Ladies, I’m so glad we are talking about Rahab today, for she has been on my mind all day yesterday and today! We have been having a truly glorious event in Joplin this past week. The Limner Society, which is a group of Christian artists, came and shared their art with us all week. I saw a painting done by a truly gifted woman of her interpretation of Rahab. It was breathtaking. The color pallet was done in browns, charcoals, and blacks. She had a rust brown head covering on, and all you could see of her face was a wisp of black hair and one piercing eye. I was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw her! So, all of that to say that Rahab is truly a captivating character! This is how the introduction commentary to the story of Rahab begins in my bible: “….story of danger, intrigue, and cleverness…”
Rahab: prostitute, lives in Jericho, aid to foreign spies, chosen accessory: a scarlet cord.
One thing that really gets me about Rahab was that she was a prostitute. I have heard her story several times throughout my life, and it seems that every time that little fact is casually grazed over. If it is mentioned, it seems to immediately be followed by how instrumental she was in saving the spies Joshua sent out. And although this is so very true, I just don’t want us to make light of the fact that she was indeed a prostitute. Her profession was to sleep with man after man, for money. The end. No sugar coating. Rahab’s house was more than just a hiding place; it was a place of business. She is given the title “Rahab the prostitute” and keeps it throughout the rest of the story. Only God could take something meant for destruction and turn it into new life. Her life of prostitution was claiming her for destruction (physical, emotional, and spiritual), but God used that to provide a way out and a new beginning. Her home was in the city wall, (Joshua 2:15) so even her place of rest was set for destruction.
The physical representation of God’s provision, rescuing, and restoration in Rahab’s life is symbolized through a scarlet cord hung outside the city wall from her window.
She was looking for someone to be faithful to her.
She had lived a life of never being able to depend on anyone. Prostitution isn’t the most romantic line of work, and a woman can certainly not expect any of the men she does business with to be faithful to her; let alone for them to turn into her knight in shining armor. But God in His great mercy did just those things for her! The scarlet cord hanging from her window was only a representation of a union, a promise, and a hope for a future in Christ. But Rahab isn’t the only one who has been granted these gifts! We also have a union, a promise, and a hope for a future with Him!
P.S. Oh, and I’m also guessing that Rahab was a weaver since she had stalks of flax all over her roof! (Joshua 2:6) Just another reason to love that woman :)
Going green,
Miss
Rahab: prostitute, lives in Jericho, aid to foreign spies, chosen accessory: a scarlet cord.
One thing that really gets me about Rahab was that she was a prostitute. I have heard her story several times throughout my life, and it seems that every time that little fact is casually grazed over. If it is mentioned, it seems to immediately be followed by how instrumental she was in saving the spies Joshua sent out. And although this is so very true, I just don’t want us to make light of the fact that she was indeed a prostitute. Her profession was to sleep with man after man, for money. The end. No sugar coating. Rahab’s house was more than just a hiding place; it was a place of business. She is given the title “Rahab the prostitute” and keeps it throughout the rest of the story. Only God could take something meant for destruction and turn it into new life. Her life of prostitution was claiming her for destruction (physical, emotional, and spiritual), but God used that to provide a way out and a new beginning. Her home was in the city wall, (Joshua 2:15) so even her place of rest was set for destruction.
“And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.” – Joshua 6:17
The physical representation of God’s provision, rescuing, and restoration in Rahab’s life is symbolized through a scarlet cord hung outside the city wall from her window.
“…. Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.” – Joshua 2:21
She was looking for someone to be faithful to her.
“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” – Joshua 2:12-13.
She had lived a life of never being able to depend on anyone. Prostitution isn’t the most romantic line of work, and a woman can certainly not expect any of the men she does business with to be faithful to her; let alone for them to turn into her knight in shining armor. But God in His great mercy did just those things for her! The scarlet cord hanging from her window was only a representation of a union, a promise, and a hope for a future in Christ. But Rahab isn’t the only one who has been granted these gifts! We also have a union, a promise, and a hope for a future with Him!
P.S. Oh, and I’m also guessing that Rahab was a weaver since she had stalks of flax all over her roof! (Joshua 2:6) Just another reason to love that woman :)
Going green,
Miss
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