Day 34
The prostitute who didn't perish
To Start
Imagine you’re a mountain, still and unshakable. Your thoughts—anxious and chaotic, judgmental, fearful, or proud—are the weather passing over the mountain. Don’t try to grab hold of them or indulge them. Let them pass. Rest in silent confidence.
Pray
As I read, Yahweh, show me Who You are and show me who I am. Empower me to receive the truth and to know Your truth is love.
Read
Read Hebrews 11:31, Joshua 2:1-4, & Matthew 1:1-6
As you read, consider…
Rahab is the first person in Hebrews 11 identified by her profession. Is God shaming Rahab by calling her “the prostitute”? Or is something else at work?
What did Rahab do by faith? What was her faith built on? (Joshua 2:8-13) What was her reward?
What does it look like to welcome someone “in peace”?
Her countrymen in Jericho are described here as “those who disobeyed” (it’s possible this is actually a reference to the greater mass of people who have disobeyed throughout history but that would include the people of Jericho). What did Rahab’s people disobey?
Hebrews 11:31
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.
Joshua 2:1-4
1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them.
Matthew 1:1-6
1An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
2 Abraham fathered Isaac,
Isaac fathered Jacob,
Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez fathered Hezron,
Hezron fathered Aram,
4 Aram fathered Amminadab,
Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon,
5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,
Obed fathered Jesse,
6 and Jesse fathered King David.
From JL
There’s a red door on the north facade of the Notre Dame cathedral. It’s a mostly decommissioned side door providing direct access from the (now gone) cloister to the choir. I’m reading a book about the construction of the cathedral and the author is describing the way the cathedral tells the story of the cross; in a list he mentions “the wound in His side which is the Red Door.”
As if the way to move from private prayer to public praise is through the wound in Christ’s side
As if the wound were a kind of portal, an entrance, a way in
My daughter has a friend who’s recently been more interested in God, but she’s concerned this friend is coming for the wrong reasons. We say, “everybody comes to Christ for the wrong reason. When they get to Him they find the right reason soon enough.”
Why do we come looking for God?
Because a pretty girl invited us to a Bible study and we’re lonely. Because the AA meeting was in the basement of a church. Because getting premarital counseling made the marriage license cheaper and someone knew a preacher who’d do it for free.
Deeper than that…
Because life is too hard. Because we’re hurting. Because something’s gone wrong, and we can’t fix it. Because we need to be healed. Because we need a demon cast out.
We come to Christ (almost always) because something is terribly wrong. We come to Christ through a wound—ours and His.
I’ll never forget the Sunday my husband, Justin, preached on Rahab and afterward a woman thanked him for talking about her with so much respect. She said, “I’m a prostitute. I know I shouldn’t do it, but it’s good money and I need to take care of my kid.” I was standing there when she said it. Later we got in the car and we almost couldn’t speak.
What are the odds that the Sunday you tell the story of a prostitute, a prostitute visits your church?
Maybe the odds are actually good. Because prostitution is a wound—it’s evidence of pain, brokenness, need. And wounded people are looking for healing. Shouldn’t they find it at church?
Years later Justin would tell the story of Rahab on Holy Ghost Stories. A woman messaged him to say that his handling of the story, the dignity he gave Rahab, had made her reconsider Yahweh’s goodness. In her youth she’d been sexually abused by a church member and then later, when she’d shared her experience, she’d been shamed by the church. She thought maybe God was like His church. Maybe He didn’t want her.
But then He wanted Rahab, didn’t He?
God doesn’t try to hide Rahab’s wound—in Joshua or Hebrews. She’s Rahab, the prostitute. Rahab, the prostitute, who lived by faith. It’s like Yahweh wants you to notice the wound. It’s like He wants you to understand who He’s calling home. It’s like He knows, maybe you’re a prostitute. Or a glutton or a drunk or a liar. Maybe you take too much from people. Maybe you’re drowning in fear.
Rahab, the prostitute, lived by faith. You can, too. Rahab was welcomed into the family of God. You can be, too.
Don’t be ashamed of your wound. Just let it lead you home.
Process
Have you turned away from any behaviors in order to follow Jesus? Are you embarrassed or ashamed of your past? How might you be freed of your guilt? What would it look like for you to be grateful for the wound that brought you to Christ?
Are you uncomfortable with the idea of God’s spies staying at a prostitute’s house? The optics aren’t great, right? What can we learn from Rahab’s story about how to engage with people who’re living outside God’s rules?
Rahab is yet another Hebrews 11 example of someone disobeying the laws of the land in order to act by faith. Like Moses’ parents, her act of faith involves intentional deception and rebellion. How do we square frequent OT moments like this with Romans 13:1-5?
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
Pray
Yahweh, make me brave like Rahab, the prostitute. Use my wounds to call me home and make me strong.
(You might also take some time today to pray for the prostitutes in your town. What do you want God to do for them?)
In the Comments
Feel free to talk about whatever’s moving you in the comments today.
One little thing I can’t stop thinking about: Rahab was Boaz’s mom! Boaz, the dreamy, wealthy farmer who shows God’s love to the outsider, Ruth. It’s perfect, right? Tell me why in the comments! :)
OR
Share how your definition of faith is shifting/growing/maturing over the course of this meditation on Hebrews 11.
Godspeed,
JL
A question I've been asking myself recently is are we as Christians to far removed from people's real life's? Are we so afraid of contamination almost that we limit our circle to only Christians? I hear people say that they need to be careful with the company that they keep because bad company corrupts. But if the spies hadn't kept "bad company" would Rahab have become part of the story and lineage of Jesus?
Sin didn't contaminated Jesus, when he encountered people bound by sin, he set them free. He didn't get infected. Much to consider!
Like Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy says, we’re called to the margins, not to rescue but to move in, because if we all did that, there would be no more margin. My pastor always says, we’ll walk with anyone to the cross. Certainly there are times for rescue, but there are more times for companionship. Rescue implies status. In this story, it’s the one we ordinarily think of needing rescue, who rescues the children of God. We all need rescue. We’re all idolaters at points in our lives, and God calls us harlots. Idolatry is prostitution in God’s eyes. Rahab is a great reminder that we are all equal and equally loved by our Father.