I have been restudying the life of one of the most intriguing women in all of Scripture. Yes, she is known in the Old Testament as a harlot but her story is one that has all the makings of a modern day James Bond movie. For example, it includes:
Espionage
Lies
Danger
Romance
Escape
Intrigue
Mystery
Adventure
It really would make a great modern day movie. I have studied her before because her story begins in my favorite book of the Bible, the book of Joshua. I have preached or taught through the book Joshua on two occasions in my ministry, but as I have spent time again recently to pour over this favorite prostitute of mine, I have been amazed at what I have seen and learned as if I were studying her life for the first time.
Her life is one of extremes. Just check out the following four verses. They all are speaking of the same exact person…Rahab:
Joshua 2:1 – “Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, ‘Go view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.”
Matthew 1:5-6 – “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the King.”
Hebrews 11:31 – “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”
James 2:25 – “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
In Joshua, she’s a harlot. In Matthew, she’s the mother of the great grandfather of King David, part of the very lineage of the Messiah. In Hebrews she is a picture of faith. In James she is an example that faith without works is dead. Rahab’s story is every bit as exciting as any 007 movie. But what makes it even better is that it includes an element that you won’t find in any James Bond story. Rahab’s story involves grace. I’m studying her story again for a new series about her life as seen in Scripture beginning this coming Mother’s Day. There is a lot the women of our church can learn from this prostitute.
Espionage
Lies
Danger
Romance
Escape
Intrigue
Mystery
Adventure
It really would make a great modern day movie. I have studied her before because her story begins in my favorite book of the Bible, the book of Joshua. I have preached or taught through the book Joshua on two occasions in my ministry, but as I have spent time again recently to pour over this favorite prostitute of mine, I have been amazed at what I have seen and learned as if I were studying her life for the first time.
Her life is one of extremes. Just check out the following four verses. They all are speaking of the same exact person…Rahab:
Joshua 2:1 – “Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, ‘Go view the land, especially Jericho.’ So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.”
Matthew 1:5-6 – “Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, the King.”
Hebrews 11:31 – “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.”
James 2:25 – “In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?”
In Joshua, she’s a harlot. In Matthew, she’s the mother of the great grandfather of King David, part of the very lineage of the Messiah. In Hebrews she is a picture of faith. In James she is an example that faith without works is dead. Rahab’s story is every bit as exciting as any 007 movie. But what makes it even better is that it includes an element that you won’t find in any James Bond story. Rahab’s story involves grace. I’m studying her story again for a new series about her life as seen in Scripture beginning this coming Mother’s Day. There is a lot the women of our church can learn from this prostitute.
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