Rahab the Faithful? Surely it sounds rather too stretched to describe her in this way? Perhaps she is a woman we tend to shun because of the unsavoury title that Scripture ascribes to her. Her first mention in the record is of the spies lodging at “an harlot’s house, named Rahab” (Josh 2:1). The fact she lied to the soldiers also springs to mind. Surely we would not condone such behaviour. So how is it that such a woman came to be singled out so deliberately both by James and by the writer of Hebrews as faithful? And not only faithful, but listed among such men as Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David! And how could she possibly be put in the list alongside Sarah, the very mother of the people of God. Even more incredibly, she is the only named Gentile in the list! It is worth laying all this before our minds before we start to look at her story so we see the divine perspective on this woman; a Gentile, a former harlot, and yet loved of Yahweh.
Spies in Jericho
Before crossing the Jordan after the long weary wilderness pilgrimage, Joshua wisely sent two men out to assess Jericho secretly. Thirty-eight years earlier ten unfaithful spies had so melted away any confidence in the people that this time Joshua would undoubtedly have sent two of the most faithful and courageous men he could find. They would have been as faithful as he had been those many years ago as he set out with Caleb to see the beautiful land God had promised. We are also given the extra detail that these were “young men” (Josh. 6:23). Climbing down walls using but a scarlet rope – Joshua had foresight in sending out men with youth and agility!
We can only imagine the finer details of the tale. The men may have posed as traders or travellers, asking about for a lodging for the night. Places of lodging no doubt would provide the men with opportunity to hear local gossip, and find out the feelings of the city on local politics. The enormous camp of the famous Israelites across the river would no doubt be top on the list for discussion over the dinner tables at any inn in Jericho. It seems therefore logical that the men found Rahab’s establishment the ideal place to stay.
That a lodging for strangers doubled as a harlot’s house is no surprise when we consider the reason God was ridding the land of the Canaanites en masse. Such behaviour was quite acceptable under the immoral worship codes of the Canaanites. God roundly condemns such behaviour under the Law, and wanted no repeating of the errors of the people that He was ‘driving out’ of the land (Lev 19:29; Josh 23:913). It was in this establishment that the spies took shelter.
Rahab’s mind at work
No doubt Rahab would have noted any men coming in who were not of her regular acquaintance. What were her first thoughts? Perhaps those in the house would nudge her and suggest here was some money to be made. It seems however that her mind was growing anxious about the threat to her safety.
Would she not have felt trapped in Jericho? What could she possibly do to save herself and the family so dear to her? She knew in detail of the dramatic events of the demise of Pharaoh and his chariots in the depths of the Red Sea. What had the gods of her people done in comparison to that? They had merely sat in their stone shrines.
The God of the children of Israel could open mighty tracts of water, could avenge His people with the elements under His control and could keep them all alive with miraculous bread for forty years. Her heart would ache to think of the kindness and care this God of the Hebrews showed to families who had been slaves. Was she not a slave? Her own life was one of depravity and humiliation!
Rahab had heard about the mixed multitude across the water. Some of the Egyptians had become Hebrews, and come out of Egypt to join with the wanderers to worship the God of heaven. How she longed to be among that group! It made no sense to her to pay tribute to pathetic gods of stone.
Somehow Rahab understood, whether by her own female intuition or some other way, that these men were different from the other men who frequented her establishment – they were Hebrews! They were also no doubt quite different in their demeanour and language. After all, Joshua would have chosen wisely and well. She also sensed immediately the danger they were in. The record says the king was told, “There came men in hither tonight of the children of Israel” (Josh 2:2). And Rahab said to the king’s guards, “It came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark” (v 5). There was precious little time from the men’s entry at dusk to the time when the king of Jericho’s armed men came knocking on Rahab’s door!
Throwing in her lot with the people of God
Rahab’s quick mind worked overtime. How could she protect these men? She longed for the chance to talk with them, and in some way come to know how she could become part of Yahweh’s people. But that would have to wait – her first concern was that of the safety of these men. It was a very common sight during harvest to have stalks of flax drying in the sun on the roofs. And as it dried it would be piled to one side to allow room for more to be spread in its place. The men were brought to the roof by this quickthinking woman and covered with “stalks of flax”. Incidentally, is not this an ‘undesigned co-incidence’ that such a hiding place was available? It was the time of harvest (Josh 3:15), flax was drying, and used for God’s purpose. The record agrees with itself.
Rahab answered the inevitable knock at the door. She was demanded by the delegates of the king to deliver up the men who were known to have entered her house, “for they be come to search out all the country”. She tricked the men into thinking the spies had left already, and had gone. “Whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.” Her face must have given nothing away, for it seems that her house was not even searched. Her suggestion of pursuing them “quickly” was heeded and the men left immediately.
What would we have done? What did God think of Rahab’s answer? She lied, and there is no way around that. The alternative of stating truth, however, would have led to the death of the two men under her protection. Telling the lie put her own life at risk had her deception been uncovered. Rahab sacrificed her own safety in telling a falsehood.
We have all at some time in our lives not told the truth, or perhaps not the whole truth. Why did we do that? Surely the answer in most cases was to save our own skin, to try to salvage our reputation, or to smooth over something to make our lives more comfortable.
It is for God to judge Rahab’s words in this case, and we can produce no quotation from Scripture to condone telling of untruths in any form. But we have in Hebrews and in James applause for this woman from the God of heaven in receiving the spies in peace and sending them out another way. Rahab threw in her lot with the people of God at this point – discovery of her hidden charges would have meant death for her. God forgave Rahab this falsehood, just as He forgave Abraham who called Sarah his sister instead of declaring their true relationship. Abraham is called the “Friend of God” in the same context in the epistle of James that Rahab is called “justified” (Jas 2:23-25).
Speaking with the spies
As soon as the pursuers left her door Rahab went to the roof. She would no doubt have described what had transpired at her door, and urged their caution and immediate departure. The young men would have marvelled at her courage – just what had been commanded to Joshua by God (1:9).
Rahab’s words to the spies showed an amazing understanding. She showed the faith of one who “has not seen, and yet has believed” (Jn 20:29). She even used the very Name of God Himself, “Yahweh dried up the water of the Red Sea for you.” She believed that the Lord had done the impossible and saved His people when they looked completely trapped by Pharaoh’s army, and more recently “utterly destroyed” the two Amorite kings, Sihon and the giant Og, whose very names struck fear into men’s hearts.
Rahab’s words showed an awe and respect for God which so many of the children of Israel had failed to show so soon after the dramatic events of the Red Sea. “For the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in the earth beneath” (Josh 2:11). In declaring, “He is God,” she showed her renunciation of any past faith in pagan idols. She knew God hated idolatry and would destroy it. That was the reason He was giving Israel the land (v 9).
Rahab large-heartedly pleaded for her family, “I pray you … show kindness unto my father’s house” (v 12). Her family were very important to her. She did not ask only for her own life as she might have done. She would need to trust her family, believing they would not divulge her hiding of the Hebrews, but would faithfully accept the plans for deliverance. “Save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death” (v 13).
We too are not going to the Kingdom in isolation. We are surrounded by others we need to think of, care for and help towards that great goal. Noah saved his family, and Rahab saved hers. Christ’s own role can be summed up as coming into the world to save others (Jn 3:17). How large is our heart?