Rahab is a very important figure in the Bible, appearing in both the book of Joshua and the New Testament. Thus, we read of Rahabs identity in the New Testament: By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies (Hebrews 11:31 ESV). 4. Rahab knew what was going on. From the line of Rahab came the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, our God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. Rahab let go of some of the biggest pieces of her life. Rahab was a courageous woman who lived in Jericho just before the Israelites invaded Canaan [1493 BC or 2553 years after Creation]. I hope your BIble study went well! In conclusion, there is reason to believe that Rahab did have family in Jericho. I found the story of Rahab very touching and its boost my faith and trust in God. The city of Jericho was the first city that the Israelites conquered when they entered the Promised Land. We see this played out throughout history, and it continues to happen today. Dianas additional published works include a collection of poetry,Wings of the Wind; an Easter cantata, Glorious, written with a musical collaborator and available on Sheet Music Plus; and contributions to various magazines and compilations. He is the ultimate judge of character, and He can redeem even the most unlikely people for His purposes. Rahab hid the spies and saved them from the king in exchange for her life and her familys. Its not the tree that stands out, but the stories attached to it, each pointing to the faithfulness of God and His love for us. The word "harlot" is undoubtedly repeated so that you and I will know that whatever we have done God will forgive us if we come to him by faith. Why do women seem to have a small role in the Bible? The more common introduction (the reason people are shocked that shed have the honor of being in the lineage of Jesus): Rahab was a prostitute. 32 Interesting Facts About Noah and His Ark Andrew Krehbiel 6 MinutesRead Updated: December 12, 2022 Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. I agree! Finally, this story teaches us that we should obey God even when it is difficult. Whats amazing about Rahab is that she didnt let those thoughts keep her from running to God. Many scholars refer to it when theyre looking for cultural context, changes in Hebrew OT/NT law, or when they come across what seems to be a contradiction within scripture. Piraha. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 5. 23. When the Israelites approach Canaan with their army, Pharaoh sends word that he is withdrawing his troops. One of the things I love most about Rahab is how considerate she was. In addition to the hurdle of finding actual work, Rahab would also have to find enough favor with the Israelite people to be allowed to dwell among them. As a result of her actions, she and her family were spared when the city was destroyed. Its evident in Joshua 2:8-11 that Rahab has little to no confidence in the life shes been living and the gods her people worship. He doesnt function by human design. The name of the French flag is actually very simple, it means "3 colors". A Rahab Bible Study: A vivid, scripture-based, unfiltered study of the Rahab Bible story and its connection to the love of God and grace of the gospel. She stood around 5' 5" tall Her name means spacious or broad Not solely because of the type of livelihood she was leaving behind (although thats a part of it) but primarily because Rahab was no in a position to easily take care of herself. Rahab hid the Israelite spies before they crossed the Jordan River. Rahab kept them safe and helped the spies to escape. Salmon was from the tribe of Judah, which means that Rahab was also technically from that tribe (although she was not born into it). You might think any or all of these things because Rahab was a prostitute. Matthew 16:25. She chose to believe in the God of the Hebrews over the gods of her own people. His most recent book is a second edition release: Hit by Friendly Fire: What to do when Another Believer Hurts You(Resource Publications, 2022). So glad we could answer some of those questions for you! Rahab occupies an interesting place in the mind and heart of the modern church. This is one of my favorite chapters to work through in the Rahab Bible Study (find it here!). A woodpecker's tongue actually wraps all the way around its brain, protecting it from damage when it's hammering into a tree. Interesting Facts About Ruth Barnes' Bible Charts MEANING: Hebrew meaning "Friendship" or "Association" AUTHOR: Authorship uncertain TIME WRITTEN: Uncertain POSITION IN THE BIBLE: 8th Book in the Bible 8th Book in the Old Testament 3rd of 12 books of History (Joshua - Esther) 58 Books to follow it. pic.twitter.com/X8oPHr9usC. She lived in a totally corrupt society that engaged in every kind of sexual perversion and idol worship which included child sacrifice. But what happened to Rahab after that? It would have been hard to step into the identity God had planned for her. