Flawed Woman Handpicked by a Flawless God: Rahab

If you are looking for a perfect woman to plaster on the front of a holy brochure, Rahab would not have made the shortlist. Not even close. She was no Sarah, rocking her matriarchal patience, and no Ruth, faithfully following Naomi with Hallmark-worthy devotion. No, Rahab was the kind of woman folks whispered about but never invited to Bible study. She was Rahab the harlot. Not Rahab the kind. Not Rahab the wise. Rahab the harlot. That title clung to her name like perfume gone sour.

Yet here she is, in the middle of one of the most pivotal moments in Scripture, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of Jericho. The walls are shaking, destiny is unfolding, and somehow God’s story includes Rahab a woman whose reputation screamed flawed but whose faith whispered chosen.

When Joshua sent the spies to scope out Jericho, where did they end up? At Rahab’s house. Of all the places in the city, God directed them straight to the one address everyone side-eyed. Why? Maybe because Rahab’s door was always open. Maybe because God delights in taking what seems shameful and flipping it into a stage for His glory, or maybe simply because He knew her heart was ready.

Rahab wasn’t defined by her job alone, though people certainly tried. Society labeled her. Culture dismissed her. But God? God saw a woman brave enough to hide His people, bold enough to lie to the king’s messengers, and faithful enough to tie that scarlet cord outside her window, a crimson thread of salvation that would echo through the ages.

Let us pause here. Rahab lied. She broke rules. She wasn’t polished, proper, or predictable. But her heart leaned toward the God of Israel, and that was interestingly enough. While the others trembled at Jericho’s crumbling walls, Rahab unwavering believed. She acted. She went against all odds and chose God’s side, even when it meant risking her life.And here’s the twist only God could write: Rahab the harlot became Rahab the heroine. Not only did she survive Jericho’s fall, but she also married Salmon, became the mother of Boaz, the great-great-grandmother of King David, and landed in the lineage of Jesus Himself. Yes, the woman people whispered about now sits pretty in Hebrews 11, the Faith Hall of Fame, alongside Abraham, Moses, and the patriarchs. Talk about a glow-up only heaven could script.

So what do we do with Rahab? We remember her, flaws and all, and we remind ourselves that God isn’t in the business of picking perfect résumés. He without permission, handpicks the flawed, the overlooked, the ones with labels that sting, and He redeems them for His purposes.

Rahab’s life says loudly, “You are not your past, you are not your label, you are not disqualified.” She stands as a banner that grace can find you in the darkest corners, faith can bloom in the most unlikely places, and God’s flawless plan can run right through your flawed story.

And that is why we love her. Rahab the harlot, Rahab the heroine, Rahab the original Air BnB hostess, but with spies instead of tourists and Rahab the reminder that a flawless God always writes the last word.