As Christians, we are taught that we should live lives that please God. So if youre feeling like youre not good enough or youve made too many mistakes, remember Rahabs story and know that there is always hope with God. The biblical account of the fall of Jericho describes a miraculous event in which the walls of the city came tumbling down after Joshua and the Israelites marched around them for seven days. Forgive my blunt language but when it all boiled down to it, that was the choice Rahabs family had to make: To save her familys lives, Rahab managed to convince her whole family two things: The story of Rahab is about one womans courage and her actions that saved her entire family. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Rahab is mentioned in both the Old Testament and New Testament, and her story is an example of Gods grace and redemption. Rahab found God, ran to Him, and didn't let ANYTHING keep her back. We assume that if imperfect people can think so lowly of us how much worse we must be seen in the eyes of a perfect God. Download our free Rahab Bible Study pdf worksheets and join us! Diana Wallis Taylor is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books, including such novels asHadassah, Queen Esther of Persia; Lydia, Woman of Philippi;Mary, Chosen of God;Ruth, Mother of Kings;Mary Magdalene; andJourney to the Well. In this short verse, we learn a few things about God and faith: Rahab displayed all of those characteristics. Rahab let go of some of the biggest pieces of her life. Rehab became a central strategic figure of incomparable courage as she helped Israel to enter the promised land and subdue her own people. He speaks His own words. Rahabs faith in God engrafted her into a new family. 5. She refused to nurture those things anymore. A fairly popular one at that. Rahab occupies an interesting place in the mind and heart of the modern church. Woman of Faith Faith is the opposite of fear. 100 Interesting Facts About The World To Blow Your Mind - All That's 1. Find a digital copy of the Rahab study here. If so, it is likely that she had other family members in Jericho who were also struggling to make ends meet. My guess is youve heard her described much differently. Rahab had faith! Rahabs story isnt long though its longer than many stories in the Bible, but what little there is of the story is profound. Goldfish don't have stomachs. Rahab: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive The Bible doesnt give any conclusive evidence and it is in this gap that Ms. Taylor pens her story Rahab Woman of Jericho. Old Glory was designed by a high school student. She let them shrivel and fade and was completely content in that because she knew what was hers going forward; LIFE. The Israelites had been instructed by God to march around the city for seven days, and on the seventh day, they were to shout and blow their trumpets. Continue with Recommended Cookies. - Let's Talk Bible Study | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Jericho was situated on a main highway at the crossroads of three continents. And so if you ask me, "How could God possibly use me? Sometimes we get this idea that to escape from the things that separate us from God we need to slowly wean ourselves off of them. 23. Whenever the Army of Israel entered Canaan, Rahab acted according to a prearranged plan and hung out a scarlet cord from the window of her establishment. Why is knowing about the various characters in the Bible important. 4. There was no guarantee these risks would pay off, but to Rahab, these risks were worth it. The location of Rahabs house also made it convenient for her to help the Israelite spies escape from Jericho. Read More Covenants In the Bible (Starting In Genesis)Continue. 4. 113 Fun Facts to Amaze Anyone You Meet - PrepScholar Rahabs story is one of my favorites! Rahab in the Bible: The Surprising Harlot Advancing The Kingdom Of God Strange but true, the official flag of the United States was designed by Robert G. Heft in 1958 while Heft was a junior in high school. So how did she become one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ? God knew it because God knew her better than she knew herself. Yet, this is the woman whose door the two spies chose to knock on. Rahab Woman of Jericho will give you insight into what life may have been like for the people who remained in the camp while the Israelite army fought their enemies. Youll come to understand why as we continue to study through her story, which you can find in the book of Joshua. Part of me wonders how long she had been questioning the legitimacy of the idols and false gods her people worshiped; of which there were many. You might think from her profession that she was destined to die an early death, to fade away into shame, the disgraced woman. What a story! 