Jericho was secure. There was no way those strange people who had done a runner from Egypt were going to get into this land. Just no way, because these walls made them secure.
What was Rahab? She was just a prostitute. What did she know about things? She might have picked up on the gossip about these former slaves and their miraculous escape, but what did she know and what could she do? She was just a prostitute.
Spies had made it into the city and stayed at Rahab’s place. You can see why. It’s a decent location, but a location that is typical of her – she’s on the edge of acceptable society. She was just a prostitute. So she would do the right thing by the folks of Jericho, she would give up those spies so they could be dealt with appropriately. She knows where her loyalties lie, she knows what she should do. After all, she was just a prostitute.
She was not just a prostitute.
Those soldiers came looking for those spies and she sent them on a wild goose chase. Why did she do that? What possessed her to put her life at risk in such a way?
Faith.
Where others were crippled by fear, faith allowed her to take an opportunity. An opportunity with these men that they would look out for her and her family when the inevitable happened.
Faith inspired her to make the bargain with these much wanted spies. Self-preservation? Maybe. But faith for sure. These walls were secure. The city was safe. No one would go beyond those walls. There was nothing those people could do. Harbouring spies in this way and making this deal was brave.
It was expressed by a woman who did not define herself the way society had. It was expressed by a woman’s whose step of faith would save her family. Not only that, but it would forever change her part in history. Not only would she be known for that, but she would play a pivotal role in the lineage of the Messiah.
Why because faith informed her that the God of the Israelites defined her as something other than just being a prostitute. The labels others had placed on her were no longer in effect once that secure wall came tumbling down. It was not just the day she experienced an amazing rescue, it was the day she experienced an amazing liberation.
Delivered by faith. Set free by faith. Rahab’s faith.
(Photo by Diana Simumpande on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 