Lessons from a Hooker

Rahab the harlot is one of the more colorful figures of the Old Testament. We see her first in Joshua 2 where she takes in the spies whom Joshua had sent out on a reconnaissance mission prior to attacking Jericho. One of the clearest statments of faith ever uttered by a human being is spoken by her in this chapter and I will give you the “bookends” of this: “I know that the Lord hath given you the land. . .for the Lord your God, He is God, in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (vss.9-11).

Consider a few things about her that make these statements so remarkable.  She was a prostitute, so she hadn’t exactly been a person of faith with respect to following God’s morals.  And she was likely  “successful” in her trade as many students of the Scriptures suggest her house’s location on the wall  points to this.   In her “profession” and what we know of Jericho then she would’ve heard a lot of the news from men travelling from all over to this city which explains her knowledge of God’s working through the Jews (“For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt. . .” , vss.10-11).

Yet despite her sordid past, when she was confronted with the news about God and His dealings, and then when she was visited by some of His very emissaries she responded properly and in simple faith !  And if you have read the story you know that her faith spared her and what family she had from not just the death and devastation during the battle of Jericho (6:25) but the Bible testifies that she became a child of God by faith and so was salvaged from eternal death !   In fact, she is in the lineage of Jesus Christ Himself (Matt.1:5) and one of the very, very few women mentioned in a genealogy, period.  So she stands out for her great faith being not forgotten as well in the great faith chapter Hebrews 11 (vs.31).

So whats the big deal about her, really?  The same thing many believers miss today in their Christian lives:  When confronted with the message from God there is simple, childlike faith.  This may not seem very profound, but let me assure you it is very, very powerful.  How many times do we sit in a service, or try to read our Bible and seems like nothing is happening?  How many times have you heard a spiritual challenge or seen God at work through someone else and you have glossed it over, not taken it very seriously and just went on with life as usual?     Have you forgotten, as we so quickly can, that God just may be trying to mold YOU?  That He has put something or someone in your path to better you for Him !   We want to be lazy, yet we say we want to grow. We want to be happy but we’re often happier to stay in our little comfort zone and not stretch out for God in what may seem scary but will end up satisfying, if we’d just listen to the Lord and take a simple step of faith.      So take a lesson from a former hooker and be a person of simple yet great faith !!