And Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jesse.
Rahab is an interesting lady named in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at this ‘Lady of Faith.’ Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go view the land especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
It’s obvious that God is being true to His character by guiding the steps of these young men to a place of safety. How did they end up here? They more than likely asked someone where they could lodge for the night. Rahab had rooms to rent, and she lived inside the wall of Jericho, she also happened to be a prostitute. The two spies needed a room, and this sounded like a good cover story, a place to hide. Immediately whoever they asked told the king and the king sent his men to deal with them.The king’s men arrive at Rahab’s house and she tells them that the men came to her, she did not know who they were, but left before the city gate closed saying, “Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”Joshua 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. By hiding them under stalks of flax, this tells us a little bit about Rahab’s identity. Flax stalks were used to make clothing, in ancient Egypt, only ladies of noble birth were allowed to do the spinning of flax. It shows us that Rahab was making clothes for her family and possibly to sell to others, she was an entrepreneur, by laying them in order, she kept her house clean and straight, sounds like Proverbs 31 lady. After the troops leave, she goes to the roof and has a conversation with the men. Basically, she said, all the people of the lands had heard how the Lord had parted the Red Sea for the Hebrews to cross and everyone’s heart melted with fear. Then she makes her confession of faith before the two men, her Romans 10:10. Joshua 2:11 “For the Lord your God, He is the God of heavens above and the earth beneath.”
She provides the men a way of escape by letting them down a cord through a window.
She ties the scarlet cord in the window as a sign of redemption, scarlet represents the Blood of the Lamb, a thin red line of salvation. Not knowing that she would be grafted into the very bloodline of the Messiah. She has been redeemed; her life circumstances don’t represent the change at this very moment she’s still living in the same brothel. When Rahab and her family came out of their stone prison, they were slaves to sin no more.
James 2:17 /25 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?
Rahab displayed her faith in God by her works of faith, your faith can work too.
