22. This was in keeping with Gods command that all the inhabitants of Canaan be destroyed. However, God is obviously at work. And God knew that all along. Rahab, the woman with whom the spies were staying, protected them by hiding them on her roof. Each of us has to run the race set before us if we are going to accomplish what God has given us to do. Though less common than earthquakes, the moon actually has moonquakes, too. Rahab helped the Israelite spies escape after their mission was complete. 5. On the contrary, dogs bob their head up and down when chasing prey. Joshua 2:1-24 #AllinAugust pic.twitter.com/QdFkTkkfYX. What if she was actually the descendant of Joseph, a member of the Ephraimite tribe? 1. The history of the King of Jericho is found in the book of Joshua. Readers are welcome to reach out to her and read her blog at www.dianawallistaylor.com. Its also a misunderstanding of the actual gospel message. Download our free Rahab Bible Study pdf worksheets and join us! The Gideons International in Canada employs 32 people and has an annual budget of $8 million. None of their neighboring countries had been able to penetrate their walls and so they felt safe. Thus, as God worked all things together for the good, using the humble and the most unlikely, God raised up a harlot to become the great-great-grandmother of King David. Rahabs name is likely derived from the root r--b, meaning to be wide open. This may relate to her role as an innkeeper, as it would have been necessary for her to keep her establishment open wide in order to accommodate the many travelers who passed through Jericho. Are you ready to dig in? These include balance, temperature, pain and time as well as internal senses for suffocation, thirst, and fullness. }); 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. She is Known as one of the women of the bible, many women copied the Faith Rahab. We often think it takes a lot of courage to be brave but the best definition of bravery is doing what needs to be done, not because you dont have any fear but in spite of it. By hiding the Israelite spies, she helped to ensure that their mission was successful. How could Almighty God, the holy God of heaven, use such a sinner like me?" Her name was Rahab. No matter what our past may look like, we can always find new life and purpose in Him. 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)? Historians believe that the Wall of Jericho was actually built around 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. It could be that Rahab was coerced into her lifestyle. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. 65. Among the many stories that are interwoven in that wonderful section of the Bible, the woman of the scarlet cord takes her honored place. I can forget my past and move forward in God. Manage Settings It describes a toxic one, or more relate-ably a toxic person. "By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace." HEBREWS 11:31 Background After 40 years of struggle, Israel stood poised to enter the Promised Land. Living purposefully for Christ starts with laying down all that was, and clinging to all that He is. Read the fullaffiliate disclosure. Image credits: Brian Whipple. Read More How to Make A Jesse Tree?Continue. It is also worth noting that Rahabs name is not listed among the other Canaanite women who were banished from Jericho, which suggests that she was already living there when the Israelites arrived. Rahabs story is one of my absolute favorites. 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. Scholars disagree on whether it was 1406 BC or 1250 BC. You are the tallest when you first wake up. Other than the part in the epidermis, the hair that grows out is made of dead cells. Yet, this is the woman whose door the two spies chose to knock on. Melting ice and icebergs make frizzing noise called "bergy selter". Thats what I intend to deliver and hope youll find in this Rahab Bible study. After all, she was an outsider, a woman of ill repute, and someone who should have been their enemy. By her own admission, the Hebrew God had already given the Israelites the city of Jericho. In addition, she is a great example of the power of God to transform us from our sinful state into the person He wants us to be. I was so nervous but this post helped me tremendously! She had to decide what she believed about God. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This is a BIG DEAL. She trusted in him for the righteousness she could not produce in her own life: I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. Its not the tree that stands out, but the stories attached to it, each pointing to the faithfulness of God and His love for us. Something tells me she had been waiting for an opportunity like this; a chance to escape the darkness in Canaan and the hurt of her life. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. But as hard as it is to have faith, there are rewards in the end. You might think from her profession that she was destined to die an early death, to fade away into shame, the disgraced woman. But what happened to Rahab after that? What a story! 