50+ Fascinating Language Facts You Didn't Know [Infographic] How people view us is our stumbling block and often times we associate Gods view of us with mans view of us. It was included in everything from their entertainment to their worship. History First, this story teaches us that God is faithful to His promises. Dont get me wrong, Hannahs my girlthe woman I want to grow up to be when I grow up and over the years, Ive come to a have reluctant compassion for Penninah. She is remembered for the remarkable transformation. Simply the best collection of interesting facts, weird facts and useless facts. Faith requires a belief in God and that God exists. Still, the people of Jericho may have felt as if they could hide behind their walls. Rahab found God, ran to Him, and didn't let ANYTHING keep her back. Rahabs story is told in the Book of Joshua, chapters 2 and 6. Rahab also had to convince her whole family to move into her house if they wanted to be saved. Finally, this story teaches us that we should obey God even when it is difficult. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. formId: '63050dacce6421efe0a560d4', A lot of times when we read Rahabs story we get hung up on the lie, but are there more lessons that can be gleaned from the story of Rahab? }); The power of covenant in the Bible can be summed up by the fact that the God of the Bible is the only God who publicly and privately keeps His covenants. Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua. One of the more disturbing yet interesting fun facts: All the hair on your head is dead, except for the follicles. In any case, Rahab is an intriguing figure whose story provides us with a unique insight into the history of the Israelites. Random fun facts are great for breaking the ice, impressing a . What did it take to convince her entire family they would be better off living in a whorehouse? 5. Its a Hebrew commentary that speaks to the literal translation of the Bible. When the Israelites were about to invade Jericho, Rahab helped two spies escape from the city and hid them from the authorities. It took a lot of faith to acknowledge that the Hebrew God was greater than any of the gods of Jericho. This is what set the God of the Bible apart from the false gods of other nations. Who was Rahab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Now, this may not seem important to you until you realize that there were only three women listed in the genealogy of Jesus and one of them was Rahab, the prostitute. Banana milkshake is the perfect cure for hangover. In the olden days, just as today, cities were called by the names of famous men and women. Like Rahab, we have to determine what we will believe about God. Whatever Rahab was before Israel crossed into the land of the Canaanites she became someone new in the promised land. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with the study Gloria! It means not fighting in our own physical strength but instead; trusting and leaning into Gods might. They had the chance to occupy it once before under the leadership of Moses, but despite Gods promise fear got the best of them. Rahab is one of four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. Presidents Adams and Jefferson also died the same year, 1826; President. Who loves her family. Either that or they seem to be such perfect paragons of virtue (like Hannah who prayed when she was provoked instead of punching her aggressor in the face). Second, this story teaches us that God is a God of justice. From her, we learn that even though Jericho was a sinful city, there were still people there who were willing to turn from their evil ways and follow God. 4. Covenants inspire hope. The King of Jericho was killed in battle, along with all his soldiers. I agree! One of the best things about being a human being is collecting all kinds of random knowledge and trivia throughout our lives. She let them shrivel and fade and was completely content in that because she knew what was hers going forward; LIFE. You can keep digging and learning about Rahab and how the event of her life point to the hope of the gospel in the full Rahab Bible Study book! 80 Interesting Facts About Life That Will Surprise You Radames fabricates a story to tell Jerichos king, but Hammurabi doesnt believe itand he has his eye on the beautiful Rahab. The story of Rahab in the Bible - The Faith Space This beautiful new land was dangerous. Rahab in the Bible was a perceptive woman, intelligent and well-informed. It could be that Rahab was coerced into her lifestyle. 95 Fun Facts That Will Amaze You By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer Published August 19, 2020 American flags left on the moon will eventually get bleached white by the sun. We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. They say Gods grace covers our sin so it doesnt really matter how we live. 7 Things I Would Do Differently if I Were Raising My Children California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. That note on having kids, I thought the same too but then God brought to remembrance the many women that he blessed with children in old age. The quote, Let go and let God instructs us to let go of the things in our lives that are out of our control. 