Is God mindful of all women? Is there a purpose and value in
women in spite of their background? We must not underestimate
God's view toward women- especially those who seem to have "gone
too far" in their lifestyles. God has, through time, chosen
some of the most unexpected women from life-less, sin-full existences
and turned what was working for evil into very profoundly powerful
examples of God's grace.
Rahab the harlot, for instance, assisted Joshua and his spies
(Godly men) in their mission and escape from their enemies in
Jericho because she had heard of the one true God and believed
that "He is God in heaven above and in earth beneath".
(Josh 2:9-11) Her life changed dramatically as she followed
the conviction in her heart to do what would be considered treason
in her city, by assisting the Godly men of Israel . Her life,
although she was a sinful harlot, will forever be remembered
for her acts of faith, knowing she was risking her own safety
because she honored the Lord in her heart as truth was revealed
to her.
The scarlet cord she used to free the spies seems to signify
the red blood of Jesus by which the worst sinners can be cleansed
and saved and delivered from evil. She herself, as a harlot,
could have been named among those sinners and yet, because she
chose to do what she knew would please God, she would establish
a new life and her name would be found in the genealogy of the
Savior, Jesus Christ, transformed from whore to worshipper of
the One True God. I think it's also significant to remember
she was named as one of only two women of great faith mentioned
in the great cloud of witnesses in the New Testament.
Remember this when we hear the story of Rahab. God can make
the worst sinner clean. God had a plan for the harlot, Rahab.
She was worth saving from her evil life and she chose to follow
God when she came to know the Truth, which enabled her to fulfill
the purpose which God had decided beforehand.
