While reading Anna Plangers - some broken men and women of the Bible ; I came across the chapter on RAHAB; whom we all know was a prostitute.
She slept with married men for money. She was one sweet but wild side chick. This story got me really emotional.
Like many young girls today probably,she found the restrictions of her respectable home too irksome.
She wanted a freer life , a life of thrill, freedom and excitement away from not just the preying eyes of her parents but also from the discipline of the home. I am pretty sure she had strict parents.
Her desire to be independent burned so much like the recent bush fire in Australia and as high spirited as she was she moved out of her parents home and bought an apartment. One that had a rooftop.
Yes, Rahab had an impeccable taste for the fine things of life .
After a while , she decided to go into full time business and so she built an Airbnb (hotel).
People from all walks of life used to pass their nights there and most of these men were her clients.
Rahab was also pantomah .She had all the latest filla. And because her Airbnb was located at the city gate, she missed nothing and saw everyone as they passed through.
Travellers of all over the region and from all walks of life carried news of the world beyond and discussed it at her place.
It was from some of the travellers Rahab entertained and sinned with, that she came to learn the facts of the Exodus of Israel, the miracle of the Red Sea, and the overthrow of Sihon and Og.
Two men set out on a dangerous assignment in Jericho. They were to spy the military and observe everything going on in the city and revert to Joshua.
They had no fear in mixing with the locals because they had roamed through the streets for a while after they arrived in the city before checking in to Rahab's Airbnb.
Often all the people in Jericho knew all the men who entered and left her house. So, on the night the two spies from Joshua sought cover in her house, she knew that sooner or later the king of Jericho would get to know of the accommodation she gave them.
At the same time here were two men, different from all the other men who came seeking her favour. These were men of God not idolaters on a mission to overthrow the enemies of his people. She brilliantly planned their protection and escape.
It was some few weeks into the first month and it was the harvest time for barley so Rahab spread flax on her roof and hid the spies under the drying flax.
Shortly after, the Kings troops had tracked the two spies to Rahab’s Airbnb. She met them with a plausible excuse that the spies were there but had expressed disinterest in her offers and left through the Eastern Gate headed towards Jordan.
She even added that they could come in and search her house incase they doubted her but the troops left. Her skillful scheme succeeded.
Once the king’s men took off, Rahab joined her guests on the roof, where they were hiding beneath a long, wet linen and tie dye fabric.
The two Jewish spies were filled with fear seeing the Amorite pursuers were after their lives but Rahab, although her safety and patriotism to her nation would be assured if she had reported them to the King ; she rather assured them and preserved them.
While her way of life had estranged her from her loved ones, she was still concerned about their safety as well as her own. And so Rahab wanted the kindness she had shown the spies reciprocated.
In return for their safety , they promised to protect her when the Israelites attacked the city provided she abided by two conditions.
First, she and her entire family were to stay in her house during the attack.She was asked to keep the red scarlet rope tied to her window . That way her house would not be attacked when the war broke out.
Finally, she let down the scarlet rope which she had already dyed with the colour red and made them escape through the window.
At this point , I cannot forget to mention that Rahab was into fabrics. She manufactured linen and tye dye fabrics for commercial use.
Jericho was the worst of the cities of the Amorites so God had commanded Joshua to destroy both the city and it's inhabitants.
Several months later, When Joshua entered the city to go about his execution of the divine command; he remembered the promise made to Rahab by the spies.
They brought her parents, brothers and all that she had out of her doomed house and made them secure without the camp of Israel even before the walls of Jericho fell down... hallelujah.
This reminded me of the song:
"The walls of Jericho fall down flat,
The walls of Jericho fall down flat,
As the children of God are praising the Lord ,
the walls of Jericho fall down flat .."
It was one of my favorite songs during my days at Sunday school when I was a child.
Several months after the walls of Jericho had fallen, one of the spies whom she had saved ; Salmon; a prince of the tribe of Judah paid the life he owed her back with a love that was honourable and true. Amazing!!...
LESSONS
To hide spies was a crime perishable by death in Jericho and even in recent times you would spend your entire life in jail when caught so had those spies been discovered hiding at her house, Rahab would have died at the hands of the king.
I just cannot but admire her courage and willingness to risk her own neck.
With a calm demeanor and without the slightest trace of inner agitation she met the Kings troops and succeeded in sending them away.She fibbed. I call that courage and determination.
The spies came to her house, not to indulge in sin with Rahab but to prepare the way for Joshua to take over Jericho. She saved them, not out of human pity or because of expediency but because she knew that they were servants of the Lord.
She had been watching and had seen the power of God at work. She had accepted that God is real and he is who he says he is. That is faith right there.
In turn, she was saved because of her faith. This same faith led her to live a pure life and led her to get an honourable career. How fascinating!
There is no doubt that Rahab was a pagan who came to know GOD.
As a result of her marriage to Salmon; Rahab who became the grandmother of Obed, great grandmother of David whose blood line our King JESUS was born .. Glory!!
When she made her mind to protect the spies ; She didn’t know precisely what sort of destruction would befall her city neither did the spies but God knew. And on that night in Jericho, her salvation story was not only written but assured.
Rahab's profession was not highly admirable but God can work through anyone. She did not just live her faith but exhibited selflessness, courage and bravery.
Described by the Bible as one of the four most beautiful women in ancient times who had a very sweet spirit ,her story is a fitting example of Gods grace,unmerited favour and mercies.
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Her neighbors called her a woman of the night,
The LORD GOD called her a heroine of faith ,
and a man called SALMON called her his wife😍😍😍....... beautiful!!
Are you someone who writes people off? Stapppp it. God uses unlikely people.
It is amazing how God throws his love at anyone and everyone. He doesn't choose if you know him or not. He just loves all humanity and doesn't look at what you do. But rather your heart.
Dearies, run with this; It isn’t who you were that matters to God. It is who you are in him. And who you are becoming by the power of his Holy Spirit.
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MY PRAYER:
Dear LORD,
I am a broken vessel, full of sin, made too many mistakes but drown me in your mercies ,grace and love and use me oh Lord.
May I remain gracefully broken...amen
May you be filled with gratitude as you read this. God bless you...
Photo source: Pinterest
Excerpts Inspired by the book: Broken men and women of the Bible.
Further reading:Joshua 6:17-25.