2. window.fd('form', { - God Bless Greg & Darlene, Jesus Leadership Training 13854 Nantucket Ave Pickerington, Ohio, 43147 740-400-1230 ggaines1@insight.rr.com, https://www.facebook.com/Jesusleadershiptraining, What Does the Bible say about Gender Roles | Scripture |, 17 Leadership Qualities of Deborah | Leader, 13 Names: Female Warriors in the Bible | PDF | Women | Women, 9 Characteristics of Ruth in the Bible | PDF | Ruth |, What Does the Bible Say Grace Is | God | Grace | Bible, What Does The Bible Say About Abigail | God | Bible Verses |, 29 Purpose Filled Most Encouraging Verses in the Bible |, What does the Bible say about Mentoring | Mentoring | Bible, Woman Teacher in the Bible|Teaching Scripture | Scripture |, What Does the Bible Say about Barnabas | Bible | Scripture |, 11 Functions: Armor Bearer in the Bible | Bearer | Armour Bearers | PDF, 13 Names: Female Warriors in the Bible | PDF | Women | Women Warriors | Bible | Warrior, 9 Facts about Rahab in the Bible | Biblical. 1. Rahab was an innkeeper. How interesting that a scarlet cord, likely, an emblem of ill-repute, became a sign of salvation. In return, the spies make a vow to protect Rahab and her family when they invade Jericho. How did you decide Rahab was around 40 at this point? Polar bear fur is actually clear, and their skin is black. This raises an important question: did Rahab have any family in Jericho? According to the Oxford Dictionary, there are a couple of different definitions of the word abandon. As a result of her actions, she and her family were spared when the city was destroyed. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. The wall was built to protect the city from invaders. Rahab hid the spies and saved them from the king in exchange for her life and her familys. Ad revenue is generated off of page views. (from here on out well refer to it as the Promised Land). Why do women seem to have a small role in the Bible? But she would enter without Moses for he was dead. Other than the part in the epidermis, the hair that grows out is made of dead cells. First, Rahab is described as a prostitute. It is possible that she was forced into this profession due to poverty or other circumstances. The story of Rahab reminds us that faith doesnt always make sense (in my experience, it never does). Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, (Matthew 1:5 NKJV). 3. This was her culture. As Rahab lived in the wilderness among the Israelites, she had to wrestle with this question. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a court painter in Raphael's hometown. Esperanto. Honeybees navigate by using the sun as a compass. Belarusian. It's also known as the "bleu, blanc, rouge", which means "blue, white, red". If you wish to use an image or any other content of this blog, contact connect@lotanner.com prior to using the content. He promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and He kept that promise by sending them into the Promised Land. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. She began as a Canaanite Prostitute and from her faith and a scarlet rope saved her entire family. The verses state Salmon was the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, and go on to state Boaz was the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. I doubt it. That's right. In fact, that is a big part of why God chose to destroy the Canaanites in the first place. Covenants In the Bible (Starting In Genesis), Nimrod and the Story of the Tower of Babel, 6 Examples of True Repentance in the Bible. Her identity. Because of her faith, she and her family were spared from the total destruction of Jericho. But not Rahab. By including these four women in Christ's genealogy, Matthew is making the claim that God's great plan of salvation includes Gentiles, even unrighteous Gentiles. The Book of Joshua marks the moment and describes the first movements of the Conquest: And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, Go, view the land, especially Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there (Joshua 2:1). #purposedbook Click To Tweet, For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, who you utterly destroyed. 