Rahab: How the Faith of an Unlikely Woman Points to Jesus
Rahab was a prostitute who lived in the thick wall surrounding the city of Jericho. When Israel secretly sent spies to plan their attack against the city, Rahab hid the spies from authorities and helped them escape.
The spies promised that when Israel returned to attack Jericho, Rahab and her family would be spared. She was told to tie a scarlet cord in her window so the army would know which house to spare.
Lessons From Rahab
Rahab and her family were saved during the attack. She eventually became a follower of God and was even in the lineage of Jesus.
Rahab is listed in the famous “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 as a hero of the faith. From her example, we learn that God can use anyone for his glory. Her story also points to Jesus in many ways.
Today, we’ll explore seven ways the Old Testament story of Rahab (in Joshua 2 and 6) points to Christ.
Rahab: An Unlikely Link to Jesus
Many parts of Rahab’s story foreshadowed the work Jesus would one day complete when he lived on earth. Let’s look at seven ways Rahab points to the Lord.
7 Ways Rahab’s Story Points to Jesus
1. The Scarlet Cord
Rahab hung a scarlet cord from her window for the Israelite army to see. This was the predetermined sign that she and her family would be spared.
The scarlet cord is a reminder of the Passover, in which the blood of a lamb was rubbed over every Hebrew doorway before the escape from Egypt. Every door that was covered in blood was spared from the plague of the firstborn son’s death.
Ultimately, Jesus became the perfect Lamb of God. Those who receive him are spared from eternal punishment by his blood, shed on the cross (Matthew 26:28).
In each of these three pivotal moments, blood represents deliverance.
2. Salvation by Faith, Not Background
Rahab was a Canaanite, not one of God’s chosen Hebrew people. She was a prostitute, someone who was despised by society. She lived in a condemned city.
By all cultural accounts, Rahab’s background didn’t qualify her to be a member of God’s family.
However, Joshua 2:11 says she believed in Yahweh. The New Testament highlights her faith (Hebrews 11:31).
Rahab’s story shows us that salvation comes through faith, not background. All who humble themselves before God and call on the name of Jesus are welcomed into his family.
Rahab’s story also shows us that the past doesn’t disqualify us from becoming children of God. Rahab was a prostitute. She was not living for the Lord. Nevertheless, God saved her and changed her, drawing her into his family.
3. God’s Grace to the Gentiles
The Gentiles refer to all people who are not Hebrew by birth. All modern-day Christians who are not of Hebrew descent are Gentiles.
Rahab was a Gentile. She became the mother of a man named Boaz, who was in the direct family line of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
God chose to enter the world as a human through lineage that was both Gentile and Jewish. This remarkable truth reveals God’s desire to extend his grace to all people, not just those of Hebrew descent.
4. Shame to Honor
Rahab began as a prostitute and finished as a follower of Yahweh.
She started as an outsider and ended up becoming an ancestor of the Messiah.
Her life shows us that Christ is our Redeemer and Restorer. He can take any life and transform it for his glory.
5. Deliverance From Judgment
Rahab escaped Jericho’s judgment because she trusted God.
Similarly, those who trust Christ are saved from God’s judgment. We all need a Deliverer, and Jesus is our Deliverer. Because Jesus bore God’s punishment on the cross, we will never experience God’s wrath. This is the good news of the Gospel.
6. Spiritual Warfare
Rahab chose sides. Rather than siding with the evil Canaanite people from her own city, she recognized God and sided with him.
Colossians 1:13 states that followers of Christ are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
We all face spiritual battles. God empowers us to live in his light and rise above the darkness by standing in the authority of Christ, which is given to all followers of Jesus.
7. Faith Over Fear
The people of Jericho were afraid of Israel (Joshua 2:9-10). Yet fear did not save them.
When given the same information, Rahab made a different choice. Rather than cowering in fear, she chose faith in God. As a result, her faith saved her and her entire family.
We all face the battle between fear and faith. The voice of fear tells us that if we worry enough, we will be prepared for the future. Sadly, this voice is a liar.
We all face the battle between fear and faith. The voice of fear tells us that if we worry enough, we will be prepared for the future. Sadly, this voice is a liar. #faith #fear Share on X
The voice of faith tells us that if we cling to God, he will go with us and protect us. This voice gives us strength to step into even the most difficult situations with our eyes on Jesus.
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If this exploration of the story of Rabab blessed you, I invite you to explore our family devotional books and library of free devotionals and eBooks below. May God grant you victory in life’s battles!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 7, 12, and 16, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. I also recently released a teen devotional called Anchored, designed to help teens learn key biblical narratives and apply them to their lives. You can find these books here or read more below. 
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Devotions for Boys by Boys
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
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