Session 1: Rahab
Session 1: Rahab
The story of Rahab the prostitute offers us one of Scripture's most powerful demonstrations of courageous faith in action. Set against the backdrop of Israel's return to the Promised Land after 40 years of wilderness wandering, we encounter this unlikely heroine—a Gentile woman, a prostitute, living in the doomed city of Jericho. Yet when two Israelite spies arrive at her door, Rahab makes a declaration of faith that puts God's own covenant people to shame: 'The Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.' What makes this story remarkable is not just that she believed, but that she acted on that belief with radical courage. She risked her life hiding the spies, defying her king, and trusting completely in Yahweh's power. The scarlet cord she hung from her window becomes a breathtaking symbol that echoes throughout Scripture—from the blood on the doorposts during the first Passover, through the purification rituals of the Law, all the way to the scarlet blood of Christ on the cross. When Jericho's walls came crashing down, one section remained standing: the portion where Rahab's house was built, marked by that scarlet cord waving in the chaos. Her faith journey reminds us that God's mercy reaches the most unexpected people, that judgment is real but grace is available, and that true faith must be visible—not just believed privately, but lived publicly. Rahab's story didn't end at Jericho's ruins; she became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ himself, forever woven into God's redemptive plan.
How does Rahab's story challenge our assumptions about who God chooses to use in His redemptive plan, and what does this reveal about God's character?
In what ways does the scarlet cord symbolize both judgment and mercy, and how does this foreshadow the work of Christ on the cross?
The Israelites' past obedience echoed 40 years later in Rahab's testimony - how might your current faithfulness impact future generations you may never meet?
Rahab's faith was made visible through her actions, not just private belief - what are some ways your faith should be publicly visible in your daily life?
Why do you think God specifically preserved one section of Jericho's wall where Rahab lived, and what does this teach us about God's attention to detail in our lives?
The two spies had to trust God's plan even when it seemed their promise to Rahab would be impossible to keep - when have you had to trust God despite circumstances that seemed contradictory to His promises?
How does Rahab, a Gentile prostitute, confessing faith in Yahweh more clearly than Israel did expose the dangers of religious complacency and familiarity?
What does it mean that heaven will be the most multi-ethnic place we've ever been, and how should this reality shape how we view and treat people different from us today?
Joshua was told four times to be strong and courageous - what specific fears or doubts in your life require you to repeatedly claim God's strength and courage?
If judgment has already been spiritually decided before it's physically executed, how should this truth affect the urgency with which we share the gospel with those who don't know Christ?