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the story of Rahab and learn more about her courageous faith. Did she expect that she would one day be the ancestor of Christ? When we read the story of Rahab we assume that she was a Canaanite. This left him an orphan, as his mother had passed when . From a security standpoint, the gates served as the main point of entry into the city and were heavily guarded. She refused to nurture those things anymore. She Lefty a sinful life and saved her own people. Jericho was situated on a main highway at the crossroads of three continents. In return, the spies make a vow to protect Rahab and her family when they invade Jericho. Generous Rahab was generous, as she gave her own Jericho house to the spies. In Psalm 87:4 Rahab is likened to Babylon which was destroyed in the sixth century BC. Despite living in a city that was opposed to the Israelites, she believed in their God and chose to help them. Rahab is considered to be a righteous woman in Scripture, And todays #Biblical #Womanhood example is #Rahab pic.twitter.com/q7hBfXIRWl, The Book of Judges does not mention Rahab by name, but she is likely the harlot who dwelled in Jericho mentioned in Judges 2:1.[9]. Third, this story teaches us about Gods mercy and grace. 6. In this story, Rahab is a prostitute who lives in Jericho. When they came back and gave an evil report, He was just in His punishment of them. Hence, it is strange that a Harlot, a Canaanite, and a liar is known as a distinguished Bible figure. She had to decide what she believed about God. Rahab is best known for her role in helping the Israelite spies escape from Jericho, and for her subsequent marriage to Salmon, an Israelite. a. Operating an inn by the city gate and entertaining caravans and travelers from around the world must have been like living next to the CNN headquarters! You can choose to have the faith of Rahab. If you wish to use an image or any other content of this blog, contact connect@lotanner.com prior to using the content. Their bodies convert waste into protein. Joshua 2:10-11. One of the most important stories in the Bible is the story of the 12 spies. (from here on out well refer to it as the Promised Land). And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way (James 2:25)? 3. But there came a pivotal moment in the story of the Ancient Near East when Gods judgment came to the unrepentant peoples of Canaan, fulfilling the covenant made with the Patriarchs. You may get so hung up on the idea that theres a harlot in the lineage of Christ that you may never fully stop to consider the lessons we can learn from Rahab. History 2. Either that or they seem to be such perfect paragons of virtue (like Hannah who prayed when she was provoked instead of punching her aggressor in the face). 1. In the Old Testament, they are seemingly unrelated. Most of them just skim the surface of Rahabs story. In Psalm 87:4 Rahab is the name of a city; also in Psalm 89:10 and in Isaiah 51:9. Baby flamingos are born grey, not pink. In short, the City Gates were extremely important in both a practical and symbolic sense. But she would enter without Moses for he was dead. God is so amazing! However, less well known is the account of Rahab recorded in Joshua 2:124, 6:25, and 6:2025. Rahab was the great-great-grandmother of David, according to the Christian Bible. Why is knowing about the various characters in the Bible important. But most importantly, city gates were places where people would come to meet with God Himself. She didnt just let go of some things, she abandoned EVERYTHING. 6. We dont know how invested Rahab was in honoring Canaanite worship practices but we do know that however invested she was, it wasnt enough to keep her from abandoning their falsehoods for the One true God. Definitely look into the Midrash! Can you imagine being that girl? The one who was known for sleeping around? Now, this isnt just any woman, shes a harlot. And God knew that all along. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years and the next place we find Rahab is in the genealogy of Christ. Either way, it is clear that Rahab was involved in prostitution. This suggests that she was close to her family and may have still been living with them. "For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" (Joshua 2:11). Of all the things Rahab left behind, I bet this was the one she was most happy to let go of. I imagine that being a harlot in Jericho was a life that came with its own stigma. The women in my family do a Bible study each week and we are currently doing the women of the Bible. Rahab hid the Israelite spies and helped them escape. Trusts in God. Together, Rahab and Ruth became part of the lineage of King David and ultimately of Jesus Christ. Youll come to understand why as we continue to study through her story, which you can find in the book of Joshua. This raises an important question: did Rahab have any family in Jericho? 