Rahab: A Faith That Redeems. Joshua 2
The story of Rahab stands like a scarlet thread in the tapestry of redemption. Tucked inside the dramatic preparations for Israel’s conquest of Jericho is the quiet yet powerful testimony of a woman whose life was forever changed—not by her own effort, but by the grace of God reaching into the least likely place.
Rahab was a Canaanite. A prostitute. A resident of a city marked for destruction.
And yet… she became a woman of faith. A woman who would be remembered not for her past, but for her bold, deliberate trust in the God of Israel. Her story reminds us that when faith meets the mercy of God, the result is salvation, transformation, and a new legacy.
Marked for Destruction, Yet Called to Life
In Deuteronomy 7, God had made it clear to Israel: the Canaanites were to be removed from the land. Their influence was dangerous, their idolatry infectious. Israel was to remain pure in worship and obedience, and the Canaanite culture—with its violence and spiritual darkness—was incompatible with life under God’s rule.
Rahab knew what was coming. She had heard the stories of Israel’s God—how He dried up the Red Sea, how He defeated kings. The entire city trembled with fear (Joshua 2:10–11). But unlike the rest, Rahab’s fear turned to faith. She saw the hand of God and believed in His power and His purpose.
“For the Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11)
In this one confession, Rahab placed herself under the reign of Yahweh, the true God. She abandoned the gods of her culture and cast herself upon the mercy of Israel’s God. And that changed everything.
Faith That Acts
Rahab didn’t just believe—she acted. She hid the spies at great personal risk, negotiated for the safety of her family, and obeyed their instructions. She lowered the scarlet cord from her window, the very sign of her trust in the covenant she had entered.
She didn’t know everything. She couldn’t possibly understand all that God had in store for her. But she had enough faith to trust, obey, and wait. And in the end, that was enough.
Isn’t that what God asks of us?
Not perfection. Not theological brilliance. Just the humble willingness to believe that He is who He says He is, to trust His covenant love, and to walk in obedience even when we don’t have all the answers.
That’s what Scripture calls faith.
The Kindness of God’s Covenant
Rahab’s request to the spies was not simply to be spared—it was for kindness (Joshua 2:12). The word she uses is hesed—a rich Hebrew term meaning steadfast love, covenant loyalty, mercy born of promise.
She showed kindness before any agreement was made. She acted in loyalty and compassion toward God’s people, and then entrusted herself to the promise that they would return the same. And they did.
But here’s the beautiful truth: God’s kindness is even greater. In Christ, we don’t have to wait for a future day of judgment to discover if we’ve been spared. We live now—today—in the joy and freedom of His covenant love. The blood of Christ has already marked us as His own. Our salvation is secure, and our future is sure.
The Scarlet Cord of Grace
The scarlet cord in Rahab’s window is a powerful echo of the Passover. Just as the Israelites were protected by the blood on their doorposts, Rahab’s family was preserved by the scarlet sign of her faith.
And today, we are saved by a far greater sign—the blood of Jesus, shed for us. His blood is our covering, our confidence, our peace. By it, we are adopted, redeemed, and given a new name.
We Are All Rahab
We may not share Rahab’s history, but we all share her need.
We live in a world under judgment. We’ve all chased after idols, played the harlot with God. Yet in His mercy, God reaches for us, offers us covenant love, and calls us to a new identity—not defined by our past, but by His promise.
Like Rahab, we are invited to turn our backs on the old life and enter a new one through faith in the living God. And like Rahab, we are brought into His family—not as strangers, but as sons and daughters.
In fact, Rahab became part of the very lineage of Jesus. From prostitute to matriarch, from outsider to ancestor of the Messiah—that is the transforming power of faith.
An Invitation to Believe
Anyone in Jericho could have responded like Rahab. Anyone who saw the hand of God and trembled in holy fear could have trusted Him and been saved. But only one did.
Will you?
If you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus, today is the day. His grace is for everyone. No sin is too deep, no past too broken. Like Rahab, your future can be rewritten. (For guidance to make this decision go to: https://swbchurch.com/the-way-of-salvation/)
And if you are already a believer, remember Rahab’s bold faith. Trust God’s promise. Act in obedience. Live as a redeemed person in a broken world, showing others the kindness and salvation of our covenant-keeping God.
Let your life be marked—not by your past—but by the scarlet grace of Jesus Christ.
