Now, this isnt just any woman, shes a harlot. Rahab and her family were saved from destruction when the Israelites conquered Jericho. }); The power of covenant in the Bible can be summed up by the fact that the God of the Bible is the only God who publicly and privately keeps His covenants. She wouldnt have made it into the lineage of Christ. This has really open up my eyes to the goodness of God. Strange but true, the official flag of the United States was designed by Robert G. Heft in 1958 while Heft was a junior in high school. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the city of Jericho during the time when the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. There was no guarantee these risks would pay off, but to Rahab, these risks were worth it. But the lesson I want us to focus on today is the story of Rahab. 2. What did it take to convince her entire family they would be better off living in a whorehouse? We assume that if imperfect people can think so lowly of us how much worse we must be seen in the eyes of a perfect God. 1. He promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and He kept that promise by sending them into the Promised Land. Michael A. Milton (PhD, Wales) is a long-time Presbyterian minister (PCA) and a regular contributor to Salem Web Network. If you wish to use an image or any other content of this blog, contact connect@lotanner.com prior to using the content. We were looking for it because we liked it so much. 4. While we cannot be certain, it is possible that she was motivated to help the Israelites because she wanted to protect her loved ones from harm. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon, and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. Whenever the Army of Israel entered Canaan, Rahab acted. 2. She is not remembered for her sin. The account of Rahab Reminds us that from the moment we choose to believe and follow God, the impact we have on the world can change. Download our free Rahab Bible Study pdf worksheets and join us! Rahab helped the spies escape over the city wall with the aid of a crimson cord lowered through her window, but not before the spies told her that she needed to hang that same scarlet cord in her window when they invaded. How does Rahabs story foreshadow the gift of the gospel. As they began yet another march around the city, the dust rose in their wake and the blare of horns again pierced the air. None of their neighboring countries had been able to penetrate their walls and so they felt safe. Woman of Faith Faith is the opposite of fear. We only know what the Bible reveals. She was a prostitute who became a believer and played a key role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. These are the words I use to describe the character of Rahab in the Bible. What does the story of Rahab teach us? How did you decide Rahab was around 40 at this point? The word for "window" appears three times in the Rahab narrative (Josh 2: 15, 18, 21) when she helps the men escape and marks her house so it will be spared destruction.Windows have a prominent role in the stories of several other biblical women: Michal (2 Sam 6:16), the mother of Sisera (Judg 5:28 -31), and Jezebel (2 Kgs 9:30).All these women are looking through their palace windows . And she did it in a moment. Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua. Are you allowing regret, shame or confusion caused by someone else to keep you on a detour? She is also the author ofHalloween: Harmless Fun or Risky Business? The most remarkable deed of Rahab was actually telling a lie, to protect two spies of Joshua. The city was well fortified and had high walls, so the Israelites could not just march in and take it. She trusted in him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. The color scarlet was often associated with sin and judgment in the Bible, but in this case it represented Rahabs faith in God and her willingness to protect His people. Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? A snail can sleep for three years. 64. But more importantly, it may give you a desire to revisit the book of Exodus to experience once again the wondrous things God did on behalf of His people. So how did she become one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ? Covenants gives us a promise to hold onto and look forward to. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit. Finally, Rahab believed that God would reward her for helping the two spies, her, Rahab the prostitute. Lined up, all of the planets in the solar system could fit between the Earth and the moon. Who loves her family. Read More The Land of Canaan In the BibleContinue, This content may contain affiliate links. 1450. Generous Rahab was generous, as she gave her own Jericho house to the spies. In addition to the hurdle of finding actual work, Rahab would also have to find enough favor with the Israelite people to be allowed to dwell among them. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Its not the tree that stands out, but the stories attached to it, each pointing to the faithfulness of God and His love for us. Either that or they seem to be such perfect paragons of virtue (like Hannah who prayed when she was provoked instead of punching her aggressor in the face). Baby flamingos are born grey, not pink. I received an advanced readers copy from the publishers through Celebrate Lit; a positive review was not required. For Rahab, the God of Israel is also the God of Jericho. It also demonstrates that even when things seem hopeless, we can trust that God is in control and He will always help us achieve victory. Hydra - an aquatic creature is the only living creature that never die. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites march around the city walls once a day for six days, followed by seven priests blowing trumpets. You can keep digging and learning about Rahab and how the event of her life point to the hope of the gospel in the full Rahab Bible Study book! As Christians, we will need to spend time in His Word doing the work to learn more about His character. History Presidents Adams and Jefferson also died the same year, 1826; President. Jesus' own lineage shows how God powerfully uses us despite our past. Scholars disagree on whether it was 1406 BC or 1250 BC. But what do you know about God? If she didn't, they'd be free from their promise to her. Do you have the courage to stay the course? This suggests that she was close to her family and may have still been living with them. Yet, in an instant, she abandoned her people and her king. Attention, class! Keep digging! I was so nervous but this post helped me tremendously! Rahab the prostitute knew her only chance for survival was to ask the spies to protect her. By Hebrew definitions, she should be dead. CHAPTERS: 4 VERSES: 85 He and his wife, Mae, reside in Western North Carolina. In addition to founding three churches, and the call as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Dr. Milton is a retired Army Chaplain (Colonel). If she did not have any family in Jericho, it is unlikely that she would have put herself in such danger. containerEl: '#fd-form-63050dacce6421efe0a560d4' Read the fullaffiliate disclosure. Also, my 14 year old niece pointed out that the Matthew scripture reference should be Matthew 16:25 instead of Matthew 17:32-33 (which doesnt exist). This page may contain affiliate links. 