3. When the Israelites approach Canaan with their army, Pharaoh sends word that he is withdrawing his troops. Diana Wallis Taylor is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books, including such novels asHadassah, Queen Esther of Persia; Lydia, Woman of Philippi;Mary, Chosen of God;Ruth, Mother of Kings;Mary Magdalene; andJourney to the Well. 2. (We'll wait while you go get that globe.) How can she save her family from the invading Israelites? Because she was ready for the real deal. And we can become a blessing to others. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a court painter in Raphael's hometown. Rahabs husband is chronicled in both the Old and New Testaments (1 Chronicles 2:10-11, Ruth 4:20-21, Matthew 1:4-5 and Luke 3:32). Shutterstock. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, (Matthew 1:5 NKJV). 4. The English language is spoken in more than 100 countries around the world. Then I will introduce you to the woman of the scarlet cord, the greater grandmother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rahab is the first Gentile recorded in the Bible as having converted to Judaism. It's also known as the "bleu, blanc, rouge", which means "blue, white, red". Strange but true, the official flag of the United States was designed by Robert G. Heft in 1958 while Heft was a junior in high school. You might think from her profession that she was destined to die an early death, to fade away into shame, the disgraced woman. Then they heard about the kings of Sihon and Og who were obliterated in battle (Numbers 21:21-26, 32-35). On the contrary, dogs bob their head up and down when chasing prey. They keep their head level when chasing prey. Christian Truth. Its a Hebrew commentary that speaks to the literal translation of the Bible. Run your raceIn Rahab Woman of Jericho, the main character had to resist giving in to the expectation of others, including her family. Who was Rahab in the Bible? Rahabs story is one of my favorites! But we can learn from their mistake and always obey God, even when it is difficult. How very beautiful to think that it is a scarlet cord of the covenant of God's grace that binds all of the Word of God together. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:8-11. None of their neighboring countries had been able to penetrate their walls and so they felt safe. This tells me that God allotted each of us a measure of faith. Lets take a look at the things that Rahab chose to leave behind to gain life with God. My childhood was composed of a simple mother-daughter relationship. We dont typically hear the word abandon being used to describe positive behavior. Had two sons who were wicked, so the Lord put them to death. The word translated as harlot or prostitute in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word znh (pronounced zaw-naw). By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV). She wouldnt have made it into the lineage of Christ. It would have been hard to step into the identity God had planned for her. I was so nervous but this post helped me tremendously! This applies to other affiliate links on this website as well. Humility creates an atmosphere where God alone is exulted. 1. By including these four women in Christ's genealogy, Matthew is making the claim that God's great plan of salvation includes Gentiles, even unrighteous Gentiles. Women in that position often struggled to provide for themselves (the book of Ruth draws great attention to this). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Faith requires a belief in God and that God exists. Esperanto. In the New Testament, Rahab is praised for her faith and her works. In James, Rahab is listed as an example of someone who was justified by faith, along with Abraham. If this is so apparent to a common prostitute, why do the people of Jericho resist this all . Have We Turned Our Favorite Preachers and Teachers into Idols? How does Rahabs story foreshadow the gift of the gospel. Years earlier, He had delivered His people from slavery in Egypt. It could be that Rahab was coerced into her lifestyle. This was SO enlightening! 5 facts about the Gideons By Anne Bokma | December 1, 2015 1. The confidence in Rahabs statements here astounds me. However, less well known is the account of Rahab recorded in Joshua 2:124, 6:25, and 6:2025. The 10 best face oils for every single skin type. While there are many theories about Rahabs origins, the most likely explanation is that she was a native of Jericho. 2. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with the study Gloria! Rahabs story isnt long though its longer than many stories in the Bible, but what little there is of the story is profound. 1. 9. One of the best things about being a human being is collecting all kinds of random knowledge and trivia throughout our lives. Either that or they seem to be such perfect paragons of virtue (like Hannah who prayed when she was provoked instead of punching her aggressor in the face). We dont know how invested Rahab was in honoring Canaanite worship practices but we do know that however invested she was, it wasnt enough to keep her from abandoning their falsehoods for the One true God. Rahabs name is likely derived from the root r--b, meaning to be wide open. This may relate to her role as an innkeeper, as it would have been necessary for her to keep her establishment open wide in order to accommodate the many travelers who passed through Jericho. UK. The story of Rahab and the spies would have been very different if she hadnt been a quick thinker. Copyright 2011-2023 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. In Rahabs case, it wasnt any of those things. Would the kings men have found the spies if they had decided to search the house? After summarizing what Jericho had heard about God's people, Rahab made the most shocking statement of all. Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men: I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. That's right. Thank you for posting, truly helpful. They didnt necessarily deny Gods existence, but they had little reverence for God as the sovereign One and saw no problem with giving glory to idols and other deities. It was the norm. The Great Wall of China is not actually visible from space. )She was a "harlot", and probably combined the trade of . Or grab the full book study here. She found God and she ran to Him and He gave her an entirely new identity. Third, Rahab takes great risks to help the spies, including hiding them in her own home. Rahab. The two spies walk up to a house thats set in the wall of Jericho and meet a woman, Rahab. Gigi Hadid gets candid about parenting Khai. What is the path that lies ahead of you? 9. But what happened to Rahab after that? The Kingdom of Bhutan uses "Gross National Happiness" as an important national measurement. 4. Rahab married Salmon and had a son named Boaz. This beautiful new land was dangerous. 64. First, this story teaches us that God is faithful to His promises. This content may contain affiliate links. 1. Generous Rahab was generous, as she gave her own Jericho house to the spies. Ultimately, she was used by God to play a role in forming the lineage of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Rahab lived in Jericho, and by her allying herself with God's people she was laying her life on the line. It was a month after Moses ' death, and the Jews prepared themselves for the invasion of Canaan.True, it was the "Promised Land," which Gd Himself had . Her only other option would be to seek out another people group and cling to them. Read More 5 Ways to Let Go and Let God Handle ItContinue. But the lesson I want us to focus on today is the story of Rahab. However, one woman, Rahab, was spared because she had helped the Israelite spies who had come to reconnaissance the city before their conquest. They say Gods grace covers our sin so it doesnt really matter how we live. Rahab is a harlot or prostitute living in Jericho, a Canaanite city. Rahab was afraid of Hebrew God.women are very intelligent.first God is great he never considered her corector.he used her in his plan.praise God. She and her husband became the parents of a boy named Boaz. Rahab herself draws the conclusion: "I know that the LORD Yahweh has given you the land." And further that "He is the God in the heavens above and the earth beneath" (vs. 9, 11). He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit. 22. Rahab knew what was going on. Rahab, the woman with whom the spies were staying, protected them by hiding them on her roof. 23. Rahab helped the spies escape over the city wall with the aid of a crimson cord lowered through her window, but not before the spies told her that she needed to hang that same scarlet cord in her window when they invaded. Thats what I intend to deliver and hope youll find in this Rahab Bible study. Covenants inspire hope. The spies disobeyed God by not going into the land when He told them to, and they were punished for it. For many of us, our identity is our hang-up. Second, this story teaches us that God is a God of justice. She was a prostitute who became a believer and played a key role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Thats how the entire line of Abraham started! formId: '5e128eefed5f9800263d7fc0', }); While the Canaanites were living large and partying doing all the things that were grotesquely sinful things (child sacrifices, idol worship, pagan rituals including but not limited to sexual perversions), God was faithfully bringing the Israelites to the land He had promised them in Genesis 15:18-21 and Exodus 33:1-3. The story of Rahab is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. RAHAB peered from her window as the light of dawn streamed onto the plain surrounding Jericho. For we have heard how the, dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who, on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon, and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. For forty years, the children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness without a home. Here are a few highlights. 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Rahabs story is a reminder that anyone can be used by God, no matter their background or station in life. What was the Biblical importance of City Gates? But there was no hanky-panky between Rahab and the spies, she had been able to see through their disguise and knew there was a greater force at work. I loved this! But there came a pivotal moment in the story of the Ancient Near East when Gods judgment came to the unrepentant peoples of Canaan, fulfilling the covenant made with the Patriarchs. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the city of Jericho during the time when the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. When your city has fortified walls, its easy to believe your city is impenetrable. Download our free Rahab Bible Study pdf worksheets and join us! Why? 6. #purposedbook Click To Tweet, For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, who you utterly destroyed. 2. Rahabs story is a great example of the power of faith and obedience. 80 Interesting Facts About Life That Will Surprise You Human Body Facts. One of Rahabs greatest characteristic was that she didnt only think about saving herself, she also had compassion for her fathers household and made plans to save them as well. The scarlet cord was used by Rahab to indicate to the Israelite spies which house belonged to her and her family so that they would not be harmed when the city of Jericho was destroyed (Joshua 2:18-19).

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