“When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did the spirit or courage remain any more in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” Joshua 2:11 Amplified
Our woman of the Bible for today is Rahab. We’ve looked at some women of the Bible that were not Jewish, but none were a blatant sinner like Rahab. She was a prostitute in the city of Jericho.
Our story begins as the Israelites are moving from the wilderness into the promised land and Jericho lies in their path. God has told them to go and conquer the city so Joshua has sent two spies in. The word says they came to the house of Rahab and lodged there. As typical with prostitutes it sounds as if her house was also a lodging place for travelers. There’s no indication that these men partook of anything else she provided at her house. The king of Jericho had heard that some spies might be coming and he sent men to look for them. When they got to Rahab’s house she covered for them sending the king’s men away. She then tells the two spies our verse today, how everyone in the city is afraid of the Israelites because of their God. She asks them to show her kindness when they come back and attack the city by sparing her and her family. The men agree and she leads them away from the city. Before they depart they tell her to leave a scarlet cord in her window so that when the Israelites attack they will know to leave her house alone.
The scarlet cord is representative of Christ and His saving grace. Though Rahab was a known sinner she trusted God, and in saving the spies she saved herself, becoming a part of our Lord’s lineage. (Matthew 1:5)
Rahab came to the Lord as she was just trusting Him. That’s a lesson to me that I’m to always come before the Lord, not trying to be someone I’m not, but just humbly bowing before Him to do His will.
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