Power to Redeem Lives: the Story of Rahab
Joshua was Israel’s leader after Moses died. When Moses was leader, God promised Israel He would give them the promised land of Canaan. Yet Joshua actually led them in. It would not be simply a matter of moving in and setting up camp. They would have to fight many wicked, heathen people, almost none of whom was willing to make peace with Israel. Yet God assured them He would give them victory. The first conquest would be Jericho. The song “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho” is based on this story:
“Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho,
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down.”
Word got out in Jericho that the Israelites were on the way. Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho. The king of Jericho learned they were there and were at the home of a woman named Rahab. Rahab hid them and helped them escape. She said, “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.” (Joshua 2:9)
People in Jericho knew trouble was coming. They heard how God dried up the water of the Red Sea and how Israel killed two powerful heathen kings, Sihon and Og. She said, “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 2:11)
Rahab asked that when Israel came to conquer, they would spare her, her parents, and her siblings. The spies told her she and her loved ones would be safe as long as they stayed in her house. Caring for the spies was risky, but Rahab feared God more than she feared the king of Jericho, and she believed God’s word. She loved her family and obviously told them what the spies had said. They came to her house. When Israel conquered Jericho, Rahab and her family were spared.
Some interesting notes about Rahab. First, she was a harlot, a prostitute. Yet God loved her. Jesus once told the chief priests and elders, “…the publicans [tax collectors, not known for being honest] and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31) Not that Jesus excused their sin, but publicans and harlots would see their need for forgiveness and believe on Jesus as their personal Saviour and their lives would change. The chief priests and elders, however, in their religious pride, would refuse Him.
Rahab was also in Jesus’ lineage, David’s great-great-grandmother. The Gospel of Matthew starts with Jesus’ lineage on Joseph’s side, His stepfather’s:“And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab [Rahab]; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; and Jesse begat David the King;” (Matthew 1:5-6) The end of the genealogy is Matthew 1:16. It says, “And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Not “Joseph begat Jesus.” Jesus was the Son of God, not of Joseph.
Rahab lived in a house on the town wall. The spies escaped by going down a scarlet line she hung out of her window. They told her to hang the line from the window, so the Israelites would see what house was hers and spare the lives of those inside. It was like the blood the Hebrews in Egypt put on the doorway before the tenth plague, so their firstborn would not be killed. The blood and scarlet line were previews of Jesus’ blood and death. He saves those who receive Him as personal Saviour from eternal death in hell.
Rahab had made bad decisions in life. We all have. Yet God can take lives that seem hopeless and make them beautiful: “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) To see how to have forgiveness of your sins and eternal life by receiving the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 12/1/2025