How Rahab’s Faith Changed History.
How do we define a person? Is it by their job? Their past? Or is there more to every story than what meets the eye?
When people think about Rahab in the Bible, many think of one single word: prostitute. But if we stop there, it is easy to miss one of the most powerful stories of faith, courage, and redemption in the Bible.
Rahab lived in the ancient city of Jericho, a city that was about to be destroyed by the power of God. The Bible tells us that her home was found along the city wall, where she welcomed travelers and locals.
For someone like Rahab, she didn’t have many choices in life. In a society where women didn’t really have much control over their lives, her job as a prostitute offered her a way to survive and take care of her family. The Bible doesn’t tell us why or how she ended up working as a prostitute, but we know that it certainly didn’t define who she was.
Rahab’s full story can be found in Joshua 2 – 6 if you would like to read it.
The Verse
“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
Hebrews 11:31
Breaking Down the Verse
Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the “Faith Hall of Fame.” It is a list of men and women whose trust in God made history! And here, right alongside Abraham, Moses, and David, is Rahab – not “Rahab the successful business woman”, or even “Rahab the Canaanite”, but the Bible specifically calls her “Rahab the prostitute.“
But look closely:
“By faith Rahab…”
Rahab’s faith, not her profession, puts her in this chapter, and her story is one of incredible trust.
When the Israelite spies sneak into Jericho, Rahab takes them in, hides them, and lies to her own king’s officials to protect them. She risks everything for a God she’s only heard about in stories. In the end, she saves her family because of her bold and strategic decision.
Rahab’s story perfectly shows us how God sees a person’s heart, not the past or their mistakes.
Faith in Action: What Can We Learn from Rahab?
What does Rahab’s story teach us today?
Reflection & Journaling Prompts
Affirmation
I am more than my past, more than my reputation, and I trust that God sees my heart and is writing a new story for my life.
Prayer for the Day
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me beyond my labels or failures. Help me to see myself and others through your eyes. Like Rahab, give me the courage to step out in faith, even when it’s hard or risky. Use my life, with all its messiness, to point others to your mercy and your power to redeem. Amen.
