Bible Character Studies: Rahab the harlot. Pt. 1 She lived in a depraved culture.
Good morning,
We are going to be studying about Rahab the harlot. You are going to learn some things about her that you may not have known before.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Photo of excavated walls of Jericho.
I would like to study an infamous woman from the Old Testament from Jericho named Rahab the harlot. She has an amazing story that shows God's grace can indeed reach the most defiled man or woman.
The best way to study Rahab is to look at the culture in which she lived, through the lens of scripture.
Joshua sent 2 spies to Jericho.
Joshua 2:1-2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
Rahab is the very first inhabitant of the land God promised to give to Abraham and his offspring. The text tells us Rahab's vocation was as a woman who engaged in prostitution.
One man called Rahab a "moral bottom feeder." She was an Amorite and God commanded Israel to wipe them out because their sins were ready for judgment (Genesis 15:16).
All inhabitants of Canaan were idolaters and God was going to drive them out.
Deu 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
The text above shows us the spiritual character of the nations that inhabited the land God promised to give to Abraham and his offspring. Not only were the people practicing sexual perversion, they were spiritually bankrupt. They were truly living in the dark world of the Devil.
They sacrificed their own babies as burnt offerings to idols. This is infanticide. They used divination to contact the dead. They used observers of times (astrologers) to predict the future.
A necromancer is a person who endeavors to predict or foretell the future by contacting the dead, like King Saul attempted to do with the witch of Endor. Divination is similar to the practice of necromancy except the means of telling the future is not defined.
“Familiar spirits” is a term meaning “a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call”. A familiar spirit is widely employed in the Eastern religions through chanting of mantras and in the New Age movement where they are referred to as spirit guides. They are contacted via a process known as “channeling.”
A wizard is defined as a man supposedly endowed with magical power, who is a clever person, or a wise sage.The word translated “wizard” is “yidde oniy” and according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-English Lexicon means properly knowing and wise, hence a wizard or false prophet uttering words or lies to a deluded people.
The dictionary defines a witch as a woman supposedly having magical power, generally used to practice evil.Modern witchcraft is called “Wicca”. This word is directly derived from the Old English word “witch”.
This corresponds exactly to Merriam Webster’s definition: “one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially: a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar.”
A “charmer” is a person who overcomes people by means of magical powers. The Hebrew word “chabar” means to join by means of spells or to fascinate. Gesenius’ Hebrew-English Lexicon defines this word as meaning to bind or fascinate as in binding of magical knots with incantations, specifically incantations of the serpent.
God commanded Israel to destroy the vile Amorites.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: 18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
The command of Jehovah is clear. Anything or anyone that breathed air was to be killed. The reason is that the Amorites propagated abomination in their religious rites and they taught multitudes to sin against Holy Jehovah.
Amorites like Rahab were idolaters and perverse.
Romans 1:21-25 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The Amorites made idols of men, birds, various animals and creeping things like snakes or lizards.They worshiped the idols and promoted sexual perversion. They routinely engaged in illicit sexual activities which conflicted with monogamous marriage as ordained by God.
Rahab had her own business as a harlot and must have been successful because she owned a prominent home on the wall. In a way Rahab represented all the evil of a depraved culture living unholy lives.
Joshua sent 2 spies to reconnoiter the land and the city Jericho. He kept their mission a secret and the spies were to report to Joshua alone. Jericho had a reputation as a city built to withstand the fiercest of attacks because of its massive walls and towers.
Today we have seen how the Bible describes the perverse and dark culture of all pagan nations and the Amorites in particular. Tomorrow, we are going to see God move in the life of a harlot named Rahab in a mighty way.
Points to Ponder...
We are going to be studying about Rahab the harlot. You are going to learn some things about her that you may not have known before.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Photo of excavated walls of Jericho.
I would like to study an infamous woman from the Old Testament from Jericho named Rahab the harlot. She has an amazing story that shows God's grace can indeed reach the most defiled man or woman.
The best way to study Rahab is to look at the culture in which she lived, through the lens of scripture.
Joshua sent 2 spies to Jericho.
