God can use the most unlikely of people

1Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.       Joshua 2:1.  NLT

Joshua was tasked with transporting the Israelites over to the Promised Land. The previous generation had spent 40 years refusing to go over there because of their fear. Now, Joshua would use the east side for entry but first he needed to send out two spies to recce the situation. When they arrived, they needed somewhere to stay for the night and discovered a prostitute called Rahab who let them stay over. Note this was not for pleasure purposes, they were on God's business.

When the King of Jericho learned that two spies had come over and had stayed at Rahab's, he sent word to her. However, she said that they had only stayed for a short time and had now left; if they hurried, they would probably catch them. This was a lie because she had hidden them on the roof. What is your opinion of this? Should Rahab have lied? Let's look at the situation, her actions in hiding them on the roof had saved them from certain execution and also God's plan had not failed. If she had not lied, it would have been game over. At times, we have to rely on wisdom and grace. Do you agree?

As it was, the spies were very grateful to her and noticed that this woman had a form of godliness about her. She told them to flee to the mountains and wait 3 days until the King's men had finished their search for them. They agreed but told her to go and fill her house with the whole of her family and to keep them inside. They also told her to let the scarlet rope hang from the window of which they were going to be let down. They would then see that all was well when they returned and they would take them all to safety. They fled to the mountains and rested up for 3 days and then travelled back to their camp and told Joshua all about this. He then made plans for them all to head to Jericho taking the land and rescuing Rahab and her family.

Rahab was an astounding lady, she took a great risk doing what she did and would be hailed as a hero in days to come. What a witness this would be to other people of what God can do in someone's ordinary lives.

Conclusion

*  What you sow, you will reap Galatians 6:7. Rahab gave all she had that day at great risk to her whole life, and God would bess her for it. She and her family had a long term stay in the Israelites community to look forward to Joshua 6:17

Faith/Risk

*  As we have seen, Rahab's faith had been amazing. She put herself in a dodgy position, one in which she would also have been executed for treason. It was a big risk to take but she considered it worth it. God's grace saved her day

We must never look down at people who are not living how we and especially God, would have them to. We are not their judge, God is. She may have been a prostitute but didn't Jesus spend much of His time talking to them and changing their lives?

Probably there are things in your life that people can point the finger at. If God has or is, changing you, don't be intimidated by any of this. Your life may not fit into the Christian world as it should, but if God is pleased with you, that is all that matters. Ask Rahab.

 

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 

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