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Prostitute, harlot, and loose woman; the names assigned to the heroine of this next story, Rahab. Rahab was also the woman who single-handedly saved the Israelite spies from being caught by the authorities in Jericho. Thanks to her bravery, these spies safely escaped the city and returned with valuable information. Rahab had no real reason to make herself useful in this unique way. Nobody had called on her to save a people group, she would be given no formal accolade or rewards, and her reputation would not suddenly be changed for good. But Rahab risked it all for the sake of the God she knew. Rahab had faith, and she acted on it. Not only did Rahab have a faith that fueled her to action, but she also had a faith that surpassed what would naturally have been a feasible response to her life circumstance, and she confessed it by saying in verse 11, “He is God in heaven above and on earth below.” This is an incredible thing to say for a woman who spent her entire life in a pagan community living out an empty and utterly inhumane existence. Her capacity to be seen and used by an almighty God, even in the deepest and darkest circumstances, should encourage us to look up and see the God of the Universe at work in our lives.

Reflection: Have you ever refused to see the God of heaven and earth at work in your darkest days? Find time this week to meditate on what it means to praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done through His creation and us.

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