Jesse Tree, Day 11 – Can We Talk About Rahab?

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2: 10, NLT

Read: Joshua 2:1-21

How did Rahab end up being one of the ancestors of Jesus?

I love an underdog story. Don’t you? Stories of individuals or groups who were able to beat the odds and achieve success, inspire me. Guess what? The Bible is full of underdog stories. Over and over again, we read stories of “the least likely” individuals who God chose to accomplish great things.

Among these, one of the most jaw-dropping ancestors in the family tree of Jesus is Rahab, a prostitute. I kid you not.

If we are honest, within our own family structure there is often one person or persons  we don’t want to talk about. These names may be spoken in whispers. There are stories that we omit or fudge over when we talk about the legacy of the family. 

However, can we talk about Rahab and so many others? There is one common quality in some of the prominent people of faith who are included in the family line of the coming Messiah. They were hugely flawed individuals.

Here’s the story of how Rahab made it into the family tree. The children of Israel did not trust God to give them the land of Canaan–they listened to the sorry report of the other ten spies and failed to take decisive action under God (See Day 10-Devotional). The result?  About 40 years later, Joshua sent another two spies into the Canaanite city of Jericho to scout it out. Rahab, a prostitute who lived in the city, saw an opportunity to change her life course by aligning with the people of God. And she took risky action. She hid the spies from the soldiers in the city and she asked a favor in exchange for her kind deed:

Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death. Joshua 2:12-13, NIV

The spies agreed. They asked her to hang a scarlet rope out of the window so that the Israelites would be able to identify her home and spare it  when they come to take over the city.

Through this one act, Rahab’s life course changed. She eventually married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Does that name Judah sound familiar? It should. That is one of the 12 tribes of Israel–descendants of Jacob (see Chart on Day 9). Rahab became the mother of Boaz. Who is Boaz? Well, stick around  for the upcoming devotional, and I will tell you more.

Why would God include a “Rahab” in the genealogy of his son? Perhaps, for a simple reason. It shows that if we are willing to change course, God is well able to use us. Our past places no limitations on our future accomplishments in Him.

Are people still talking about your past in hushed tones? Let them talk, friend. You are God’s masterpiece, and He is working it out to accomplish  “the good things he planned for you long ago”. 

REFLECT: Why do you think that Rahab’s “lie” in contradiction of one of God’s  ten commandments placed her on the path to right living? In what way is Rahab’s story encouraging to you?