Women with a Story to Tell: Rahab

 The previous story of Tamar was a difficult read for modern Christians. The key points from the Bible’s perspective are that Judah left his brothers and, contrary to family tradition, settled down in Canaanite country and took a Canaanite wife. He dealt falsely with his daughter-in-law who resorted to pretending to be a prostitute in order to continue Judah’s family line. That line eventually led to King David and his descendants right down to King Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah. However, as Bill Arnold notes, “the text in no way condemns Tamar for her actions,” (Genesis, 2009, page 327). 

 Three women now have been pivotal in building the house of Israel’s royal family: Leah, Rachel, and Tamar (Arnold, page 329). Are there more? Oddly enough, there are, and once again prostitution is not a barrier to service in the Lord’s plan. Here is how Rahab’s story begins: 

  “Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho’. So they went and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and spent the night there. The king of Jericho was told, ‘Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land’. Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, ‘Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out the whole land’.” (Joshua 2: 1-3).

 Perhaps the spies asked someone on the street for the house of a prostitute so there wouldn’t be questions when they entered the house. Also, Rahab is marginalized in society, so she is less likely to report their presence. At any rate, someone recognized them as aliens and reported the incident to homeland security. Now Rahab is targeted by the local authorities. What will she do? 

 “But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, ‘True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from. And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went, I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them’. She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof” (Joshua 2: 4-6).

 Rahab is clever and quick with a story that will distract the officers. Why is Rahab on the side of the spies from Israel?

  “Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, ‘I know that the LORD has given you the land and that dread of you has fallen on us and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below’.” (Joshua 2: 8-11).

 Look at how well Rahab understands the story (and theology) of the children of Israel. How does she know? She heard it through the city’s media feed; that is, through the news and gossip that people pass along to another. Notice that the king, really the mayor of Jericho, also knows the story. The king’s response is to defend the territory where he has power regardless of God’s viewpoint. 

 Rahab responds differently. She believes what the Lord says and does. Remember, the phrase ‘the LORD’ stands for the Hebrew letters YHWH. We can add vowels in English and make this word ‘Yahweh’ or, if you are German, ‘Jehovah’. Rahab believes in what Yahweh has said and what Yahweh is doing through the people of Israel. That is critical to understanding her story. 

 Rahab also reveals that the king and the people of Jericho are fearful and in despair. So, she has given the spies protection and information. If the king hears of it, Rahab will be in deep trouble. Why is Rahab taking this chance? She has a voice; let her tell her story.  

 “‘Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by YAHWEH that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them and deliver our lives from death’. The men said to her, ‘Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when YAHWEH gives us the land’.” (Joshua 2: 12-14).

 Rahab then instructs the spies on how to escape, and they are on their way. What has Rahab done? In a sense, her actions are similar to another Canaanite woman, Tamar. Though she is not an Israelite, she believes in God’s plan to bless the Israelites and to bless all who act kindly toward them (see Genesis 12: 1-3). She sees herself in the Covenant that God established with Abraham. Like Tamar, she has secured her place in the story by asking for pledges from the spies. They promise to protect her, and there will be a sign. 

 Do you see yourself in God’s plan of salvation that begins at Creation and takes form in the Abrahamic Covenant? What belief and behavior of Rahab secured her place in God’s plan of salvation? We will see how her story unfolds next week.