I have always been so entertained by the story of Rahab. A local, working woman of Jericho becomes a covert operations mastermind – could be the next blockbuster film.
In all seriousness, this story jumps out to me each time I read through Israel’s conquest because of her boldness in something she had no reason to believe in.
Why Rahab? All the people of the town, who, when they heard about the stories Israel, trembled in fear, yet, she stood boldly to be aware of the moving of that same God. If her story is not an example of God’s grace, then I do not know what is.
Her testimony is proof that we don’t need to be a part of the “chosen” to be a child of God. We do not need to be moving in the circle of believers to believe in the working of God. When Jesus says, “My father is always at his work to this very day…” (John 5:17), this is the story that comes to mind. God is working always, before we even enter places we feel are without Him, before we enter areas that we have been told are godless, God is already there.
This story connects with ours in the way that we believe there are areas in our worldview that God is not present. I love when the psalmist writes, “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” (Psalm 139:7, 8). We worship a limitless and boundless God, yet our worldview tells us at times that God will not enter certain places because of how “sinful” they are or because the people do not match our context of a religious person.
This story shows not only that God is in the places we least expect, but it also, that from this woman, this prostitute, Jesus is birthed. This is a God who is looking far beyond our toxic cultures and mindsets. People may neglect others because of their gender, occupations, and other cruel reasons, but God never will. God uses the marginalized for God’s story of salvation.
It is important for us as Christians to understand that God’s people are beyond our circle and congregation. God is always working in the hearts of humanity, whether we reach out or not. If the thought comes to our mind, “Can God use that person?” because we are blinded by our biases and worldviews, the answer is simply, “Yes.”
Ben Amoah serves as Youth Pastor at the La Sierra University Church.