A Harlot's Faith That Moved A Mountain

by Chuck Ness

There are four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus Christ, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. The second one, Rahab, was the harlot of Jericho who protected the men sent out by Joshua to spy on the city. Besides being a direct ancestor of Christ, Rahab is also one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews for their triumph of faith. The other being Abraham's wife Sarah.

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a
child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
(Hebrew 11:11)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot
Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
(Hebrew 11:30-31)

Then we read in James,

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when
she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
(James 2:25)

So this otherwise unknown woman of Jericho became a hero of Israel, and a direct ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter 11 is well known for immortalizing certain Old Testament heroes of faith. Heroes whose sterling faith has placed them in a special position in God's sight. Remember, the writer of Hebrews was subject to the guidance of the Holy Spirit when making his selection for the heroes of faith. So it is remarkable how God Himself chose this lowly prostitute to be immortalized throughout history, and beyond.

Only God can see what we are truly made of, and only God will bring it out of us. Regardless of what we ourselves may believe. God knew of Rahab's character the moral calibre. He also knew she had the strength of faith which He wanted to use to bring Jericho to its demise. Did He need her? No, He could have allowed the spies to be captured, tortured, killed, and still Joshua would have destroyed Jericho. However, God works in mysterious ways to bring honor and glory to Himself.

Remember when Moses sent out the twelve spies to check out the land? Well ten of the twelve spies gave a bad report, and the hearts of the Israelites were in fear. Thus, because they listened to the ten bad reports, God made them wonder for forty years. Ultimately, all but two men from that generation died in the desert of sin. Fast forward to the spies Joshua sent to checkout Jericho. God would use a prostitute to protect the spies, so they could bring back the news about the way the people of Jericho feared the Israelites.

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all
the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. “For we have heard how the LORD dried
up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings
of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
“And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage
in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
(Joshua 2:9-11)

Think about that, Rahab had more faith in Israel's God than the Israelites who listened to the ten spies. Their lack of faith, led them to wonder in the Wilderness of Sin for forty years. How's your faith? Is it strong enough to keep you from wondering in sin till you die in it. The heroes of the Old Testament may not have known of Jesus, but they put their faith in the One True God. Some, like Rahab, only heard of the stories of God's power, and she believed. Today we look back at the way Christ defeated sin and death on the cross, and if we have the faith that Rahab had, then we too will be saved.

For those who feel that God cannot, or would not, use you because of your past failures and embarrassments, please remember the way God used Rahab to bring His people into the promised land. In the account of Joshua taking Jericho, we have an example of a loving and forgiving God who can make vessels of honor out of weak unknown common humans. The account of this harlot should remind us all that God does not look at a man or woman's past, but only at the present condition of their hearts.

All we need is the faith of a mustard seed, and He will bring out the hero in us. Just as God immortalized a lowly prostitute to be a member of the heroes of faith, so too can He help us move those proverbial mountains that stand in our way of reaching the promised land.

I pray those who have ears to hear, will hear His voice and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen