Rahab, The Harlot

Reading in Joshua today.  The Lord let me to read right at the point where Joshua and his army are marching around Jericho.  I just love this story!  How Great and Mighty is the Lord God!  He brought down an entire city with the shouts of mortal man.  Not only that, but what GREAT Faith Joshua had to stand up before an army ready to fight and tell them that they were going to simply march around the city for 6 days, carrying the ark and on the seventh they would do it 7 times...I'm thinking if Colon Powell had said that to the troops of  Desert Storm...they would have sent him to the loony farm!

As I read on, verse 17 spoke to me this morning. "And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." You see, the Lord gave the entire city to Joshua.  He "accursed" everything in it ALL were destroyed by Joshua's army, save one house...the Harlot's. Rahab was a prostitute...yet God spared her. Why? Because she hid the messengers, or spies from the Israelite army. Because of her actions, God spared her and her household.

What interested me so much is Rahab's occupation.  Today, we still have prostitutes working the streets that we look on with disdain...even hatred.  God loves them, too! He sees their sin, and it is unpalatable to Him, but he also sees a child that is in need of a Savior; someone in need of a safe place to sleep, good food to eat, warm arms to hold them that have no alter plan.  What do you see?

The scripture tells us in Acts 10:34-35 "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, 'Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'" Are you?  God did NOT condone Rahab's occupation!  He honored her actions toward His people. Rahab continues to dwell with the Israelites for the remainder of her life (Joshua 6:23-25). And then...READ THIS...in Matthew 1:5, she is listed in the genealogy of Christ!  THE SON OF GOD! 

No matter what your circumstances look like. No matter your occupation, or living arrangements...God can and will use you if you surrender to Him.  God blessed Rahab, even in her sin, by sparing her life...but she turned from that life and dwelt among God's people.

For those that are not living sinfully out-loud...your sin is NO different that Rahab's.  Lying, reacting out of anger towards others, living depressed or angry or in bitterness...all measure up to the same sin level as Rahab's sin.  I know...you didn't want to hear that...stepping on my own toes too! Remember, "God is no respecter of persons".  He wants to use us NOW...and in the process of our obedience...he wants to give us a better life..."I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10b.