64. What if Rahab the harlot wasnt a Canaanite? It's funded by membership dues, non-member donations, bequests and major gifts and donations from its 275 chapters. Finally, this story teaches us that we should obey God even when it is difficult. 2. Its been fascinating to read through different portions of it! In Rahabs case, it wasnt any of those things. You can find the story of Rahab in the Bible in Joshua chapters two and six. Thanks so much! Hence, it is strange that a Harlot, a Canaanite, and a liar is known as a distinguished Bible figure. She, herself, was a prostitute. What was the Purpose of the Scarlet Cord? And we must always remember that this woman, rehab, was chosen by Almighty God to be a chosen instrument in bringing about salvation to the ends of the earth. So without further ado, here are 80 interesting facts about life that will surprise you. He was 500 years old when he had his three sons. His name means "lofty, exalted, or high mountain." There is no information about his birth or his early years. Rahab is one of four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. From the moment conflict arose between the Israelites and Rahabs people, Rahab had set in her heart whose side she was on. Humans shed 40 pounds of skin in our lifetime. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31 NKJV). 4. So He tells the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:5, It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. click here and print our free Rahab Bible study pdf worksheet! This was SO enlightening! Rahab was one of the ancestors of Jesus mentioned in the first chapter of the New Testament. Either way, it is clear that Rahab was involved in prostitution. Helping Women Gain Confidence In Bible Study. Many people are familiar with the story of Rahab, the prostitute who helped the Israelites escape from Jericho. As the Israelites prepare to invade the city of Jericho, Joshua sends two spies to gather intelligence. Jesus' own lineage shows how God powerfully uses us despite our past. Milton has also served as chancellor and president of seminaries and is the author of more than thirty books. She is one of the prominent figures in the Christian tradition. Ruth is not a whore but a Moabite, a member of a despised people. The word for "window" appears three times in the Rahab narrative (Josh 2: 15, 18, 21) when she helps the men escape and marks her house so it will be spared destruction.Windows have a prominent role in the stories of several other biblical women: Michal (2 Sam 6:16), the mother of Sisera (Judg 5:28 -31), and Jezebel (2 Kgs 9:30).All these women are looking through their palace windows . Im glad your faith was boosted by Rahabs story. 5 facts about the Gideons By Anne Bokma | December 1, 2015 1. God is so amazing! We wouldnt have had that awesome story of Rahabs faith in the Bible. Cookie Monster's real name is Sid. Your email address will not be published. And the Bible does a good job of showing us what to do but with so many male leads its sometimes hard to visualize what a woman who pleases God looks like. Rahab, or Rachab (wide), a celebrated woman of Jericho who received the spies sent by Joshua to spy out the land, hid them in her house from the pursuit of her countrymen, was saved with all her family when the Israelites sacked the city, and became the wife of Salmon and the ancestress of the Messiah. Grit, abandon, and surrender. (NIV) Hebrews 11:31. In Joshua 2, we are told that Rahab entertained the spies in her house. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Alonda Tanner is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. 5. 50+ random facts - fun facts. The 10 best face oils for every single skin type. What I admire so much about Rahab is that she took the reckless route. Learn more at the bottom of this page or read my full disclosure policy.What do you know about Nimrod and the story of the Tower of Babel? 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). Woman of Faith Faith is the opposite of fear. It portrays a lack of commitment or diligence; sometimes to a task and other times towards a person or relationship. Still, the people of Jericho may have felt as if they could hide behind their walls. Quechua. But not Rahab. Rahab's Risk This is one of the acts for which Rahab is immortalized. You will want to dive into the story of Gods people to remind you of His awesome power. Rahab is considered to be a righteous woman in Scripture, And todays #Biblical #Womanhood example is #Rahab pic.twitter.com/q7hBfXIRWl, The Book of Judges does not mention Rahab by name, but she is likely the harlot who dwelled in Jericho mentioned in Judges 2:1.[9]. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? She asked for what she wanted knowing the Hebrew spies had no reason to give it to her. Even more, Rahab was, soon, engrafted into the physical family of Israel as she became the wife of Salmon, one of the leaders of Israel who supported Moses when they left Egypt. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. There is no more touching story of God's glorious grace than the genealogical introduction to the birth of Jesus by faith through the line of Joseph in Matthew chapter 1. But the lesson I want us to focus on today is the story of Rahab. