Rahab The Harlot - A Story Of God's Mercy On Fire

Outside of her door every night were dozens of men of different calibres, sitting and waiting in turns to meet the famous harlot - Rahab, whose incessant need for money and sex would make her do anything to get them.

Living in Jericho, a city that care less about the true God and mixing with her people, had hardened her heart against any form of honest living or working with her hands to meet her needs. So deep was she in this trade that no one ever remembers her surname. Everyone addressed her as Rahab The Harlot. A name she bore without any iota of shame.

But when the fullness of time came, God manifested His great mercy towards Jericho, allowing messages concerning Himself (in the form of news and rumours) to be sent throughout the whole land. Like everyone else in Jericho, Rahab heard about the great God in Heaven. But she alongside her family, did something other people considered foolishness and never thought of doing.

She believed in that God she heard about with her whole heart that He was indeed the God of Heaven and Earth.

(Joshua 2:9)  And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

(Joshua 2:10)  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

(Joshua 2:11)  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

To prove she had faith in God as the only true God, having heard of all His miracles and wonders, she did all she could to save the Israeli’s spies (messengers who were sent in the name of the Lord on an assignment) from the hands of the armies of Jericho. She also gathered her whole family together and waited for the appointed time of her physical salvation from harm. An act the apostle James called “Faith revealed or justified by works.”

(James 2:25)  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

As a result of this, God being the just and the justifier of the ungodly, in His mercy declared her eternally “righteous.” And so she did not perish, having been saved by faith in God’s salvation.

(Heb 11:30)  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

(Heb 11:31)  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

(Heb 11:32)  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

(Heb 11:33)  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions

How great is our God! How great is His kindness towards man! This is something religion would never allow you to see about God. 

No matter how deep you have fallen into sin. No matter how far down its road you have gone. The One who created you will NEVER turn His back on you. He is always ready to clothe you with His righteousness and draw you closer to Himself so you could feel His fatherly love for you.

(2Co 5:21)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

He made Jesus sin so you could become His righteousness today. You may not have done any single thing of which you can be proud of. You may never have cared in the past if God ever exists or not. You might be into stuffs currently that you are very much ashamed of. But hey! Just take your eyes away from yourself for a moment and see God’s great mercy towards you.

(Eph 2:4)  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

(Eph 2:5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

(Eph 2:6)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

(Eph 2:7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

(Eph 2:8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(Eph 2:9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Does this mean God doesn’t care how you live your life even when it’s hurting you and those around you? Not true. He cares how you live your life. He would prefer you live and do honest jobs so you can live a healthy long life and be useful to yourself and the entire world.

However He wants you to know that regardless of how you are right now and what you’ve done or even intends doing, He’s NEVER ever going to give up on you.

Live as honestly as you can. Do the right business and jobs that are not against the scriptures. But in the midst of all that, never take your eyes away from the ONLY real thing that matters - your Saviour Jesus and His great mercy on fire towards you.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!