And the words He speaks never return void. containerEl: '#fd-form-63050dacce6421efe0a560d4' One million Earths could fit inside the sun. Miraculous stories trickled into town about the way the Hebrew God had dried up the Red Sea. Simply the best collection of interesting facts, weird facts and useless facts. Rahab is a very important figure in the Bible, appearing in both the book of Joshua and the New Testament. The most remarkable deed of Rahab was actually telling a lie, to protect two spies of Joshua. UK. The prophet Ezekiel even saw a vision of the glory of God entering through the city gate (Ezekiel 44:2). A fairly popular one at that. I hope you enjoyed this summary of the story of Rahab in the Bible! window.fd('form', { God still uses those who have reverent fear of Him. The 10 best face oils for every single skin type. formId: '5e128eefed5f9800263d7fc0', Image credits: Brian Whipple. 66. While there are many theories about Rahabs origins, the most likely explanation is that she was a native of Jericho. It's funded by membership dues, non-member donations, bequests and major gifts and donations from its 275 chapters. Rahab also had to convince her whole family to move into her house if they wanted to be saved. 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. Deuteronomy 9:5. But most importantly, city gates were places where people would come to meet with God Himself. In fact, that is a big part of why God chose to destroy the Canaanites in the first place. 2. 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). Thats what I think of when I see the Jesse Tree. From a security standpoint, the gates served as the main point of entry into the city and were heavily guarded. He lived for 120 years. She shows that with forgiveness there is no need to live in guilt and stay in our sinful ways. in Elementary Education at San Diego State University and was an elementary school teacher for twenty-two years. She is not remembered for her sin. In a lot of modern churches, they claim theres not really a need for it. 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 was a prostitute who became a believer and played a key role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:8-11. The name of the French flag is actually very simple, it means "3 colors". She had grown up in Jericho (according to the Midrash she had been there for nearly 40 years, possibly more). 9. His parents are Amram and Jochebed from the tribe of Levi. Third, this story teaches us about Gods mercy and grace. The Kingdom of Bhutan uses "Gross National Happiness" as an important national measurement. Humble Rahab was humble, as she considered herself unworthy of salvation. This leads us to Rahabs real shining moment;the role she played in helping the Israelites conquer Jericho. 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. Covenants inspire hope. It means not fighting in our own physical strength but instead; trusting and leaning into Gods might. The story of Rahab is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. But reading your article I find that there are some ADDITIONAL things I needed to know. The three wealthiest families in the world have more assets than the combined wealth of the forty-eight poorest nations. Just as the Israelites' faith in God led to their victory, Rahab's faith saved her family and played a key role in the Israelites' success over Jericho. 33. The story of Rahab is a powerful reminder of Gods love and grace. 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. And as soon as we heard, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the, This is one of my favorite chapters to work through in the Rahab Bible Study, 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. Rahab was the great-great-grandmother of David, according to the Christian Bible. These things require a steady work ethic and a life source in order to thrive. Learn more about theStory of Rahab from Christianity.com. Here are 15 interesting facts about the US you can now add to your list. Rahabs house was located in the city of Jericho. They chase while keeping their head level. Ive always wondered, but I think Rahab had enough flax to completely cover the two Israelite spies. How many persons would have thought to hide someone under stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6)? Can you imagine being that girl? The one who was known for sleeping around? 1. This is a misunderstanding of Gods grace. But we can learn from their mistake and always obey God, even when it is difficult. But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho--and she lives among the Israelites to this day. Im sure that someone who had a reputation as a prostitute would have had difficulties shaking off the labels placed on her by society. If you've never heard of these languages, you aren't alone. 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. FUN FACTS ABOUT Rahab Auguste She was born on Sept. 7th 1970 Her favorite artist was Prince and she had a crush on Ralph Tresvant from New Edition as a teen. She pleaded for the lives of her family. Thats how the entire line of Abraham started! This is one of my favorite chapters to work through in the Rahab Bible Study (find it here!). In the olden days, just as today, cities were called by the names of famous men and women. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? Believers can glean from Rahab's life as she was a woman of faith, courage, and love. The word translated as harlot or prostitute in our English Bibles is the Hebrew word znh (pronounced zaw-naw). #purposedbook. What I admire so much about Rahab is that she took the reckless route. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. When I hear Tower of Babel my, Read More Nimrod and the Story of the Tower of BabelContinue, Its easy to overlook the importance of repentance in the Bible. Rahab recognized the God of Israel. There was no guarantee these risks would pay off, but to Rahab, these risks were worth it. Matthew 16:25. This was her culture. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Your email address will not be published. Who loves her family. So while Rahab is not as well-known as some other biblical figures, she played a key role in Gods plan for redemption. Rahab is one of four women mentioned in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus. This act of bravery led to Rahab and her family being spared when Jericho was destroyed. God is so amazing! 