Joshua 2:1-2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
Rahab is the very first inhabitant of the land God promised to give to Abraham and his offspring. The text tells us Rahab's vocation was as a woman who engaged in prostitution.
One man called Rahab a "moral bottom feeder." She was an Amorite and God commanded Israel to wipe them out because their sins were ready for judgment (Genesis 15:16).
All inhabitants of Canaan were idolaters and God was going to drive them out.
Deu 18:9-12 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
The text above shows us the spiritual character of the nations that inhabited the land God promised to give to Abraham and his offspring. Not only were the people practicing sexual perversion, they were spiritually bankrupt. They were truly living in the dark world of the Devil.
They sacrificed their own babies as burnt offerings to idols. This is infanticide. They used divination to contact the dead. They used observers of times (astrologers) to predict the future.
A necromancer is a person who endeavors to predict or foretell the future by contacting the dead, like King Saul attempted to do with the witch of Endor. Divination is similar to the practice of necromancy except the means of telling the future is not defined.
“Familiar spirits” is a term meaning “a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call”. A familiar spirit is widely employed in the Eastern religions through chanting of mantras and in the New Age movement where they are referred to as spirit guides. They are contacted via a process known as “channeling.”
A wizard is defined as a man supposedly endowed with magical power, who is a clever person, or a wise sage.The word translated “wizard” is “yidde oniy” and according to Gesenius’ Hebrew-English Lexicon means properly knowing and wise, hence a wizard or false prophet uttering words or lies to a deluded people.
The dictionary defines a witch as a woman supposedly having magical power, generally used to practice evil.Modern witchcraft is called “Wicca”. This word is directly derived from the Old English word “witch”.
This corresponds exactly to Merriam Webster’s definition: “one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially: a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar.”
A “charmer” is a person who overcomes people by means of magical powers. The Hebrew word “chabar” means to join by means of spells or to fascinate. Gesenius’ Hebrew-English Lexicon defines this word as meaning to bind or fascinate as in binding of magical knots with incantations, specifically incantations of the serpent.
God commanded Israel to destroy the vile Amorites.
Deuteronomy 20:16-18 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: 17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee: 18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
The command of Jehovah is clear. Anything or anyone that breathed air was to be killed. The reason is that the Amorites propagated abomination in their religious rites and they taught multitudes to sin against Holy Jehovah.
Amorites like Rahab were idolaters and perverse.
Romans 1:21-25 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The Amorites made idols of men, birds, various animals and creeping things like snakes or lizards.They worshiped the idols and promoted sexual perversion. They routinely engaged in illicit sexual activities which conflicted with monogamous marriage as ordained by God.
Rahab had her own business as a harlot and must have been successful because she owned a prominent home on the wall. In a way Rahab represented all the evil of a depraved culture living unholy lives.
Joshua sent 2 spies to reconnoiter the land and the city Jericho. He kept their mission a secret and the spies were to report to Joshua alone. Jericho had a reputation as a city built to withstand the fiercest of attacks because of its massive walls and towers.
Today we have seen how the Bible describes the perverse and dark culture of all pagan nations and the Amorites in particular. Tomorrow, we are going to see God move in the life of a harlot named Rahab in a mighty way.
Points to Ponder...
- Sin is an offense against Holy God and He will ultimately judge nations for their sins.
- The Amorites reveled in their idolatry.
- They sought counsel from the devil.
- They killed their babies to appease their "gods."
- They were immersed in spiritual darkness and depravity.
Much of how I described the Amorites is eerily reminiscent of America today. We kill babies by the millions and call it a woman's right to choose. We promote sexual perversion and push against the God ordained family unit. We have a fascination with the occult and spiritual darkness. We too, live in a culture drowning in darkness and depravity.
The light of God is going to shine brightly in the life of Rahab and this encourages me. God is still in the business of saving sinners and bringing the lost from darkness into His glorious light.
May we pray against the spiritual darkness in America and around the world. May we petition our mighty God to use His life changing word to save souls for His kingdom. May we ask Him to fill our hearts with the compassion of Christ for all who are lost and living meaningless lives.
Bob
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