In the Book of Matthew there is a listing of all the relatives of Jesus on His mother's side.
"Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David." - Matthew 1:5-6
Rahab is the Great, Great, Grandmother of King David. She lived in Jericho, the first walled city that God commanded the Israelites to destroy when they came out of Egypt. Rahab was a Canaanite, and a harlot, a prostitute. But she was righteous in God's eyes. Why?
Joshua sent spies into Jericho before they attacked the city. But why did the spies go into Rahab's house? Unknown. Were they directed by God? Anyway, the spies were seen entering her house and Rahab was soon confronted.
"But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them." - Joshua 2:4
She saved the spies from certain death, eventually lowering them down through a window. She lived on the outside wall of the city. When it's walls "came tumblin' down," every wall around the city fell, EXCEPT the walls of Rahab's house. Interesting.
"Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent." - Joshua 6:17
Rahab had made a deal with the spies. It saved her and her family. It started out this way as she aknowledged that God IS the God of heaven and earth.
"Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." - Joshua 2:8-11
Rahab believed in God and helped the Israelites in their effort to conquer Jericho. Noble. But there's something else.
"Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down." - Acts 2:17-18
Scarlet. Red. You mean like the color of blood? Like "the blood of the lamb" the Isrealites put on their door frames in Egypt to save their first-born from death? Yesss.
The story of Rahab, and what she did and believed, is a reflection of Jesus and us. It's a story of salvation.
And what is OUR red chord? It is the Holy Spirit who lives in ALL who believe. And not just believe, but who have acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Are you wearing a "red chord."
The story of Rahab and the spies exists in two parts (links below). Rahab is also mentioned in the New Testament.
"In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?" - James 2:25
"By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." - Hebrews 11:31
We might think we are unworthy, but if we place our faith in Jesus we will be saved.
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