Walking by Faith: Rahab – When Faith Begins with a Risk

She lived on the edge—literally and figuratively.

Rahab’s home was built into the wall of Jericho, the fortified city that stood between Israel and the Promised Land. She was also a prostitute, known in her city for all the wrong reasons. 

But Rahab made a choice.

When two Israelite spies came to her door, she protected them.

She hid them. And she made a bold request: “Swear to me by the Lord… that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters” (Josh. 2:12–13). 

That request was rooted in faith. She had heard about the God of Israel—and she believed He was the true God. 

Rahab’s story reminds us that faith doesn’t require a clean background or a long résumé. It requires trust. And sometimes, it begins with a single risky step in the right direction. 

Faith with Little Information 

Rahab didn’t have a Bible. She hadn’t grown up worshiping the Lord. But she had heard stories—about the Red Sea, about Egypt, and about what God had done for His people. 

“The Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Josh. 2:11). 

That’s a remarkable confession from a woman surrounded by idols. 

Rahab believed God was real. She feared His power. And she recognized the opportunity in front of her. While the rest of Jericho trembled, Rahab acted. She chose faith over fear. 

Risking Everything 

Welcoming Israelite spies was an act of treason. If she were caught, Rahab would have been executed. But she took the risk. 

She hid the men on her roof and lied to the authorities about their whereabouts. Then she sent the spies out safely and asked for a sign that she and her family would be spared. 

They gave her simple instructions: tie a scarlet cord in your window, gather your family, and wait. When the city falls, you’ll be saved. 

Rahab obeyed every word. Her life—and the lives of those she loved—depended on it.

Saved and Remembered 

When the walls of Jericho fell, Rahab’s house remained. The scarlet cord in her window marked her faith. 

“Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute… because she had hidden the messengers” (Josh. 6:25). 

But her story didn’t end with survival. Rahab married an Israelite man named Salmon. She became part of God’s people. She had a son named Boaz—who later married Ruth. And generations later, from Rahab’s line, Jesus Christ was born (Matt. 1:5). 

The woman who once sold herself for survival became a matriarch in the Messiah’s family tree. 

That’s what grace does. It doesn’t just rescue. It restores, redeems, and rewrites the story. 

A Legacy of Faith 

Rahab is one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews 11, the so-called “hall of faith.” 

“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish… because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Heb. 11:31). 

James also mentions her—not to highlight her past, but to showcase her faith in action (Jas. 2:25). 

Rahab didn’t wait to get her life together before believing. She didn’t let her reputation keep her from choosing God. She believed and acted on that belief. And that made all the difference. 

What Rahab’s Journey Means for Ours 

Maybe you feel like your past disqualifies you from God’s story. Maybe others have labeled you or counted you out. Maybe you think you need more knowledge or more time before you can really walk by faith. 

Rahab reminds us that faith can begin right where you are. 

It starts with trust. It grows with obedience. And it leads to a life you never thought possible. 

Final Encouragement 

Rahab wasn’t perfect. But she believed. And God honored that belief. 

You don’t need a perfect past to begin a life of faith. You don’t need a spotless record to be used by God. What you need is the willingness to trust Him. And take that next bold step. 

Because walking by faith often begins with a risk. And sometimes, that one decision changes everything.