Generation to Generationনমুনা

Rahab

The story of Rahab is a beautiful picture of God's grace and redemption. It encapsulates the thought that your starting point doesn’t determine your destiny.

As we read through Rahab’s story, you will get a glimpse as to why she was such an unlikely candidate to be one of the women in the genealogy of Jesus.

She was a Canaanite, a hated enemy of the Jews. She was from a city called Jericho, which was known as one of the main seats of idol worship. Here in the city of Jericho was centred all that was most vile and degrading of the region of Canaan. On top of all these things, Rahab was also a prostitute. Harlots were known as social outcasts to the Jews.

Rahab lived in the outer section of the walls of Jericho, which is where the poor and disreputable people were said to live.

With this being the starting point of Rahab’s story, you can see why she was such an unlikely candidate to have the place of honour that she held in the genealogy of Jesus.

But one decision was enough to change Rahab’s whole life and the destiny of her family and the generations to follow. Rahab was intelligent, and well informed. She was brave and she risked everything. She followed her conviction and in doing so she made a way for herself and her family.

As you read through Rahab's story you’ll see a moment which was the beginning of the new life that God had for her:

“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."

And it goes on in verse 11….. "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.”

Within this scripture we see the starting point of the turnaround that happened in Rahab's life. A revelation of who God is and what He is able to do. This revelation was her fresh start, and it outworked in her actions, the bravery she showed, and in the decisions that turned her life around.

Not only does Rahab's family benefit from this revelation and her faith in God, but the generations to follow benefit from Rahab's faith; as one day through her lineage, Jesus is birthed into the world. Her faith had such a powerful impact that she is listed in Hebrews 11, along with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Rahab's story is a powerful encouragement to us women. For the ladies reading this that feel disadvantaged by your starting point, you feel like your past disqualifies you from being used for significance by God – Rahab's story is your reminder today that your starting point doesn’t need to determine your destiny.

For the ladies reading this feeling shame and hopelessness, Rahab's story gives us hope that there are no areas in our lives that are too far gone for God’s grace and redemption.

Rahab’s story is our beautiful reminder that God can use anyone.

But like Rahab, it needs to start with a revelation of who God is and what He is able to do.

As you read Rahab's story, why not ask God for that same revelation that Rahab had? That God is able and He is powerful and He is a God who is able to restore, redeem, bring healing, and turn things around.