Advent Chronicles is a first person retelling of the people and places who are in the great story of the Messiah, the Christ. Rahab recounts entrance into the genealogy of Jesus.
25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. Joshua 6:25 NIV
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,Obed the father of Jesse,6 and Jesse the father of King David. Matthew 1:5-6 NIV
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11:31 Nov
Thank you for coming in to chat for a spell. I am sorry it is a little messy, our little toddler is so much to keep up with. I hear you want me to share how Salmon and I met and of Yahweh’s kindness to me. The child is asleep, so I have a few moments.
You can’t fully understand my story because you have never lived with a people full of idolatry and wickedness. At that time, I was no different.
Our people of Jericho worshiped, Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Women were often forced into the duties of temple prostitution, I was also. I met many men. Some told of the great nation who had escaped Egypt through the drying up of the Red Sea. They told how no one has been able to withstand their might and power. They told me, that they believe in one God who watches over them from above and is with them here on earth.
When they spoke of this God, hope arose in my heart and mind. Could there really be a God that cares about people who walk on this dusty earth? Why would this God help a people? Our god’s expect us to sacrifice ourselves just to appease their anger. What kind of God would be open for us to draw near to Him?
We had heard that this great nation of people was on the other side of the Jordan River, not far from our city of Jericho. It was not hard to notice the two men who came as spies, because they dressed so differently. I had picked up several languages from travelers and was able to talk with the men.
I hid them on my roof and lied to the soldiers who were seeking them. I asked them if the stories I heard about God’s care for them were true? They told me of His great compassion and his holiness. Our city would be destroyed for its wickedness. My heart sank, as I knew I was numbered among those who were wicked.
I made a deal with them. “Your life for my life, my family’s life.” I helped them escape through my window on the wall. As soon as they left, I put the scarlet thread in my window so they would know which house was mine, which house should be spared.
Why should I be spared? I can’t erase my past. The women whisper, point fingers, shush their children to pass me quickly. The men look at me with hungry lust. I am so unclean. Why would their God spare me?
As soon as we saw the tribes starting to circle our city, I brought my father, mother, brothers and sisters into my home. It was only then that I told them how I had helped the spies. For seven days we remained huddled in my home.
Then we heard the blast of a multitude of rumpets. We could feel the shaking of the ground and hear walls tumbling. Ours stood intact. The scarlet garment flapped back and forth in the dust as it hung outside my window. Would the men keep their word and spare my family’s life? We heard the screams of death and the shouts of battle. Our door remained locked and unhindered.
Salmon, one of the spies who I had helped, knocked on our door and told us it was safe to come outside. My family was skeptical, but I trusted him. He escorted us out of the city and we met with Joshua. He addressed my father first and thanked him for raising a bold and courageous daughter.
Joshua looked at me. There was a purity in his eyes and face that I had never seen before. I mean never. I felt exposed, but not ashamed, sinful but forgiven, and filthy but washed clean. He spoke kindly to me and gave me thanks for my bravery to help his men. We would be accepted, but first we would have to live outside of the encampment.
Salmon made sure that we had the supplies necessary to live. I tried not to look at him, but his eyes were kind and accepting. When he spoke, I felt like giggling. He made me happy. Later he told me that he spoke with Joshua and asked if he could have me as his wife.
You ask me why I helped the spies of which Salmon was one of them? We all place our faith in something. I chose to follow the God of the Hebrews. What God does miracles for a whole nation of people? The more stories I heard, the more I leaned into wanting to give my heart to this God.
“Mommy, I am hungry”, said the toddler Boaz.
I am sorry, I have to attend to my son. Did I answer most of your questions? Salmon has taught me that faith in Yahweh is first personal. It is out of that love relationship, we follow his commands. We help others because he helped us first. Our faith finds a way to work itself out in our actions of living pure and helping others.
“Come here Boaz. You will be working in your father’s field soon. May you always be kind to those who seem to be left out, like Yahweh was kind to your mother.”
The genealogy of Jesus flows in two directions. There are those who are listed in the scriptures descended from Abraham. If we were writing the story we probably would not have included Rahab, the prostitute. She is listed as one who became a child of God by faith. Like me or you, our sins could have disqualified us from entering into His family. We may think we don’t belong, because of our sinful past. But through our faith in Jesus, He makes us clean and welcomes us into the family.
Stories of God’s miraculous dealings among the Hebrews brought hope to Rahab. May you share the great stories in the Bible and your own personal stories of God’s faithfulness. You never know when someone may be listening and begin their faith walk journey with a God who is not only in heaven, but with us here on this earth below.
Blessings Love y’all
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