battles that were won, never the losses.

People are only remembered for their heroic deeds, not their weaknesses.

The Bible is different in that it tells the honest truth about events, even if that means admitting to dishonesty.

No other people group, when telling the story about how they became a nation, tells the embarrassing parts that didn’t go well.

That’s because the Bible is not just a story about the greatness of men (or of women) but is ultimately about the truth of God.

Rahab was a resourceful woman.

Joshua 2:6–7 ESV

6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

Houses in ancient times had flat roofs - it was a work space.

Rahab was drying flax on her roof - reed-like stalks with fibrous centers.

You can comb out the fibers and spin them into thread.

The thinner fibers make a fine thread that can be woven to make linen.

The thicker fibers are used to make rope.

It’s nice to know that there was also some legitimate business going on at Rehab's house too.

The bundles of flax piled on the roof was the perfect place to hide a body, or a couple of bodies (I wonder if she ever had to do this before?)

The point I am making is that Rahab does not appear to be a helpless victim in our story - she is a resourceful woman who seems to know very well what she is doing.

And what she is doing is intentionally aiding and abetting two Israeli spies who are planning an invasion of her city.

And we still don’t know why she is doing this?!

An unexpected demonstration of faith.

You can’t judge a book by its cover and you certainly can’t judge a person’s character by first impressions.

Our first impressions of Rahab, thus far, should have us all wondering why she is even in the Bible.

Except I already spoiled it by telling you the answer - she is an example of faith.

As James tells us, Faith is not just what you say you believe - its what you actually do.

James 2:25 MSG

25 The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God?

So what did Rahab believe that made her do what she did?

How do we know she had this faith that she is so famous for?

Rahab recognized God’s favor.

Joshua 2:8–10 ESV

8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.

Rahab knew about the spies, where they had come from and what they were about, but she didn’t see them as a threat.

She saw God’s favor on them.

She saw the opportunity to partner with God.

Everything Rahab described was not a secret - it was probably on the Jericho evening news.

Everybody knew that there was these people wandering around the wilderness who had miraculously defeated Pharaohs army by crossing the Red Sea - on dry ground!

The most recent report was that they were giant-killers, taking out some of the biggest and baddest guys in the western hills.

Word on the street is that they are camped out on the large plain which is across the river from Jericho.

Except Rahab, instead of getting all scared and thinking - how do we defend ourselves against these people?

She’s thinking - their God is not like our gods.

Our gods are all show and no go.

Their God say He’s going to deliver them, and He does.

Instead of thinking, “how do I get away?”

She’s thinking, “how do I get in on this deal?”

And then she meets these two guys from the desert.

Rahab confessed God’s sovereignty.

Joshua 2:11–13 ESV

11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

Rahab shows remarkable spiritual insight.

She can see that the character of Israel’s God is completely different from that of the the god’s of the other nations and she concludes that Israel’s God is superior to all other gods.

Keep in minds that Rahab did not have the benefit of being raised in a Jewish home and learning that YHWH is the supreme ruler of the universe.

She never learned about the Spirit of YHWH, but she could sense the Spirit of YHWH.

Maybe she didn’t know what she was sensing but she could tell the difference.

Ignorance could not keep her from discovering the truth.

Paul picks up on this thought in his letter to the Romans and declares that the truth about God can be known simply from creation.

Romans 1:18–20 NLT

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Rahab was not raised in Jewish home.

She didn’t know the Ten Commandments.

She didn’t celebrate Sabbath or Passover.

All she knew of religion was statues of idols who demanded sacrifices but couldn’t deliver results.

She reasoned the YHWH, the God of Israel, was the One True God.

Somehow, Rahab recognized the truth when when she heard it,

probably from the spies who were way out of their element.

It didn’t matter what she didn’t know; she acted on what she knew.

That’s called faith.

Rahab acted as God’s agent.

Joshua 2:14–16 ESV

14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.”

“Our life for yours” - that phrase is a powerful statement.

First, because these two spies are treating Rahab the prostitute as their equal.

Her life is just as important as theirs.

Commentators point out that he language is the language of covenant.

She made a covenant with Israel and with God.

The spies promised kindness and faithfulness.

Those are the words that God uses to describe his covenant relationship to His people.

The spies are treating Rahab like she is one of them!

An unambiguous illustration of salvation.

There is a lot to unpack here, but without taking a whole lot of time and boring you with theological details - what is happening is huge!