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in Jericho during the time of the Israelite Exodus from Egypt. 9 Facts about Rahab in the Bible.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'jesusleadershiptraining_com-box-3','ezslot_1',624,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-jesusleadershiptraining_com-box-3-0'); Rahab was a prostitute who lived in Jericho. Rahab let go of some of the biggest pieces of her life. containerEl: '#fd-form-63050dacce6421efe0a560d4' Righteous Rahab was righteous, as evidenced by her later conversion to faith in God. Here's a cool video that will provide you with more language facts about the weirdest languages in the world. I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you (Joshua 2:9 NIV). While we cannot be certain, it is possible that she was motivated to help the Israelites because she wanted to protect her loved ones from harm. Thus, she and her family were saved. 3. What will happen to Rahab after the lecherous king poisons her husband? Obedient Rahab was obedient to Gods commands, even when it put her in danger. 1. As Christians, we are taught that we should live lives that please God. The sun makes up more than 99% of the mass in our solar system. She lived in a totally corrupt society that engaged in every kind of sexual perversion and idol worship which included child sacrifice. She is popularly known as the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies. Rahab put her life at risk several times while helping the spies. The more common introduction (the reason people are shocked that shed have the honor of being in the lineage of Jesus): Rahab was a prostitute. For Rahab trusted in God who fulfilled the covenantal promise to Abraham that he would be given land from which would bring a nation, and a descendant, who would bless the earth. She received her B.A. window.fd('form', { Im sure that someone who had a reputation as a prostitute would have had difficulties shaking off the labels placed on her by society. The gospel that Jesus, those before Him, and the disciples after Him taught is a gospel of repentance., Read More 6 Examples of True Repentance in the BibleContinue. Ive always wondered, but I think Rahab had enough flax to completely cover the two Israelite spies. UK. Random fun facts are great for breaking the ice, impressing a . 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. The Forgotten Mothers of the Bible. Her past did not disqualify her from receiving Gods mercy. This is one of my favorite chapters to work through in the Rahab Bible Study (find it here!). "Paul to TimothyII Timothy 2: 2KJV, We have Ads Running on this site. 90% of U.S. media (TV, news, radio) is owned by 6 companies. Archi. "For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" (Joshua 2:11). 6. a. Copyright 2011-2023 Got Questions Ministries - All Rights Reserved. in Elementary Education at San Diego State University and was an elementary school teacher for twenty-two years. Rahab was a creative problem solver. When playing with female puppies, male puppies will often let them win, even if they have a physical advantage. - Let's Talk Bible Study | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He lived for 120 years. The Bible tells us that she married an Israelite named Salmon (father of Boaz) and had a son named Boaz. The word translated as harlot or prostitute in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word znh (pronounced zaw-naw). When your city has fortified walls, its easy to believe your city is impenetrable. Thanks for sharing your experience with me , I used to think Rahab was only a prostitute and she wanted to sleep with the Christian spies. The answer can be found in Rahabs character. Rahab is mentioned in the New Testament in the Letter of James and in the book of Hebrews. Partly because of her reputation as a prostitute but also because of the restraints put on women in those times. He speaks His own words. Image credits: Adam Brill. Goldfish don't have stomachs. 4. We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. She told them how the citizens of Jericho had been fearful of the Israelites ever since they defeated the Egyptians via the Red Sea miracle (some 40 years prior). Second, this story teaches us that God is a God of justice. Find a digital copy of the Rahab study here. 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. A terrific study does it ever say how did she become a harlot in the first place. Much work remained. Her bravery saved the lives of the Israelite spies and ultimately led to the fall of Jericho. Even today, she is an example of how God can use anyone no matter their past for His purposes. Did you know that Rahab is one of the most celebrated women in the Bible? Attention, class! A fairly popular one at that. 5. 