2. 1. It could be that Rahab was coerced into her lifestyle. She, herself, was a prostitute. Rahab herself draws the conclusion: "I know that the LORD Yahweh has given you the land." And further that "He is the God in the heavens above and the earth beneath" (vs. 9, 11). As they did so, Joshua commanded the people to shout out loudly. In a lot of modern churches, they claim theres not really a need for it. I doubt it. Along with the five traditional senses of sound, sight, touch, smell and taste, humans have 15 "other senses.". How did Rahab show faith? 5. The Bible doesnt give any conclusive evidence and it is in this gap that Ms. Taylor pens her story Rahab Woman of Jericho. The most frequently cited example revolves around Rahab's lie in the book of Joshua and two separate, favorable comments about Rahab in the New Testament (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). She is not remembered for her sin. A lot of times when we read Rahabs story we get hung up on the lie, but are there more lessons that can be gleaned from the story of Rahab? This leads us to Rahabs real shining moment;the role she played in helping the Israelites conquer Jericho. These things require a steady work ethic and a life source in order to thrive. Rahab leads the soldiers to believe the spies had come and gone. The American flag. 4. We find two names linked in holy matrimony: Salmon and Rahab. Too often our opinion of God is based on what other peopleour family, pastor, church members, the worldsays about Him. Keep digging! But not Rahab. Who loves her family. Rahab was a prostitute woman. Rahab helped the Israelite spies escape after their mission was complete. 1. As Rahab lived in the wilderness among the Israelites, she had to wrestle with this question. This beautiful new land was dangerous. Even more, Rahab was, soon, engrafted into the physical family of Israel as she became the wife of Salmon, one of the leaders of Israel who supported Moses when they left Egypt. Esperanto. I was so nervous but this post helped me tremendously! It will give you a glimpse into what life may have been like for those first families who had to settle the land while the army remained on the move. It was beautiful. Rahab helped the spies escape over the city wall with the aid of a crimson cord lowered through her window, but not before the spies told her that she needed to hang that same scarlet cord in her window when they invaded. My childhood was composed of a simple mother-daughter relationship. - Let's Talk Bible Study | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. A fairly popular one at that. Rahab, or Rachab (wide), a celebrated woman of Jericho who received the spies sent by Joshua to spy out the land, hid them in her house from the pursuit of her countrymen, was saved with all her family when the Israelites sacked the city, and became the wife of Salmon and the ancestress of the Messiah. Are you ready to dig in? How very beautiful to think that it is a scarlet cord of the covenant of God's grace that binds all of the Word of God together. The confidence in Rahabs statements here astounds me. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a court painter in Raphael's hometown. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV). Moses had passed and appointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel and with Gods blessing and instruction the Israelites were again preparing to enter Canaan (the Promised Land), starting with Jericho. The peoples beloved leader Moses is dead and Joshua, the new guy in charge, sends two spies to check out the land of Jericho which is the first barrier between the Israelites and Canaan. Instead, they had to wait for God to give them victory. But what do you know about God? She asked for what she wanted knowing the Hebrew spies had no reason to give it to her. The Lord did this by causing the walls of Jericho to collapse after the Israelites had marched around the city for seven days. Canaan (where Jericho was located) was a polytheistic land. Random Fun Facts About Geography 63. 2. Read More The Land of Canaan In the BibleContinue, This content may contain affiliate links. Id love to find out where you got that from. And that boy would one day marry a widow woman by the name of Ruth (Ruth 4:5, 10). In many ways, the gates represented the border between civilization and the wilderness. Rahab helped the spies escape over the city wall with the aid of a crimson cord lowered through her window, but not before the spies told her that she needed to hang that same scarlet cord in her window when they invaded.