Rahab the Harlot...Saved!

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This morning I read the story of Rahab in the Bible, which was a most thought-provoking read. The Bible say’s Joshua sent out two men to spy out the land, especially Jericho. The two men came to the house of the harlot named Rahab and stayed there. The king wanted her to turn them over, but Rahab hid the two spies on the roof while informing them of the terror which was upon the land. When the time came, she helped them escape by lowering them down from the window with a rope . While everyone in the land was terrified, Rahab begged for kindness and mercy for her and her family. As a result, she received specific instructions to follow in order to be spared from death.

So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” (Joshua 2:14)

¹⁷ So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, ¹⁸ unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. ¹⁹ So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. ²⁰ And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.” (Joshua 2:17-20)

In today’s society, we hear people call us narrow minded bigots for believing Jesus is the only way to be saved.

What do you suppose the outcome would be if she replied “you narrow minded bigot, I dare you to instruct me tie a scarlet cord to my window and order us to stay inside the house, and did you forget I was kind to you?”

We do not make the rules, we both believe and follow God’s plan of salvation or we do not. We must not make our own way to salvation. God has provided the only way which is through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’^{[a] 12} Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12)

By the way, not only was Rahab the harlot and her family delivered from Jericho (and her sin), but she is in the genealogy of our Lord and savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse begot David the king… (Matthew 1:4-6a)

She also was written about in Hebrews and James:

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31)

 ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:24-26)

Do not feel like your sin is too deep for Jesus to save you?

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“ Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,

“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool."  (Isaiah 1:18)

For more reading on Rahab the Harlot see Joshua chapters 2 and 6.