Rahab, a Gentile, is demonstrating a remarkable revelation of who God is - His nature and character.

The spies are going well outside of what is normal to recognize that Rahab, a harlot from Jericho, is acting as an agent of God - like she’s one of them.

Suffice it to say that the story of Rahab is well ahead of its time - it is full of revelation of what God would eventually do in sending His own Son to redeem all of mankind - including people like Rahab.

The Bible is full of imagery that points to Jesus.

When you read the Old Testament in light of what we know from the New Testament, you see Jesus in every book of the Bible.

Now , let’s finish the story of Rahab, but [spoiler alert!] Jesus is in here too!

Salvation is available to those who are part of the family of God.

Joshua 2:17–18 ESV

17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household.

The two spies made a covenant with Rahab, but in order for them to guarantee her safety, they need a sign.

In verse 15 she let them down by a rope through the window.

Remember the flax on the roof? - you can make rope with it.

But this wasn’t ordinary rope - it was dyed red.

Maybe is was part of the drapery - or part of her costume!

It came in handy when the spies needed to get out of town.

But now that rope becomes the “scarlet chord” - a symbol of salvation.

The “scarlet chord” is going to be display as a signal to the invading army that there are people inside who are to be rescued.

The offer extends to the members of Rehab's family.

Even the language changes in verse 18 a different Hebrew word is used for rope.

The word for chord or rope in verse 18 sounds like the Hebrew word for “hope” or “expectation”.

Instead of just saying “rope” it is a word (Tikvah) that means “chord or thread” and the root word (Qivah) in Hebrew means “hope” or “waiting in expectation”.

It is literally, “ a thread of hope”.

Other preachers have noticed this unique language and described it as that “scarlet thread of redemption” that runs through the tapestry of scripture.

The scarlet thread, like blood of Jesus, is a sign that there are people to be rescued.

All who belong to the family of God - (now accepting those who are not actually Jewish).

Just as the children of Israel put the blood on the doorposts, Rahab hung the red chord out her window, and her family became part of the family of God.

Salvation is available to those who seek refuge.

Joshua 2:19–20 (ESV)

19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.”

OK, so one more thing - if you are going to be saved you have to be in the house when the rescue happens.

We can’t be chasing all over the city looking for Rahab’s relatives.

That seems reasonable - if you expect to be rescued, you need to be in the place where the rescue is going to happen.

It reminds us that salvation is on God’s terms, not ours.

Some people wonder how a loving God can send people to hell?

He doesn’t send people to hell - they and we, were already headed there.

He rescues those who seek refuge in Him.

Salvation isn’t something that we should take for granted.

Romans 5:8 MSG

8 But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

That “red chord” represents grace.

It represents a chance to change the direction we would otherwise be heading.

Salvation is free, in that Jesus paid the price for it with His own blood.

We don’t have to die for our sins, but we do need to respond.

We can’t earn our salvation, but we do need to obey God.

There is no salvation without obedience - that’s like expecting to be rescued without even showing up.

God has been more than generous for His part, it is not unreasonable to expect that we do ours.

Salvation belongs to those who keep the faith.

Joshua 2:21–24 ESV

21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Rahab agreed to the offer of salvation, and she kept her agreement.

And Joshua and the spies kept their agreement as well.

That’s what faith is - it is making and keeping an agreement with God.

Faith is not just believing - believing is just the beginning.

It is believing plus action - actually doing what you believe.

It’s not something we can do apart from God, but it is actively responding to what God has done and is doing.

Faith is partnering with God in what he is doing.

The story of Rahab is an example of someone who you would least expect, experiencing faith, grace and salvation

because somehow, despite having done everything else wrong,

she recognized God at work by the little bit that she did know

And she responded by participating in what God was doing.

And despite all her wrongs, she did what was right!

Questions for reflection:

Can you identify with Rahab? Are you and unlikely candidate to be used by God? Then why not do what she did? Forget about what has defined you up to this point and grab onto God’s offer of salvation!

The scarlet thread of redemption is still there for you today. Jesus paid for it with His own blood. Have you taken God’s redemption for granted? It’s time to show up! What is God asking you to do that you can obey Him today?

What does Rahab’s story teach you about courage? When I talk about courage, have you been thinking that I must be talking to someone else? What if instead of worrying about what you don’t know, you simply acted on the truth you do know? You too can be an example of faith!