How a harlot’s faith became a model of trust, courage, and transformation
In the great gallery of faith recorded in Hebrews 11—often referred to as the “Hall of Faith”—you’ll find patriarchs like Abraham, warriors like Gideon, and prophets like Moses. But nestled among these giants stands a surprising name: Rahab the harlot.
How did a woman with such a disreputable past earn her place among the legends of faith? The answer lies in her bold declaration in Joshua 2:9:
“I know that the Lord hath given you the land…”
This wasn’t wishful thinking. It wasn’t religious rhetoric. It was unshakable confidence—a level of faith that pierced through her past and connected her to God’s eternal plan.
1. Faith Built on Revelation, Not Religion
Rahab was a Canaanite. She had no covenant with God. Yet, she heard about the mighty acts of the Lord—how He dried up the Red Sea and destroyed mighty kings. That knowledge sparked something deeper in her: conviction.
When the Israelite spies arrived in Jericho, Rahab didn’t hesitate. She made a confession of faith that reflected certainty, not curiosity:
“I KNOW that the Lord hath given you the land…” (Joshua 2:9)
She didn’t say “I hope,” “I think,” or even “I believe.” She said, “I know.” That’s not just faith—it’s certainty based on spiritual insight.
2. Faith That Graduates into Trust
Rahab’s faith wasn’t just a spoken confession—it was a risky decision. She hid the spies at the risk of her life. She tied a scarlet cord to her window as a token of her trust in God’s promise. She negotiated not just for her safety but for her entire household.
This is what mature faith looks like—faith that graduates into trust. She moved from believing in what God could do to depending on what He would do.
3. Faith That Redefines Identity
Many people are trapped by their past, convinced that God only uses perfect people. Rahab destroys that myth.
- She was known as a harlot.
- She was a foreigner.
- She had no spiritual résumé.
Yet, her faith rewrote her story. Not only did she survive the fall of Jericho, she became the great-great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor of Jesus Christ Himself (Matthew 1:5).
Faith qualifies the disqualified. When God sees faith, He doesn’t consult your history—He reveals your destiny.
4. Faith That Unlocks the Supernatural
Jesus echoed this principle in Mark 9:23:
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Rahab believed before she saw the walls fall. She believed before she saw salvation. And because she believed, everything changed.
Faith sees the invisible, speaks the impossible, and acts on the intangible. Rahab’s story is proof that faith doesn’t wait for circumstances to align—it creates new realities.
Conclusion: Faith That Enters God’s Record Books
Rahab’s journey from shame to significance reminds us that faith is the key to transformation. She had no title, no background, no religious upbringing—but she had faith.
And that was enough.
So the next time you feel unworthy, uncertain, or unqualified, remember Rahab. God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for people who say, “I KNOW the Lord has given…”
Because faith that knows is the faith that grows.
And faith that grows is the faith that enters God’s Hall of Fame.
Click the Subscribe button below to receive my inspirational teachings directly in your email or WhatsApp.