Got Labels?

Previously in the Written on Our Hearts Series: Intro

Can you think of the worst description said of you? The label someone stuck on you that just won’t come off? Of all the nick-names you’ve been called, the one that went “viral”? The thing most frustrating about these types of tags is that they only capture one aspect of who we are or one moment out of all our moments in time. They are never full descriptions.

She has been known as “Rahab the Prostitute” for thousands of years. Worst. Label. Ever. But like most labels, it was only one part of her life. As I’ve studied what little we know about Rahab I’ve found so much more than her once occupation. There is an eternity of details about her that exceed the name, reputation, and circumstances.

Temporary Circumstance

Jericho was the first city inside the land of Canaan to be taken by the Israelites. It was part of the promised land the LORD was giving them. The religious practices of Canaan were idolatrous and involved many types of rituals and sacrifices. Scholars tell us that Jericho means “moon god”, and it is probable that the city was named after one their gods. Like any place that worships idols, the day to day practices of the people had become indulgent and grave with sin. Within the laws given to Moses, the sexual perversions and sacrifices were addressed and covered. They may be foreign concepts to us in our civilized societies and comfortable suburban lives, but they were written for a reason. Those types of practices were in existence in the land of Canaan, and God wanted the Israelites separated from them. He wanted (wants) a Holy people.

Nestled into the walls of the city was the house of Rahab the Prostitute. She was a product of her environment whether by choice or by force. Phyllis Byrd writes that a harlot is both desired and despised, sought after and shunned, an opportunist and a victim. I find these words uncomfortable, but I understand that they are true. Rahab was an opportunist. In fact, the Hebrew phrasing suggests that she was not only a prostitute but also an innkeeper—Rahab the Business Women. It was common for houses built in the city walls to be inns and places where many travelers gathered. That is one explanation why the spies sent by Joshua found themselves at Rahab’s house. It would have been easy to access, easy to blend in, and an easy place to get information.

Another way we know Rahab as Rahab the Opportunist is because she was known by the king of Jericho. The two spies were unable to be detected and their presence was reported to the king soon after they arrived. The king sent guards to Rahab with a message, Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land (Joshua 2:3). I think it’s interesting that the guards didn’t bombard the house in search of the spies, and that they believed the lies Rahab told them. She reported to them, True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them (Joshua 2:4-5). We can only speculate here as to why the guards believed her, but when reading about Rahab you don’t come away with the impression she’s an idiot. She was sharp—Rahab the Clever. It’s reasonable to believe that among having a business and reputation in the city, Rahab was also respected. In her lies, she classically played innocent, gave a believable argument, and got the guards to quickly leave her house where the spies where hidden on the roof.

Why would a clever and respected business women run the risk of hiding spies? In the next few verses of the story, we see Rahab’s motivation for her willingness to lie to her king, conceal the spies, help them escape, and strike a deal with them. As we do, we will see that she is much more than the temporary circumstances which created her everlasting label: Rahab the Prostitute. In the midst of all the sin and idol worship of Jericho, Rahab had come to hear of and believe in the LORD, Yahweh.

Perhaps she heard of the Lord from the many travelers that had passed through her inn. The Bible doesn’t really say how she heard, but it is clear that she heard, she believed, and she cried out for salvation.

What Do You Do?

I’m eager to talk about the rest of the story—it’s so good. But, I want Rahab’s temporary circumstances to settle in our hearts and minds first. Maybe you know of someone who is just hearing about the Lord. They are intrigued, listening, and are even believing. Their circumstances have yet to change, though. They are still caught in the ins and outs of their surroundings—Dave the Alcoholic, Amanda the Cheater. At the sight of them and by their reputation you would never know the eternal definitions that are occurring. What do you do? Call ’em like you see ’em? Snub them like the priest and Levite did in the parable of the Good Samaritan?

Don’t you think it’s kind of great how the consecrated spies from Israel let a foreign prostitute hide them and rescue them? I love it. I mean, come on! It’s comical, it messes with my inner Pharisee, it’s poignant… I shudder at the thought of snubbing my nose at someone because of their temporary circumstances. Oh, I’m guilty for sure. But I don’t want to be. I pray that I can see past Dave the Alcoholic to see Dave the Encourager. Someday, Amanda the Cheater doesn’t even cause me to pause because I am so in love with getting to know Amanda the Peacemaker. I want to be able to look past the temporary and see what God is doing.

Who are the Rahabs in your life? A person in your day to day life that has a bad label? Maybe it’s you. What is one label stuck on you? What would you replace it with?

God has written something else on our hearts. We have an innate desire for something—someone—eternal. I have it. You have it. Every “Rahab” has this longing to be reconciled to their Creator.