Rahab the Harlot (Hebrews 11:31)

2023-03-23

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

Rahab the harlot was a resident of Jericho who intercepted the spies sent out by Joshua. She should not be confused with Rahab the dragon, which has a different Hebrew spelling. She hid the spies on her roof under flax when the king sought them. She did this because of the faith she had due to the hearing of the fame of the Lord.

And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. (Joshua 2:9-11)

She heard about how the Creator God is the real God, having power over His creation. The Red Sea parted for Israel but destroyed the Egyptians. The mighty kings Sihon and Og were destroyed despite their might. The people knew the nations of Canaan were next.

She helped the spies escape and kept the scarlet line in the window as a sign to deliver her and all in her home. This should remind you of the scarlet blood on the doorposts during the Passover. The judgment passed over the ones in the house with the scarlet line, just like in the Passover. The oath was kept by Joshua and the people. “And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho” (Joshua 6:25). Imagine, the wall of Jericho fell down flat, but the one house on the wall remained standing because of the faith of Rahab and the display of her scarlet line.

We see that she lived among the Israelites, but we also learn she becomes an ancestor of Jesus Christ according to the flesh: “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab” (Matthew 1:5). Boaz’s mother was a Gentile woman who joined herself to the Lord, and he in turn married a Gentile woman who did the same.

Rahab heard what God had done, and she believed. This faith caused her to act. “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” (James 2:25). Her faith helped others in their time of need.