The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Rahab: Her Faith Saved Her

Before the Israelites entered the promised land, Joshua sent two spies to check out Jericho. The two spies came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab who lived in the city wall. Not only did Rahab protect these men from the king, she also professed a remarkable faith in God.

Rahab told the spies that stories of the Israelites’ victories had reached Canaan and that the people were quaking with fear because of them. Rahab declared her conviction that their God was the God of all the earth (Jos 2:11). She then asked for mercy when the Israelites conquered Canaan, not only for herself but for her entire family. In a directive reminiscent of God’s instructions during the Passover in Egypt, the spies told Rahab that if she hung a scarlet cord from her window, all who were in her house during the battle would be saved (Jos 2:17–19). In the battle, it happened as the spies promised.

Rahab had a terrible background. She was a Canaanite prostitute, yet because of her faith in God, she and her entire family were saved. Rahab is mentioned in Hebrews as a hero of faith (Heb 11:31) and is also listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus Christ (Mt 1:5)—one of only five women mentioned. There she is named as the mother of Boaz, who married another foreigner: Ruth.

APPLICATION God cares less about our past and our bloodline than about our faith. From the outside, everything seemed wrong with Rahab, yet she demonstrated tremendous bravery in protecting the Israelite spies. She also demonstrated tremendous faith, proclaiming the God of Israel to be Lord over all. Wherever we have come from, whatever we have done, God can use us for great things. God invites us to put our faith in him, to leave the past behind, and to join the great story of his redemption.

Taken from the NIV Application Bible.