By Patsy Norwood © 2003-2025 All Rights Reserved!
Lesson 1
Welcome back to our Thursday's ladies Bible class! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and are ready to join me in another study of a woman in God's Word. As women, we can relate to and or learn from other women, can't we? That's the goal of these lessons ... what can we learn from the women whose story God chose to include in His Word.
Last year we studied Mary of Bethany; Phoebe; Martha and finished up a study on Esther that we began in 2023. Our next lady and the first one for 2025 for us to study is Rahab, the harlot! Hmmmm, I wonder what God would have us learn from her and how does she fit into God's plan of redemption and salvation for mankind?
Let's find out ....
As with every person we study, we need to start with the background. What's going on at the time that will help us better understand the person we're studying?
Background ...
The children of Israel have been …
delivered out of bondage in Egypt by Moses,
crossed the Red Sea on dry land,
been fed manna from God,
wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and, where we’re going to join them, are about to cross the Jordan River on dry land. (Joshua 3:9-17)
After crossing the Jordan River, the next obstacle was conquering the city of Jericho which was a fortified city enclosed by walls and city gates.
Cities during Bible times were surrounded by high thick walls. City gates were the entrance to the walled city. They were opened during the day and closed at night or whenever the need
Their main purpose though, was protection, to keep invading forces out.
History tells us that Jericho was surrounded by an inner wall and an outer wall, which were some 15 or so feet apart and 8—12 feet thick. Several sources said that Rahab’s house bridged across both these walls giving her a view of the city on one side and the area outside the city on the other. If so, we'll see that that would make sense later in the study.
Let’s pause and talk about walls for a minute.
We’re already said ‘that ancient cities relied on fortified walls for security. Broken or dilapidated walls with breaches created huge vulnerabilities for the city’s inhabitants. The security of city walls doesn’t have the same feeling for us today, but the meaning could not be any clearer.
When walls are compromised, the people are in danger. When walls of righteousness are torn down, evil rushes in through the gaps. God is looking for men, women and children to ‘build up the wall and stand in the gap before Him for the land …’ (Wayne Jackson, Christian Courier, July 2024)
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13
That’s certainly something for us to think about, isn’t it … but what about Rahab?
Did Rahab do that? In her efforts to save herself and her family, did she stand in the gap for anyone or anything?
I think she did; by standing in the gap for the spies, she was laying the groundwork for new and fortified walls that would have the approval of God.
More and more, standing for the truth of God, as taught in His word, is becoming an isolating stand. More and more it’s getting harder and harder to find those who will stand in their spheres of influence, build walls of righteousness and, when necessary, fill the gaps for righteousness' sake.
That’s what Rahab did, right where she was, in her respective sphere of influence, she made the decision to stand for this Hebrew God that she had heard so much about, that made her quake with fear, and that she knew very little of.
So, let’s ask the following ...
Could God use someone …
Whose profession of choice (harlotry/prostitution) was taught against in His Word …
Who was full of fear …
Who was manipulative …
Who was a bold face liar …
Who chose to break the law and …
Who was a traitor to her countrymen ...
We're about to find out!
What are your thoughts on Rahab thus far?
Until the next class …
patsy @ From This Heart of Mine
Sources used for this study:
Various translations of the Holy Bible
Various commentaries
Dictionary of New Testament Background, Editors: Craig A Evans & Stanley E. Porter
Archaeological Study Bible
All the Women of the Bible by Edith Deen
Daughters of Eve by Lottie Beth Hobbs
Halley’s Bible Handbook by H. H. Halley
I absolutely believe God could use Rahab! A sinner us a sinner no matter what the sin so in God's eyes Rahab is a sinner the same as one who has 'only' told a little white lie.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, any and all sin separates us from God, doesn't it! So thankful for the cleansing blood of God's Son, Jesus that bridges that separation.
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