The Spirit of Jesus, Rahab the Defender of Israel
Who would know the most unlikely citizen of Jericho, would be chosen to defend the “enemy” whose presence alone was melting the hearts of the entire city? Who would know that one in an occupation of ill-repute would be chosen to secretly engage two spies from the enemy camp and provide for their safety? Who would know a prostitute would proclaim a message of scripture said only one other time —-and that by Moses: Rahab…”When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (Jos 2:11 NIV) Moses…”Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” (Deu 4:39 NIV)
Rahab has heard the stories of Israel’s release from Egypt, she has heard about the crossing of the Red Sea, she has heard about the manna from heaven to daily feed 2 million tent-dwelling people in Sinai’s desert, she has heard of the powerful might of Israel’s Mighty God—-and Rahab believes!! The power of a woman’s faith results in God’s choice of Rahab to give safe harbor to the two spies on top of her roof in a pile of freshly harvested flax. The power of a woman’s faith compels her to deceive the king’s security guards and send them on a wild-goose chase outside the city. The power of Rahab’s faith employs her to hang a scarlet cord from her window and witness the destruction of all of Jericho and the saving of her and her entire family. The power of her faith leads to her eventual marriage to Salmon (of the tribe of Judah—and more than likely one of the un-named spies), and the birth of Boaz who will marry Ruth. The reformed and changed prostitute, Rahab, then becomes the Greatgreat-great grandmother to David, the shepherd boy born in Bethlehem—the future King of Israel!
Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD’s house. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day…… So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. (Jos 6:22-27 NIV)
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. (Heb 11:29-31 NIV) You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (Jas 2:24-26 NIV)
Rahab stood as a defender of Israel and stands in the Spirit and lineage of Jesus…..Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. (Mat 1:5-6 NIV)