³¹ By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

Examples of great faith are not limited to the great patriarchs; the attention now turns to a non-Jew, a prostitute by the name of Rahab. She is one of those “of whom the world is not worthy” (Heb 11:38)! If anything, as Albert Barnes points out, “This record … is one of encouragement for the most abandoned sinners.” We should all be encouraged!

But how do we reconcile Rahab’s faith with her profession? Many today trivialize the sinfulness of the “world’s oldest profession,” usually said with a wink. (Just for the record, the oldest profession is tending to God’s creation, that is, agricultural related). God never takes lightly the demeaning and abusive nature of sex-trade activity.

But it is not at all clear that Rahab was currently carrying on the illicit trade at the time she aided the Jewish spies. She had obviously come to faith prior to harboring the spies, for she had rehearsed to them the reaction of her people to the stories of the miraculous exodus of the Jews from Egypt: “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). This last phrase seems to have been her own expression of faith in the God of the Jews. And she acted upon it, whereas the rest of the Jerichoites did not.

Whether she was currently still engaged in prostitution at the time of the story, or had reformed upon her faith in Yahweh, but still had the reputation among her people, we cannot say for sure. We can say that she would not have yet been familiar with laws of Yahweh that forbid prostitution or sexual deviations. Like those of faith who preceded her, she was far from perfect. But, like those who preceded her, she demonstrated an audacious faith. James sees her action as outwardly validating her faith: “Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (James 2:25). As a result, she did not die when Israel invaded.

God certainly was not ashamed of her reputation. He proudly includes her among those He calls “brethren” (Heb 2:11). Is this not a testimony to God’s glory and grace! In fact, she is mentioned prominently in the ancestral line of Christ (Matt 1:5). She is a prime example of what Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Truly, I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you” (Mt 21:31).

Lord, help me to be like Rahab who acted on her audacious faith.