Rahab’s Redemption

When I was young, there was an effort being made in Christian circles to save Rahab’s reputation. In case you haven’t read the book of Joshua recently, here’s how the Bible chooses to introduce us to Rahab:

“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.” (2:1)

I have often heard people explain away Rahab’s occupation by saying something like, “Things were different back then, you know, and she may have actually been more of an innkeeper”

The argument of differences in culture always seemed plausible to me, until I actually looked up the definition of the Hebrew word translated harlot. It’s pretty unequivocal. It means to commit fornication or adultery, or to be a harlot.

In fact, every appearance of that word in Scripture is translated as some kind of sexual sin. There’s absolutely no indication that the word has any possible reason to be understood as “innkeeper.”

Of course, it is possible that Rahab did rent out rooms like an innkeeper, (hence the spies ending up at her house) but there is no doubt that at that point in her life, she was a woman whose identity was defined by sexual immorality.  

It may be that Rahab had been a victim, pushed into a life of sin against her will, but notice in the Biblical account that there is no man in sight. She wasn’t a prisoner or a slave.

The Bible speaks of her house, the King sends messengers to her, and she freely answers. This indicates that she was a fairly prosperous woman of business in the city, especially considering the way ancient cultures viewed women. She may have been a victim in the past, but now she appears to be fully and willingly invested in her profession.

So, it appears that Rahab’s description is intended to be taken at face value. She was a well-known and likely prosperous prostitute who even owned her own house.

Rather than cowering in fear or hiding from conflict as a victim, she faced the king’s messengers with calm presence of mind and a masterful deception, which sent them hurrying off in exactly the wrong direction!  Then she boldly pleaded her case with the strangers whose lives she had just saved, gaining her life and the lives of her family as a result.

But the question remains: if Rahab was a “known sinner,” so to speak, why did God choose to spare her? –Here’s where I think the argument that Rahab wasn’t really that bad misses the entire point.

You see, like Rahab, you and I started out as “known sinners.” Sexual sin may or may not have been the sin that characterized your life, but as the Bible says,

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

We each started out just like Rahab, sinners in need of a Savior. The fact that God chose to highlight Rahab and her wicked way of life emphasizes the infinite love and mercy of God. Rahab was sinful, but she knew the God of Israel was the Lord. Notice what she said to the spies:

“I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that 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.” (2:9-11)

Rahab was sinful, but she had heard about the one true God, and had responded in faith. I am reminded of another verse from Romans, which says,

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (10:13)

As much as she knew how, Rahab had called upon the Lord, and He answered. Instead of leaving her in the city to face the destruction of God’s judgement, He redeemed Rahab, and gathered her in as one of His people.

In Bible times, redemption was a term used when an exchange was made in order to free a person or thing from some sort of captivity. Rahab had been in captivity, not necessarily to a person, but certainly to her own sin. God redeemed her, ultimately paying for her sin Himself, when Christ died on the cross over a thousand years later.

And the story doesn’t end there. After the collapse of Jericho and Rahab’s miraculous deliverance from harm, Matthew 1:5 gives us a clue into what happened to Rahab:

“And Salmon begat Booz [Boaz] of Rachab;”

Boaz, as you might remember, was the great-great grandfather of king David, and the reason Matthew is listing the descendants of Salmon and Rahab? Matthew 1 is the genealogy of Christ. The next mention of Rahab is in Hebrews 11:31, where we are told,

“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

And then in James 2:25, the Bible uses Rahab as an example of faith demonstrated by works.

Only God could turn a woman defined by wickedness into an example of faith and good works! And that same God wants to redeem you.

Perhaps you need to be redeemed from sin’s coming judgement. Or perhaps you have already been welcomed in as one of God’s people, but you need God to help you in a specific area of life in which you act as though sin still holds you captive.

Whatever work of redemption God is doing in your heart and life today, respond as Rahab, with faith that acts upon the truth of who God is!

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:12-14)