I’m sure each of us has some relatives that are noted as the rotten apple on the family tree. These would be the ones whose actions would disgrace the family. Today we will look at one who was in the lineage of Jesus. Her name is Rahab. She was not a relative you would brag about to all your church family or work associates. Yet, God includes her sorted past in His word and her redemption. To us, she would be an unlikely relative of Jesus, but God sees things differently than we do.
In Joshua chapter 2, we find Rahab. In Joshua 2:1, she is noted as a harlot. This was her occupation to take care of her family. How she got into this situation scripture does not tell us, but we do find that God had another plan for this woman of Jericho.
When Joshua sent out the spies, she hid two of them on her rooftop, which secured their safety from the king and his army. When the king sent his men to capture the two men from Israel, she lied to protect them. Rahab had heard the stories about God’s people and how they had won battles and destroyed cities that were against Him.
Joshua 2:1-6 “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they are come to search out all the country. And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.”
If you read on in chapter 2, you will find that Rahab had heard about how God had allowed His people to win over insurmountable odds. This woman of ill repute wanted to become one of God’s children. If she had been found out no doubt the king would have had her killed. It was wrong for her to lie but she was willing to do whatever was necessary to become an Israelite. Jericho was the next city to be defeated by God’s army and she wanted to save herself and her family.
God forgave her and gave her a future as His child. She was not only saved from the destruction of Jericho, she was given a new life as the wife of an Israelite. In Luke 3:32 and Matthew 1:5 she was the wife of Salmon of the Tribe of Judah and the mother of Boaz. While there are several generations between Rahab and Jesus, God’s timing is always perfect. He included one of the most unlikely people to be in the lineage of Jesus. God’s ways are not our ways, and He takes imperfect people like you and me to accomplish His will. In our eyes, she was a prostitute, a woman no one wanted to be part of their family. Yet, we are reminded that all sin is sin to God. He can save the most violent, or depraved people and give them a wonderful testimony of His grace.
Luke 3:32 “Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson”
Matthew 1:5 “And Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse”
I believe God has a perfect plan for each of us. Our problem is that we don’t seek Him enough to know His perfect will for our lives. We don’t love Him enough to obey even when it doesn’t make sense. It was no accident that the two spies ended up in Rahab’s house. It was not an accident that she ended up as an ancestor to Jesus. God had it all under control before the beginning of time.
In the life of Rahab, we understand that God can, and will save anyone who places their trust in Him and obeys Him. He will provide all we need to accomplish His will. Whether it be a scarlet cord for these men to climb out her window, or flax to cover them and hide them on her roof. God provides. It also shows us that God loves all. Our occupation nor family tree doesn’t influence how he acts or reacts. In God’s eyes, we are all the same, a people in need of a Savior.