101+ Interesting Facts About Cats - The Fact File If she did not have any family in Jericho, it is unlikely that she would have put herself in such danger. Finally, Rahab shows us that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact. She refused to nurture those things anymore. And the words He speaks never return void. This cord served as a sign of faithfulness and protection for Rahab and her family.Tonights living by faith example is Rahab, who expressed her faith in the living God: the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. (Joshua 2:11). Historians believe that the Wall of Jericho was actually built around 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. Copyright 2011-2023 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. As if that wasnt enough risk, Rahab goes on to help the spies create a strategic and safe return home (Joshua 2:14-16). The rabbis imagine her as a superhumanly seductive woman who knows the secrets of all the men in Jericho, as well as the ultimate example of repentance. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way (James 2:25)? Hi Shay! In fact, you lose some every day without noticing. Rahab was a prostitute. Rahab helped the spies escape over the city wall with the aid of a crimson cord lowered through her window, but not before the spies told her that she needed to hang that same scarlet cord in her window when they invaded. See, despite her many shortcomings, there is one character of Rahabs that Christian women in a sin-driven world should be eager to adopt: Abandon. Their bodies convert waste into protein. a. Jesus: Who Do You Think You Are? 2. Rahab, Ruth and Boaz Third, this story teaches us about Gods mercy and grace. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath (Joshua 2:9-11 ESV). Why? A snail can sleep for three years. Rahab in the Bible - Definition, Meaning and References A woman of Rahabs age (40+) left unwed and without a child was shamed. 77 Amazing Facts To Make You The Most Interesting Person In The Room Attention, class! The story of Rahab is found in the Book of Joshua, and it teaches several important lessons. Despite her profession, she was a woman of faith who put her trust in the God of Israel. I always thought that too! When scripture mentions Rahab, she's almost always called Rahab the harlot except in Matthew's genealogy. Here are some interesting facts about the Tundra: The tundra biome of the Arctic region extends all the way from the North Pole to the coniferous forests in the region of Taiga. 4. Rahab was quick to abandon the life she had built for the HOPE of a new one. Humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas. 3 Lessons from Rahab in the Lineage of Jesus - Lisa Appelo Im not sure how that happened but Im glad you both were searching and found the right verse! Interested in digging deeper? The Law of Moses states without ambiguity: 'No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of . In Psalm 87:4 Rahab is the name of a city; also in Psalm 89:10 and in Isaiah 51:9. (noun): abandon complete lack of inhibition or restraint. The Bible tells us that she married an Israelite named Salmon (father of Boaz) and had a son named Boaz. He wasnt made by human hands. In this story, Rahab is a prostitute who lives in Jericho. Actually, lets rephrase that. He has composed and performed original music for five albums. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Baby flamingos are born grey, not pink. The answer can be found in Rahabs character. This woman, Rahab, was like that relative in the family tree that we prefer to not talk about or to keep in the shadows. The word "harlot" is undoubtedly repeated so that you and I will know that whatever we have done God will forgive us if we come to him by faith. In addition to founding three churches, and the call as Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Dr. Milton is a retired Army Chaplain (Colonel). When something is abandoned it is no longer receiving the nurture it needs to grow. 95 Fun Facts Everyone Should Know | FactRetriever.com Thank you for catching that! But the lesson I want us to focus on today is the story of Rahab. Interesting and Fun Animal Facts 1. Thus, she and her family were saved. Rahab hid the Israelite spies and helped them escape. And God was far more concerned with who Rahab was than with what she did. Lobsters communicate with their bladders. City gates were also places of worship. Your email address will not be published. window.fd('form', { 5. If we only look at our past, who we were in our own strength; well fail to see the lesson, hope, and beauty of a life touched by God. Rahabs example of abandon reminds us that there are many things we are given in life that we are not meant to hold onto. All for the HOPE of a new life, with the One True God and His people. 6. These colors are historically an important symbol of France. This content may contain affiliate links. Subscribe to the CompellingTruth.org Newsletter: Many people are familiar with the story of the Israelites marching around the city of Jericho to bring down the walls. If youve ever had to deliver a speech before an unknown audience you understand how much nerve it takes to speak up for what you want. 3. This story is found in the book of Joshua, Chapter 6.