8. The color scarlet was often associated with sin and judgment in the Bible, but in this case it represented Rahabs faith in God and her willingness to protect His people. It means not fighting in our own physical strength but instead; trusting and leaning into Gods might. She had grown up in Jericho (according to the Midrash she had been there for nearly 40 years, possibly more). The Kingdom of Bhutan uses "Gross National Happiness" as an important national measurement. Interesting Facts About Ruth Barnes' Bible Charts MEANING: Hebrew meaning "Friendship" or "Association" AUTHOR: Authorship uncertain TIME WRITTEN: Uncertain POSITION IN THE BIBLE: 8th Book in the Bible 8th Book in the Old Testament 3rd of 12 books of History (Joshua - Esther) 58 Books to follow it. Rahab Villacres was born on Monday, 71 st day / 11 th week of 1996; 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. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years and the next place we find Rahab is in the genealogy of Christ. The prophet Ezekiel even saw a vision of the glory of God entering through the city gate (Ezekiel 44:2). window.fd('form', { Because of her faith, she and her family were spared from the total destruction of Jericho. While there are many theories about Rahabs origins, the most likely explanation is that she was a native of Jericho. The more common introduction (the reason people are shocked that shed have the honor of being in the lineage of Jesus): This leads us to Rahabs real shining moment; The Story of Rahab and the Spies at Jericho, as given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 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). How many persons would have thought to hide someone under stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6)? What is the path that lies ahead of you? They keep their head level when chasing prey. The Gates also symbolized entry into the kingdom of God and were often mentioned in biblical passages. Canaan was well known for sexual perversions and abuses. Most of them just skim the surface of Rahabs story. 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). One of the most important stories in the Bible is the story of the 12 spies. He has composed and performed original music for five albums. But why is she included in the lineage of Jesus? Rahab is a very important figure in the Bible, appearing in both the book of Joshua and the New Testament. So thankful faith is available for all of us! Scripture doesnt say explicitly, but I think the arrival of these spies was an answer to Rahabs prayers. Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua. After the fall of Jericho, the Israelites went on to conquer the rest of Canaan. A woman who risks her own life to save others. It also demonstrates that even when things seem hopeless, we can trust that God is in control and He will always help us achieve victory. Hi Shay! When she was bargaining with the spies for her life, she wasnt selfish about it. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You probably have more hair than you think. 5. For Rahab, the God of Israel is also the God of Jericho. Deuteronomy 9:5. Polar bear fur is actually clear, and their skin is black. Did she expect that she would one day be the ancestor of Christ? Esther is one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman. Baby flamingos are born grey, not pink. Still, she boldly asked them to spare her life. Now, this isnt just any woman, shes a harlot. They were also places of judgment. Moses had passed and appointed Joshua as the new leader of Israel and with Gods blessing and instruction the Israelites were again preparing to enter Canaan (the Promised Land), starting with Jericho. 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. Salmon was from the tribe of Judah, which means that Rahab was also technically from that tribe (although she was not born into it). 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. Humility creates an atmosphere where God alone is exulted. The story of Rahab reminds us that faith doesnt always make sense (in my experience, it never does). The fact that Rahab was willing to risk her life to help the Israelites shows that she had faith in their God. So, while city gates served many purposes in Bible times, their most important function was as a place where people could meet with God. We dont know how invested Rahab was in honoring Canaanite worship practices but we do know that however invested she was, it wasnt enough to keep her from abandoning their falsehoods for the One true God. History For forty years, the children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness without a home. And God was far more concerned with who Rahab was than with what she did. She didnt just let go of some things, she abandoned EVERYTHING. The quote, Let go and let God instructs us to let go of the things in our lives that are out of our control. Why is knowing about the various characters in the Bible important. 33. Banana milkshake is the perfect cure for hangover. Or remain where they were and trust in the security of the city walls and the strength of their army. And in Hebrews, Rahab is held up as an example of someone who had faith, even though she was not part of the people of Israel. Rahabs story is a picture of Gods plan of redemption, available to anyone who will believe Him by faith. The Great Wall of China is not actually visible from space. Book: Rahab, Woman of JerichoAuthor: Diana Wallis TaylorGenre: Biblical FictionPublisher: Whitaker House Publication Date: August 4, 2020Print Length: 234 pages. But instead, she protected them and helped them escape.