There are certain narratives in the Old Testament which have so much of the New Testament in them. Four come to mind almost immediately. For openers there is the inauguration of the first Passover which in turn is the climax to Israel’s exodus from Egypt (This saga is the foundation of Christian theology, see Exod. 12); then there is the remarkable story about Elisha feeding his captive enemies before releasing them to go home to Aram (Syria- see II Kings 8-23); there is also the almost humorous account of Jonah bitterly complaining because God actually had pity on the pagan Ninevites who Jonah hated with a passion (Jonah 4); finally, there is the story of Rahab, the harlot, who became a great “Mother of Israel.” Let’s focus a bit on her as an extraordinary example of God’s saving grace.
After wandering around the wilderness for about 40 days, Israel finally got their act together and eventually fought their way to the point where they were poised to cross the Jordan River, the point of entry into the promised land. Their mission was to cross the river and prepare to attack and capture the city of Palms, Jericho. Their new leader Joshua, who had replaced his mentor Moses, decided to send two “advance men” under cover into Jericho to “case the joint;” that is, check for weaknesses, assess the inhabitant’s stomach for war, and any other bits of intelligence that may give Israel an edge. Of course, Israel already had their “ace in the hole,” because God was on their side. (This story is found in Joshua 2) Well, the two spies sneaked into town and eventually made their way into a house that was really a “house of ill repute.” It was run by a prostitute named Rahab and, perhaps, she was more a “madam” rather than a mere prostitute, with several call girls in her employ. The Bible doesn’t actually say that but one might venture to read between the lines. At any rate, the king of Jericho got wind of the boys’ presence in his town and sent his “posse” to Rahab’s place where it was reported that these Israelite intruders were staying. What happens next is the stuff out of which heros and heroines are made. Rahab reached a crossroad in her life, it was a self-defining moment which had repercussions that helped shape not only the remaining history of Israel (she amazingly became King David’s great-great grandmother) and also became part of the Messiah’s lineage (See Ruth 4:17-22 and Matthew 1:6,7).
When the posse questioned the whereabouts of the two spies, Rahab had the critical choice of ratting out her two guests or hiding them and helping them gain safe passage out of town. Some would call that an existential decision. She chose the latter. In so doing she once and for all separated herself from her gods, her culture, her neighbors and, perhaps, even her family ( actually, she was instrumental in saving her whole family - see Joshua 6:23). She had to make a clean break with everything that was familiar to her and in effect become a member of an alien people. But her testimony regarding why she took such a daring step is what true conversion is all about. I wish I could give the entire three verses (Jos. 2:9-11), but one verse will suffice here: “As soon as we heard these things (the crossing of the Red Sea, victory after victory against more than formidable enemy armies, etc.), our hearts melted, neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” She was “wrong” about one thing. SHE had courage - the courage of her convictions to place her well being in the hands of the God of Israel. Her clean break with her past is so illustrative of II Corinthians 5:17 (please look it up) and inspired James 2:25 as well as Hebrews 11:31. Rahab’s “gamble” was much more than that, it was an act of saving faith. We, too, need to make a clean break with our “checkered” past and wholeheartedly serve the God who became Rahab’s God.
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