Rahab

Day One

Her name means Storm, Arrogance, Broad, or Spacious.
Her character. Rahab ( a prostitute) was clever and wise. She devised an escape plan for herself and her family when she saw judgment coming. She cast her lot with her people when she heard about what God had done for the Israelites and risked her life in an act of faith.
Her Sorrow. To see her own people destroyed and her city demolished.
Her Joy. That God had given her, an idolater and prostitute, the opportunity to know him and belong to his people.
Key Scriptures. Joshua 2:1 - 21; 6:17 - 25; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25.
In these scriptures you will learn that Rahab was rescued by Joshua in the land of Jericho. Don’t miss this amazing part of history.

Joshua 2
Rahab Hides the Spies 1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove[a] to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” 4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 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. 11 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, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 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.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” 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.” 21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

Joshua 6

17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. 22 But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” 23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. 24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Matthew 1

5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Hebrews 11

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

James 2

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Day Two

City Walls.
A city with walls. Walls were built for protection during a battle or war. Any city not surrounded by walls would not have any protection against the enemy. The inhabitants would run to the nearest city that had walls in order to find refuge behind its big walls. Jericho was a town surrounded by walls. Rahab had a home on the wall of Jericho. One that gave her a particularly positive advantage in her line of work. A prostitute, she was able to see potential customers as they entered the city. Most walls built to protect the city within its perimeter, where made 20 - 30 feet thick and many times consisted of an inner and outer wall for double protection from invaders. These walls were massive, built of stones and mortar. Jerusalem still has existing stones from the temple wall. The massive stones sometimes spanning thirty feet long, eight feet wide and three and a half feet tall, weighing over 80 tons, could not protect the city of Jericho. God’s power was all that was needed to make the walls of Jericho come tumbling down. Through the faith of God’s people in what he said he would do, his plan was carried out on the city of Jericho, in which no stone was big or powerful enough to keep God out.
Are there any walls in your life that need tumbling down. Is God big enough? Is your faith giving God free reign in the tumbling of those walls or are you looking for other ways around that massive wall. Maybe all you need to do is ask God for His greatness and power to come in and break the walls down.
Rahab’s story is dramatic. It shows us that God’s grace accepts no boundaries. The red cord that saved Rahab and her family reminds us of the red blood of Jesus, who still saves us today, and of Isaiah’s words, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Rahab put her paith in the God of Israel and was not disappointed.
Day Three

Legacy in Scripture
Read Joshua 2:1-18 (See day 1)
What do you think prompted Rahab to hide the Hebrew spies? Why would the house of a prostitute be a good place for the spies to go when they entered the city?
Although Rahab was a prostitute, the lowest profession for a woman, what good characteristics did she have?
Why do you think God would choose to use someone like Rahab? You? What does this say about the people God may use today to further his kingdom?
Rephrase in your own words Rahab’s eloquent plea for her life and the lives of her family
Why do you think the spies were willing to deal with Rahab, their lives in exchange for hers?
Rahab’s brave actions spared not only her life but also the lives of her family members. What brave actions can you take to spare your loved ones from further difficulties and harm?

Read James 2:25 (see day 1)
James mentions Rahab in his plea for believers not to forget that words are an important outgrowth of faith. How did Rahab’s actions demonstrate this truth?
What lessons in obedience and faith can you learn from Rahab the prostitute?
Day Four
Her legacy of prayer.
Joshua 2:9 -10, 12
Reflect on Joshua 2:1 -21
Praise God for giving women key roles in his plan of salvation
Offer thanks that no one, including ourselves is beyond the reach of grace.
Confess our unwillingness to take risks in order to follow God.
Ask God to increase your awe of him.
Day 5

Lift your heart.
Red ribbon. Use a piece of ribbon as a bookmark, tie a ribbon around the pot of a favorite plant, or place some decorative ribbon around a floral arrangement to remind you of the vital importance of living by faith. Each time you notice your scarlet cord, let it remind you of the lengths Jesus went to rescue you. Ask him to watch over and protect every member of your family, just as God protected Rahab’s family. Say a prayer, asking God to increase your faith, which, after all, is what your life and the vitality of your relationship with God depend on.
Father, I praise you for the wonderful and unexpected ways you have acted in my life. Let the knowledge of your faithfulness increase my courage to take the risks that faith demands.