Rahab: a prostitute from an ancient conquered city. She is only mentioned a few times in Scripture, yet she played a pivotal role in history. She hid Joshua and his spies as they scouted out Jericho. For this she was rewarded with her life—she and her family were spared in the destruction of their city. Her role in biblical history was also crucial on another plane. She was part of the lineage of Christ.
Rahab doesn’t get a lot of attention in the Scriptures. She is a fairly obscure character, entering the biblical story for a brief moment and then exiting stage right. But Rahab provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our own hearts and souls. She was a whore who was included in the story of God.
We who are not prostitutes may congratulate ourselves, thinking we are more pure than she and thus more worthy of God’s favor. We haven’t wallowed in sin like she did. We haven’t sold our bodies to strangers. We are much more righteous than she.
But what else have we sold ourselves to? Success? Power? Reputation? Have we been fully faithful to God? Have we been single-minded, devoted to Him alone? We are just like Rahab. We are spiritual whores. While Rahab sold her body, we sell our hearts and souls. We prostitute our spiritual life in order to prosper, succeed and gain favor with men. We are often distracted from our Creator and Savior.
Thankfully, Rahab’s story offers hope. God offered redemption to her filthy life, including her in the lineage of the Messiah. He offers the same redemption to us.
Even Deeper: Evaluate your time over the last month. Review the motivations behind your schedule and your relationships. What have you sold yourself to? Is there any area of your life you need to take to God for redemption?
Prayer: God of whores, you love me even with all my filth. I have covered up my sin with activity and motion. And that is an even deeper sign of my need for you. Redeem me. Cover me in the warm embrace of grace.
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