Here’s the story of a remarkable woman and the chosen people of Israel. Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2.
Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2, was a stranger and a non-Israelite with a strong faith in God, Yahweh. However, it is written, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The story of Rahab in the Book of Joshua tells us about a remarkable woman of faith, a Canaanite who profoundly loved God. Ultimately, she assisted the people of God and worshipped Yahweh, bringing her into the Messiah’s lineage.
Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So, they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
The king of Jericho was informed, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So, the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. They left at dusk when it was time to close the city gate. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”
The Canaanites were terrified of what they saw.
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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you destroyed. Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2, said.
“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you. Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2, continued.
Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” Joshua 2:1-6, 8-14
Evidence of God’s power and favour toward His people.
Jericho, Rahab’s natal city, is located in the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea, about 800 feet below sea level and five miles west of the Jordan River. It is one of the world’s oldest known settlements and among the lowest cities.
The cities in Canaan must have been independent of each other, as the king of Jericho did not seek assistance from other kings to resist this formidable adversary approaching him from the wilderness. He relied on the words of Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2.
When Joshua became Israel’s leader at the death of Moses, God said to him: “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses so that I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Joshua 1:5).
Although he relied on divine direction and power, Joshua knew it would be wise to embark on an “intelligence gathering” expedition. His approach contains a lesson for us: We cannot expect success, either in spiritual or temporal, unless we also exercise prudence. Although God is in charge of our experiences, we are workers together with God (2 Corinthians 6:1).
Let us understand that any success achieved arises from God’s overruling providence. “I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work, long before he made anything else. (Proverbs 8:22)” Which worked for Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2 in this case.
Jericho was a significant stopping point for travellers.
Because the Jordan was relatively easy to cross at this point, Jericho was a popular rest stop for numerous trade caravans travelling between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Phoenicia. Foreigners and strangers frequently entered the city, which may explain why the spies felt bold enough to walk right in.
But where would they spend the night? The logical place would be where strangers were welcome: a “bed and breakfast” operated by Rahab. Those who stayed there would bring news of the day and share with the woman what had happened to Israel over the past forty years. Almost everyone in the city reacted with fear and dread.
But Rahab correctly concluded that Israel was serving the true God and that all other gods were false. When the spies arrived at her house, they found the only person in Jericho who was friendly to their nation. Rahab believed. Soon, she demonstrated that she had more than belief—she had faith.
The Scarlet Thread: Rahab and the spies discussed how she was to identify her house so the soldiers would know how to save her and her family: “Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by. … And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window” (Joshua 2:18,21).
The scarlet thread is God’s promise of protection and salvation for Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2.
Although the NIV states it was a scarlet cord, it is more likely that it was a cloth woven with scarlet thread, resembling a red flag. Rahab hid the spies among stalks of flax drying on the roof. Flax is used to make linen, and Rahab probably made cloth. One of the spies might have noticed some red cloth in her home and realised it could serve as an identifying flag.
The “red” was a sign or pledge of safety to all within that house. Marking the outside of a home in red is reminiscent of what occurred during the Exodus. The Israelites marked their doorposts and lintels with blood so the death angel would pass over their houses during the night.
A family demonstrated faith by believing that blood splashing would make a difference. Rahab also had faith that this red flag would save her, and it did. She and her family became the first proselytes of Judaism after Israel entered Canaan. Showcasing the glory of God in the life of Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2.
The Israelites entirely accepted her. Her past remained in the past. She married a prince of Judah: “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David” (Matthew 1:5,6, NIV).
God prefers faith over societal status.
Salmon’s father was Nahshon. When he died in the wilderness, Salmon would have succeeded him. What could have possessed Salmon to marry a heathen prostitute? When he married her, she was neither a heathen nor a prostitute. That was in the past.
Although the account does not state it directly, Salmon likely was one of the two spies that fateful night. He witnessed Rahab’s faith firsthand and fell in love with her. Although she was initially outside God’s covenant nation, Rahab was entirely accepted and became part of the genealogical chain extending from Adam to Jesus Christ.
Our loving God often acts unexpectedly, choosing individuals here and there who may be deemed undesirable by those who assume they know better: “The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you” (Matthew 21:31, NIV).
What does God think of prostitutes? He loves them. And if they accept His love, they can transform: “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers … will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NIV) Hurra! Rahab grandmother of Jesus number 2, is in the Messaiah’s family line.
