Most people know about her. She’s usually introduced as Rahab the harlot. But that’s not all. Rahab was also a Canaanite—part of a people hated and feared by Israel. And if that weren’t enough, her most remarkable recorded deed was telling a lie. A harlot. A Canaanite. A liar. You wouldn’t expect her to show up in any meaningful list, yet there she is—in the most critical genealogy ever recorded: the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1–16).
Rahab’s life carries many powerful lessons, but we mustn’t rush past the plain truth of who she was. Her “trade” was prostitution. She lied to protect the Israelite spies. Yet, against all odds, we can say something profoundly good about her: Rahab was a woman of faith. Hebrews 11:31 points us there—by faith, Rahab… She was a believer.
Many people feel intimidated by Jesus Christ—he is the purest, holiest, seemingly far removed from people like us. But his genealogy tells a different story. He wanted us to know he had a background like ours. He called himself a friend of sinners and declared that he came not for the righteous, but for sinners who needed repentance (Luke 19:10). And in Rahab’s story in Joshua 2, we see three things that encourage us to walk in the fullness of increased faith.
God’s Provision
In Joshua 2:1-11, Joshua sent two spies to view the land, especially the city of Jericho. Where did they end up lodging? In the home of a prostitute. Why would God’s people lodge in such a place? Practically speaking, people were used to strangers coming and going there—perfect cover. But spiritually, it was more profound. God had a plan, and Rahab was part of it. When the spies came to her for help, she hid them and became an instrument of God’s grace.
That’s what grace is—receiving what we do not deserve. And often, God ministers to us in ways we least expect. You may find provision, help, or a breakthrough in someone or something you’d ordinarily overlook. In his sovereign nature, God uses even the unthinkable circumstances to accomplish his plan, which is often beyond our knowledge. His mercy is unsearchable and unfathomable, as Paul notes in Romans 11:33-36.
In verses 8–11, Rahab boldly declares the greatness of Israel’s God. She confesses what the entire city felt—Jericho was terrified. She knew the Lord had given Israel the land. Her confession is powerful: this God is Lord above in heaven and beneath on earth. That’s the purpose of God’s wondrous dealings—not just for us to be blessed, but for the world to see and acknowledge that he alone is God. When God provides his grace, it is not just for our boasting but also for his glory. Even as a Gentile and a prostitute, Rahab’s eyes were opened to the majesty of God’s sovereignty. When God moves, it is always to draw people to himself. And that is precisely what he has done for us today in Christ.
God’s Protection
In Joshua 2:12–16, Rahab takes a daring step of faith. She makes a plea—not just for herself but for her entire family. It was a bold move. She had nothing to lose. As Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” If Rahab had stayed silent, she would’ve perished like the rest of Jericho. But she spoke up and asked for mercy. The spies agreed—”Our life for yours, even to death.” Do you hear the echo of Christ in that? My life for yours, O prostitute. My life for yours, O sinner. This is the gospel. We’ve all, in one way or another, become spiritual prostitutes, giving our hearts to other things apart from God. Yet Jesus offers us the most freeing words: My life for yours. He died so that we wouldn’t have to (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13, John 3:16).
There is no one beyond the saving power of Jehovah. In Joshua 2:17–21, the spies give her a scarlet cord as a sign of her safety. Hang it in the window, they said, and when destruction comes, you’ll be spared. The scarlet cord becomes her sign of deliverance—her Passover. Just like the Israelites in Egypt were protected by the blood on the doorposts (Exodus 12:1-14), Rahab and her household were saved by the scarlet thread.
God was already foreshadowing the way we’d escape wrath: through the blood of Jesus. Romans 5:9 and Ephesians 1:7 affirm that it is by Christ’s blood that we are justified, redeemed, and forgiven. Are you under that covering today? It’s from it that grace, forgiveness, and freedom flow.
God’s Praise
In the final verses of the chapter, the spies return safely with a glowing report: The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands. But think about what they must’ve told their wives about where they had been—A prostitute hid us!” Yet through Rahab, God showed them grace. Both Rahab and the spies were recipients of grace from different angles. For Rahab, it was grace for the sinner that saved her from imminent destruction (John 3:16). Whenever a sinner is saved, we praise God for the work he has done; otherwise, the person would have been destroyed. For the spies, it was grace for the saint. Grace to see them through the tough, treacherous times of life. The Psalmist says that the shepherd walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4-5). When that happens, the believer praises God.
There is grace for you who believe. Acts 20:32 reminds us that God’s grace not only saves but also builds us up and gives us an inheritance. Whatever we walk through, it’s to the effect that our confidence in the Lord may deepen. Grace gives us strength when we are weak and assures us of God’s victory even in our darkest valleys.
And there is grace for the lost. Titus 2:11–13 tells us that God’s grace has appeared to bring salvation to all. It teaches us to say no to sin and to live holy lives. That’s the miracle Rahab experienced—transforming her from a prostitute to a woman in Christ’s lineage. She ended up in the hall of faith and the family tree of the Messiah. Let’s be honest—some of us come from family trees that need to be chopped down and turned into timber! Yet Jesus steps in and rewrites our stories.
Who have you dismissed in your life? Who have you written off as beyond God’s reach? Or maybe you’ve given up on yourself? Today, the same grace that transformed Rahab is available for you. Jesus, our Redeemer, is here to set you free. There is grace flowing here like a river—come, drink deeply. The One who promised to take you to the other side is faithful. You must trust him!