By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
Hebrews 11:31 (ESV)
The story of Rahab is fascinating and surprising. She is described as a prostitute and a citizen of a city God had commanded Israel to destroy utterly. Yet she not only survived the sack of Jericho, she went on to become an ancestor of King David (Matt. 1:5-6) and Christ Jesus.
She is mentioned three times in the New Testament. Once in Matthew (Matt. 1:5), the most Jewish of the gospels. And once each in Hebrews (Heb. 11:31) and James (Jam. 2:25), the most Jewish of the epistles. This foreign woman of ill repute seemingly held a place of honor among the Jews.
An Example of Faith
Why? Hebrews and James both hold Rahab up as a hero of faith. When Joshua sent spies into the city of Jericho, Rahab, at great risk to herself, protected them and ensured they were able to leave the city safely.
More significantly, she professed faith that the God of Israel would conquer Jericho and all of Canaan. And she threw in her lot with Israel and Israel’s God, asking that she and her family be spared from the coming destruction (Joshua 2).
Rahab and her family were spared, not because of her conviction that Israel would defeat Jericho. But because she welcomed and protected the spies. And so she became an example of faith. A faith that puts belief into action.
And that is why Hebrews and James include her. Many others in Jericho feared Israel after hearing what God had done through them. And many of them surely were convinced that Jericho was doomed. But only Rahab acted on that conviction. And only she and her family were saved.
I want that for my family! Abba help me to act on Your conviction! BShem Yeshua Amen