RAHAB, once a prostitute then a progenitor of the Messiah.

We find Rahab, the second woman in Jesus’ family tree in the first chapter of Matthew (the first - Tamar)



However Rahab’s story starts in Joshua chapter 2. After wandering 40 years, Israel was all set to take the land of Canaan and the first city in its sights was Jericho. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho who went into the house of Rahab, a prostitute whose home was on Jericho’s walls. Surely with all the unknown men going in and out of the prostitute’s house, the Hebrew men wouldn’t be noticed. But they were, and when Jericho’s king demanded Rahab turn over the spies, she bravely hid them in piles of flax on her roof, telling the king’s men they’d already fled.

That night, as the two spies were safely hidden on her roof, Rahab made a bold claim and request. "We know the LORD has given you this land, she said, and Jericho is utterly helpless and hopeless". But Rahab had one hope. One Who is Hope. “The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below,” she confessed and surrendered herself to God’s mercy.

Long story short - she and her family was saved and were given a place to stay outside Israel's camp - while the rest of Jericho was destroyed. 

But God didn’t leave Rahab outside the camp. He brought her smack dab to the center of Jesus’ family tree. But why would God intentionally call Rahab out in Matthew’s lineage of Jesus?

Keep Reading! I'm just going to tell you three quick points.

✨God saves those with a past✨

No matter what our past whispers to us, no matter what our past holds, our past is the reason Jesus was born.

Rahab can come across in scripture as a shrewd businesswoman who chose her profession to make a good living. Perhaps Rahab came from a place of deep brokenness or childhood trauma. Maybe her past was one of pain or abuse that left her trapped by disrespect and shame.

Maybe Rahab had been rejected or abandoned and made a desperate choice to meet her growling stomach. Night after night, choice after choice desperate had become a life she never intended.

What whispers did Rahab hear? Condemnation? Fear? Shame? Worthlessness? Too many mistakes, too much regret and too late for change?

The good news is that no choice we ever make, no scars ever inflicted, no drink taken or words flung or body misused can keep us from the saving grace of Jesus.

Our past is never good enough to earn God’s salvation nor shocking enough to keep us from it.

✨God uses those with a past✨

It's kinda easy to nod and amen that God can save anyone with a past but here’s where we all tend to get stuck: believing that God can "use" anyone with a past as well.

Let Rahab’s story convince us.

God used Rahab mightily despite her past. In the first battle to conquer the Promised Land, God used Rahab to not only save the spies, but save her family.

But God had even more for Rahab.

God used Rahab to shape the character, faith and godliness of a son named Boaz, who would one day rescue a young Moabite widow.

I wonder what whispers might be keeping you from letting God use you mightily? What is the enemy bringing up from years ago or even last week to taunt that you’re disqualified? 

Do not give the enemy ground that Jesus has already taken. Jesus’ own lineage shows how God powerfully uses us despite our past.

✨God redefines those with a past✨

When scripture mentions Rahab, she’s almost always called Rahab the harlot/prostitute except in Matthew’s genealogy. Matthew calls her "Rahab, mother of Boaz".

It's because God redefined Rahab —
from a fallen woman to a chosen woman,
from a bad girl to a bride,
from a mess to a mother and
from prostitute to progenitor of the Messiah.

God redefines you and me as well.
Are we worried about-
our shame? 
our sin?
our hopelessness? 
our chains? 
our self-contempt?  
our fear? 
our rejection? 
our disqualification?

Don't worry. Jesus has got our back. Just surrender to Him, sit back and sin no more! He'll do what's best for you!

✨✨✨Rahab’s name in Jesus’ family tree gives all of us hope!✨✨✨

God saves those of us with a past. 
God uses those of us with a past.
God redefines those of us with a past.

Say after me - Amen!



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