Most who came through her doors were lacking morally pure intentions. Her dark business was prostitution and her life revolved around this trade. Day after day she sold herself to men who sacrificed their character and jeopardized their reputation for a moment of sinful pleasure. Sheepishly, with guilt, her clients left her house with their heads down, trying not to attract attention to themselves.

On this day, two honourable men knocked at her door. They were looking for information about the city of Jericho. Joshua, Israel’s new leader, would soon be leading his people into the land God had given them. These men were checking out Jericho, one of the cities within the new territory. Not only would Rahab’s house provide information, it would provide cover and a quick escape for the two men.

But there was more to the mission than what appeared on the surface! Even the two men would not have suspected there was anything more to their activity than a military reconnaissance mission. Behind the scenes, God had far bigger plans for Rahab than just being an informant.

Rahab quickly told the visitors that her people had heard all the stories of what God had been doing with the people of Israel and the incredible displays of His almighty power over the years since they had left Egypt.

Others in her city may not have made this confession but here is the conclusion pagan Rahab reached:

 …the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Joshua 2:11

Later, a scarlet cord was used to help the two men escape. That same scarlet cord would be the sign to mark-out Rahab’s house for protection when the advancing army approached her city. Down through the ages, that cord would symbolize the crimson colour of the blood that cleanses from all sin and provides refuge for every sinner who by faith trusts in ‘the Blood.’

Let’s face it – Rahab wasn’t the mostly likely candidate to play such a pivotal role in the conquest of the new land – at least humanly speaking. Had we been selecting a character to be enshrined in the pages of Holy Scripture, we would have selected a clean, upright and honourable woman of impeccable character.  But ‘grace’ thinks differently than we do.

And the story, by no means, end there. Nor does the display of grace stop there. There’s an even more amazing display of grace associated with Rahab. You may not be into genealogies but read this:

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king…. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.  Matthew 1:1-5,16

Perhaps you weren’t planning to meditate on the amazing grace of God today, but how could you not just pause and lift your heart to the Lord for His continuing displays of grace? It is nothing but the grace of God that Rahab the prostitute had her name mentioned in the genealogy of the Messiah. But it gets even more personal than that! It’s nothing but the grace of God that your name is indelibly written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Or at least, that’s how I feel about myself.

Amazing, beautiful, compassionate, distinguishing, exclusive, free-flowing, generous, heart-touching, incredible and joyful grace of God. (If you want to go further up the alphabet, leave your words in the comment section below.)

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay

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