8. Matthew 16:25. He was educated in the palace of Pharaoh and married Zipporah the daughter . Rahab's Risk This is one of the acts for which Rahab is immortalized. Who came to rescue the earth from God's destruction? Archi. Rahab was afraid of Hebrew God.women are very intelligent.first God is great he never considered her corector.he used her in his plan.praise God. In the Book of Joshua, Rahab (a heroine nonetheless known as "Rahab the Harlot") assisted two Israelite spies in escaping out a window and down the city wall of Jericho. Not solely because of the type of livelihood she was leaving behind (although thats a part of it) but primarily because Rahab was no in a position to easily take care of herself. The Book of Joshua marks the moment and describes the first movements of the Conquest: And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there (Joshua 2:1). 4. One of the most important stories in the Bible is the story of the 12 spies. 95 Fun Facts That Will Amaze You By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer Published August 19, 2020 American flags left on the moon will eventually get bleached white by the sun. Interested in digging deeper? Rahab wasnt content where she was. In a lot of modern churches, they claim theres not really a need for it. Rahab is a Canaanite prostitute who becomes faithful to the God of Israel, hiding two Israelite spies when the king of Jericho sends men to capture them. pic.twitter.com/X8oPHr9usC. On the contrary, dogs bob their head up and down when chasing prey. This raises an important question: did Rahab have any family in Jericho? Rahab, the woman with whom the spies were staying, protected them by hiding them on her roof. Moses was the youngest among the three children and he was the grandson of Kohath and great grandson of Levi. Image credits: Adam Brill. Her past did not disqualify her from receiving Gods mercy. All rights reserved. She was a Canaanite woman who lived in the city of Jericho during the time of the Israelite conquest. She had grown up in Jericho (according to the Midrash she had been there for nearly 40 years, possibly more). She is Known as one of the women of the bible, many women copied the Faith Rahab. She chose to believe in the God of the Hebrews over the gods of her own people. In the olden days, just as today, cities were called by the names of famous men and women. And it highlights the one thing that is life with God. It may very well have been that Rahab was "a religious prostitute in pagan practices. It must have been an interesting time to be alive because though there would have been fear, a lot of persons would have stubbornly stuck to their old ways. When we abandon them we are essentially starving them; no longer allowing them to feast on the things that sustain them. The woman who had been called a harlot became a godly wife and mother in Israel. 46 Interesting Facts You Probably don't Know. As an Amazon affiliate I earn commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Rahab found God, ran to Him, and didn't let ANYTHING keep her back. Rahabs faith in God engrafted her into a new family. 32 Interesting Facts About Noah and His Ark Andrew Krehbiel 6 MinutesRead Updated: December 12, 2022 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Definitely look into the Midrash! Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. First, Rahab is described as a prostitute. It is possible that she was forced into this profession due to poverty or other circumstances. The Rahab story, shows faith triumphing over the King of the Amorites by her faith. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years and the next place we find Rahab is in the genealogy of Christ. Instead of occupying the land as instructed, they convinced themselves they werent strong enough and opted to return to Egypt; the land God had just freed them from (see Numbers chapters 13 & 14). Deuteronomy 9:5. One thinks of Audens remarkable poem, The Fall of Rome, when the movement of herds on the European tundra marked the march of Goths and Visigoths: Altogether elsewhere, vast herds of reindeer move across miles and miles of golden moss, silently and very fast.. a. 1. Rahab (or Rachab) the wife of Salmon, is mentioned in the genealogy in Matthew 1:5. }); While the Canaanites were living large and partying doing all the things that were grotesquely sinful things (child sacrifices, idol worship, pagan rituals including but not limited to sexual perversions), God was faithfully bringing the Israelites to the land He had promised them in Genesis 15:18-21 and Exodus 33:1-3. 50+ random facts - fun facts. And God knew that all along. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth beneath., Leaving Behind Her Livelihood and Citizenship. containerEl: '#fd-form-5e128eefed5f9800263d7fc0' Rahab is the ever-present message of God to you: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. By including these four women in Christ's genealogy, Matthew is making the claim that God's great plan of salvation includes Gentiles, even unrighteous Gentiles. All the content of this blog {including} images are property of Tanner Ministry Outlets, LLC. Miraculous stories trickled into town about the way the Hebrew God had dried up the Red Sea. This was her culture. But the Hebrew word, zn, is interpreted in the Septuagint as prn. As such, Raphael most likely spent his formative years in contact with the court. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, (Matthew 1:5 NKJV). It was beautiful. Rahab lived in Jericho, and by allying herself with God's people, she was laying her life on the line. The name of the French flag is actually very simple, it means "3 colors". For many of us, our identity is our hang-up. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth (Ruth 4:5, 10). Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges. Covenants inspire hope. She is popularly known as the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies. What made her do that? We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. Im sure that someone who had a reputation as a prostitute would have had difficulties shaking off the labels placed on her by society. How many persons would have thought to hide someone under stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6)? In Joshua 2, we are told that Rahab entertained the spies in her house. In this short verse, we learn a few things about God and faith: Rahab displayed all of those characteristics. Keep moving forward! If so, it is likely that she had other family members in Jericho who were also struggling to make ends meet. Operating an inn by the city gate and entertaining caravans and travelers from around the world must have been like living next to the CNN headquarters! In this story, Rahab is a prostitute who lives in Jericho. The Bible calls her Rahab the prostitute because that was her defining trait. If this is so apparent to a common prostitute, why do the people of Jericho resist this all . Rahabs story is a picture of Gods plan of redemption, available to anyone who will believe Him by faith. But there's more to the story of Rahab so much more. Sexual sin was deeply embedded in Canaanite culture.

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