Rahab, the prostitute from Jericho (Joshua 2) gives us a lucid example of what it means to be “saved by faith”. She’s the archetypal gentile: an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger from the covenants of promise, who through faith became an heir of Abraham!
But Rahab isn’t just typical of us sinners, she’s also a type of Christ in the Old Testament. Because, like Christ, she brought sweeping salvation to ALL who came under her shelter.
When the walls of Jericho crumbled, Joshua gave a command to the two spies, “You made a promise to the prostitute. So go to her house and bring her out and all those who are WITH HER.”
So the two men went into the house and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, all her family, and all those who were with her. They put all the people in a safe place outside the camp of Israel. (Jos 6:22-23 ERV)
Imagine with me the reaction the two spies would have had if they barged into Rahab’s house that day and found 50 persons instead of an expected 20 or so? How about a hundred? How about one thousand?
None of that would have mattered. Joshua, their commander-in-chief had commanded them to spare, “all those who are WITH HER.”
What if, among the scared persons that the spies found huddled in her room that day, they had found an Indian man, a Latino woman, a Chinese boy and a black African baby! Rahab couldn’t possibly expect them to believe these were her family members too, could she?
But again, none of that would have mattered; their commander had said, “all those who are WITH HER”.
Note that the people in Rahab’s house were never quizzed or interrogated. They were never questioned about their past deeds and behaviour. All they did in order to be spared from the coming wrath (1Th 1:10) was come under Rahab’s shelter and their lives would be spared.
Beloved, this is the salvation message in graphic form. This is the Gospel message.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. – Rom 10:12
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. – Rom 10:13
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Heb 4:16
AMEN.
GREG ELKAN
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.