Destined for More: The Harlot

Some sins seem never to be shaken loose from our lives and reputations. Rahab was a harlot who earned a place with the Israelite people because of her bravery in protecting the spies when they came to spy out Jericho before attacking it.

I’ve seen some try to propose that Rahab was just an inn keeper. If that were the case, that the Hebrew word translated “harlot” could have been “inn keeper”, I have a couple of questions.

1.        Why don’t we see this Hebrew word “zana” that is translated “harlot”, “whore”, and “whoredom” ever applied to another “inn keeper” in all of the Old Testament?

2.        Why did James, the half brother of our Lord Jesus the Christ, choose the Greek word for harlot when writing about Rahab? Surely, James had the ability to use inn keeper (or “host” as in Luke 10:35)

No, there is just no two ways about it, Rahab was everything that the word harlot implies.

She was also gutsy and bold. Because she was, she saved the Israelite spies.

I think Rahab saw just one desperate, risky opportunity and grabbed it. She took a big risk, not knowing how she would be treated by the Israelites, but willing to at least trust them and, more importantly, their God, with the lives of her family.

But Rahab was destined for something more that being “the harlot”. She was destined to be something more even than the gutsy who trusted the God of Israel and the Israelite spies she saved. God had bigger plans.

Rahab was destined to be in the lineage King David and of Jesus. She married a man named Salmon, they had Boaz, who married Ruth. Boaz and Ruth’s son, Obed, had a son named Jesse who was the father of David the king. Generations later, Jesus came from that human lineage.

Further, God would later commend her faith, and list Rahab among the faithful in Hebrews 11, along with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses. She is the only woman who is listed by name in the faith chapter.

You can find Rahab’s story in the book of Joshua, chapters 2 and 6.

God plucked this woman out of obscurity and thrust her into fame as someone who trusted the God she had only heard about.

Hebrews 11:31 [NIV] 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Sweet sisters, if we have that kind of faith – faith that believes with no reason to do so – faith that is active and bold – we too can be assured that we will be numbered with the faithful.

God has so much for us – so many more opportunities and blessings – than we can likely imagine. Let’s not limit ourselves or our God by our current circumstances.

When the call for active, believing faith comes to us, let’s step out and take faith by the horns, acting as though the promises of God are guaranteed (as they are).

In a world tempted to limit God, we can rest assured that His plans, His blessings, His calling, and our purpose are unlimited.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@dynamicchristianministries.org