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. But more than anything, Rahabs story is about a woman whose ways pleased the Lord. The spies are taken in by a woman named Rahab, who hides them from the authorities and helps them escape. What made her do that? 6. Both Deuteronomy and Leviticus record detestable practices of life and worship (including sexual perversions) that were the norm for Canaanite peoples. The cool thing about encountering God is that the identity we have in Him transcends the broken person we were before Him. And it highlights the one thing that is life with God. Judah married a Canaanite woman named Shua. Read More How to Make A Jesse Tree?Continue. Not solely because of the type of livelihood she was leaving behind (although thats a part of it) but primarily because Rahab was no in a position to easily take care of herself. Rahab married Salmon and had a son named Boaz. 3. He doesnt function by human design. She not only believed in God but she also acted. In fact, that is a big part of why God chose to destroy the Canaanites in the first place. 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. A lot of the women featured in the Bible are walk-on characters who werent even given a name let alone enough screen time for us to really know anything about them. Weve talked about it as a verb but there is one more definition I want to bring into this conversation before we come to an end. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Where in The Book of Judges is the account of Rahab Found? In the 1960s, the CIA tried to spy on the Kremlin and Russian embassies by turning cats into listening devices. Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel. Old Glory was designed by a high school student. 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. It portrays a lack of commitment or diligence; sometimes to a task and other times towards a person or relationship. It was beautiful. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The prostitute. The outer layer of skin is also replaced every month. It will give you a glimpse into what life may have been like for those first families who had to settle the land while the army remained on the move. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The account of Rahab Reminds us that from the moment we choose to believe and follow God, the impact we have on the world can change. Or grab the full book study here. All polar bears are left handed. 4. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the city of Jericho during the time when the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Interestingly, Boaz went on to marry Ruth, another woman who was not originally from the tribe of Judah. Image credits: Adam Brill. containerEl: '#fd-form-5e128eefed5f9800263d7fc0' Its evident in Joshua 2:8-11 that Rahab has little to no confidence in the life shes been living and the gods her people worship. Rahab is the first Gentile recorded in the Bible as having converted to Judaism. 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. 3. We first meet Rahab in Joshua chapter 2. Fact: Dead skin cells are a main ingredient in household dust Here's an interesting science fact for you: According to researchers at Imperial College London, humans shed around 200 million skin. Living purposefully for Christ starts with laying down all that was, and clinging to all that He is. In Psalm 87:4 Rahab is likened to Babylon which was destroyed in the sixth century BC. 4. 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. The history of the King of Jericho is found in the book of Joshua. We wouldnt have had that awesome story of Rahabs faith in the Bible. Instead of occupying the land as instructed, they convinced themselves they werent strong enough and opted to return to Egypt; the land God had just freed them from (see Numbers chapters 13 & 14). Trusts in God. Rahab found God, ran to Him, and didn't let ANYTHING keep her back. I doubt it. 3. It took a lot of faith to acknowledge that the Hebrew God was greater than any of the gods of Jericho. Keep digging! What was the Purpose of the Scarlet Cord? When He speaks a word, it happens. As a result, Rahab became an important part of biblical history, and her story is a reminder of the power of faith. "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. When the Israelites come to Jericho to conquer the city, Rahab hides the Israelite spies and helps them to escape. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The English language is spoken in more than 100 countries around the world. Historians believe that the Wall of Jericho was actually built around 8,000 years ago during the Neolithic period. In the Book of Joshua, Rahab (a heroine nonetheless known as "Rahab the Harlot") assisted two Israelite spies in escaping out a window and down the city wall of Jericho. Don't let it worry you! In addition to the hurdle of finding actual work, Rahab would also have to find enough favor with the Israelite people to be allowed to dwell among them. He sent the spies into the land to see if it was truly as good as He had said it was. The city of Jericho was the first city that the Israelites conquered when they entered the Promised Land. This left him an orphan, as his mother had passed when . Rahab let go of some of the biggest pieces of her life. My friend, you can be like Rahab the prostitute, you can choose to live a life that pleases God. History This was in keeping with Gods command that all the inhabitants of Canaan be destroyed. A terrific study does it ever say how did she become a harlot in the first place. Its also a misunderstanding of the actual gospel message. She refused to nurture those things anymore. His father, Giovanni Santi, was a court painter in Raphael's hometown. Its the type of surrender that invites God to do the work only a sovereign God can do. Rahab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. She also bargained for her family. We take those $ and give them to developing our Children's Programs. Your honesty and cooperation are greatly appreciated. Canaan (where Jericho was located) was a polytheistic land. Then they heard about the Israelites. This story highlights Rahabs faith, as she endangered her own life to help the Israelites. In return, the spies make a vow to protect Rahab and her family when they invade Jericho. Rahab herself draws the conclusion: "I know that the LORD Yahweh has given you the land." And further that "He is the God in the heavens above and the earth beneath" (vs. 9, 11). "When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below" (Joshua 2:11). Rahab was spared when Jericho was destroyed. 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).