Reintroducing…..RAHAB
Hello, beautiful people! This is new to me, so I apologize in advance for rambling. 😊 I never wanted to blog, but blogging seems to keep coming. I guess I’ve entered the writer’s realm, so here we go.
Why start a blog you ask? Well, I wrote a book titled I Am Rahab: A Novel and I wanted to further the topic beyond the pages of the book. I believe that we all have some characteristics of Rahab within us and as women, it’s important to celebrate one another.
Who is Rahab? How do you even pronounce that? It’s (Rey-hab), and she was a Canaanite woman from the fortified city of Jericho in its days of splendor. She was a woman tainted by the title prostitute but redeemed by a perfect God. In my mind’s eye and understanding of the biblical text, Rahab was a wise and sharp-minded woman who at the time had her finger on the pulse of society. Jericho was not only fortified, but it was a city full of heathenism and idolatry. Prostitutes were used as temple functionality –sacred sex– which was part of religious worship, and at times money was exchanged and given to the deities. Rahab owned her business. She was a businesswoman. Her inn and brothel were situated into the thick, large walls of the gated community. Her window faced the in and out happenings of the city. She saw everything including the Hebrew spies when they entered the city gate. Maybe it was their attire, appearance, accent or possibly their mannerisms…but Rahab immediately identified the travelers as spies. The Hebrews were encamped at Shittim, opposite of Jericho. As they prepared to cross the river, Joshua, their leader, as a final preparation sent out two informers to spy the land. It wasn’t uncommon for random men to frequent Rahab’s establishment; such quarters were ideal to gather intelligence, so the men were ushered right in. “Come on up!” Rahab might have yelled from her window. “I‘ll give you everything you need.” She may have lured to the brave yet nervous men who looked lost amongst the promised land. Rahab the harlot, who was a wise businesswoman, welcomed the men and told them everything they needed to know.
Why would she do this? She was safe in her fortified wall, popular in the community, rich, and cultured. Perhaps from her many traveling visitors, she’d heard of the Israelite army. Everyone had heard of them. They knew the menacing Hebrews were closing in on them. Led by a God who was with them, they wiped out previous kingdoms and crossed the Red Sea on dry land.
“I know that the Lord has given you this land. When we heard of it, our hearts melted with fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you. For the Lord, your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Rahab proclaimed to the spies. She was also convinced of and faithful towards the God she never knew. Amongst her fame, she sought salvation, security, and love. Jericho treated their women and children as possessions to be sold, traded, worshiped and burned as offerings. She believed in the God who loved, protected and provided for His people. Where the inhabitants of Jericho feared the Lord God, Rahab longed to be a part. She offered to hide the spies from the city officials whom she knew would be after the awkward-looking men. She led them to her roof and hid them under bundles of drying flax. When the king’s soldiers came inquiring about the men that everyone saw enter her brothel, she lied saying she did not know they were spies and that they had left at dusk when it was time to close the city gates. She further lied saying she did not know which way they went, but, “Hurry,” she said, “leave now and you may catch up to them”. Yes, Rahab was a liar too. The spies stayed on the roof that night and later were sent back to their camp in another direction. Rahab suggested they hide in the hills for three days. Before she sent them on their way, she requested that they promise her freedom. “Now then,” she said “Please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to me and my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” Yes, Rahab was a popular, lying, wise, faithful businesswoman, and a loyal family member. She loved her family and bet everything she had on a God she never knew. She would have to convince her family to leave the city. The Israelite spies gave their word saying, “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land. This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
The promise was made and the spies left the city unseen. Rahab did convince her family and they were all saved from the bloody ending of Jericho. Joshua, the leader of the Israelite army, agreed to spare Rahab and all who belonged to her because of her faithfulness. Her family lived right outside of the Hebrew camp but Rahab was redeemed and welcomed to live amongst them.
More miracles began to prosper for this former prostitute, as God continued to use her mess and prepare it into a message to be told for years to come. Rahab later gave birth to a baby boy named Boaz, whose father was Salmon (believed to be one of the Hebrew spies). Boaz was the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth (another foreigner amongst the Hebrews and my favorite book in the Bible). Obed is the father of Jessie and Jessie the father of King David. All in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
How am I like Rahab, you ask? We all have a story, pulled down from generations of Rahabs. Each story is full of devastation, love, hurt, lust, survival, pain, sacrifice, wisdom, strength, determination, prosperity, generosity, hope, sadness, lies, fear, and redemption. My goal is to gather women together and continue telling our stories…stories that can uplift and stabilize generations to come with the same faithfulness that Rahab possessed under her hopeless circumstances.
Please unite with me as I blog my way into unifying the woman of today. I’m looking for soldiers –those who are courageous enough– to pick up their pens and write with me. Help me to share stories that will inspire others. I don’t desire to write this blog alone. I am one voice amongst millions of other women with stories of their own. So, if you care to share the story within you with others, please email me and I will post them on this blog forum on a weekly basis. The post can be anonymous or from those seeking writing endeavors. All I ask is that you write what is true, what is from your spirit, and what will be helpful to others. Why? Because we are Rahab too.
