Among the people God chose and appointed for the birth of the Lord Jesus into this world, Rahab was also one of them. Because she was included in God’s divine plan, Rahab was able to receive the precious gift of salvation in her life. Let us briefly see how Rahab was able to receive a place in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Himself came as a child into our embrace. While we continue to live as people carried close to God’s heart (Isaiah 46:3), the same God became human and came into our arms. The One who holds us even into our old age, the One who lifts and sustains us, came in human form, took the form of a servant, and made Himself nothing (Philippians 2:7). This is the blessed privilege God has given us to carry the One who holds us.

Meditating on this great wonder and rejoicing in it is what Christmas truly is. “Christmas” means worshipping Christ. And the foundation of this Christmas celebration is the birth of Christ.

Among the many virgins in this sinful world, God chose Mary—full of the Holy Spirit—to be the mother of Jesus Christ. By human birth, Mary became the mother of the Lord Jesus. And just like Mary, from ancient times God desired many women to become vessels through whom the Saviour could come into the world. For example: Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Tamar, and many others.

Rahab’s life and the promise of salvation

Among these women, one was Rahab, a woman who was a prostitute. The name “Rahab” means pride and spaciousness. But her occupation was prostitution—a sinful life. In one sense, her life was spacious, yet not in God’s way.

When the Israelites journeyed from Egypt to Canaan and came to conquer the cursed city of Jericho, Joshua, the mighty warrior, sent two spies into the city. These spies came to the house of Rahab (Joshua 2). Rahab hid them under the stalks of flax and protected them from the king’s soldiers, saving their lives. Because of her kindness, the spies promised that she and her household would be protected. According to their instruction, Rahab tied a scarlet cord to her window. This scarlet cord became the sign through which she and her family were saved (Joshua 2:12–21).

When Israel conquered Jericho, only the house marked with the scarlet cord was spared; the entire city was destroyed (Joshua 6:17).

Just as Noah and his family were saved through the ark during the flood (Genesis 7:7), Rahab was saved by fearfully obeying God’s word during the destruction of Jericho.

By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient (Hebrews 11:31)

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? (James 2:25).

The meaning of Rahab includes a prideful one, yet from this very woman, Jesus the Mighty Saviour came forth.

Jesus came into the world to save the sinners.

Dear friends,
Even though Rahab was a sinner, the Word of God testifies that she was considered righteous because of her actions. In the same way, we who are sinners must be shaped into righteous people through the deeds we do in God’s sight. A sinful woman is like a person living in darkness, yet from this woman of darkness came Christ. He is the Light of the world.

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? (Job 14:4).
But through His redeeming grace, God brought forth a pure Saviour from an impure lineage.

A star will come out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17).
Jacob means deceiver, a dark-hearted man, yet from this dark human came the bright star, Christ.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)

When we meditate on these truths, we understand that through Rahab, the path for the Saviour Jesus Christ was prepared. That is why God says in Psalm 87:4
I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge Me.

Rahab took a place in the genealogy of Lord Jesus Christ

In the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5), we read
Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab; Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth; Obed fathered Jesse; and Jesse fathered King David.
Likewise, Ruth 4:18–22 records this lineage, which ultimately leads to Christ.

There was nothing good in Rahab’s name, nothing good in living on the city wall, nothing good in her occupation, nothing good in dwelling in a cursed city. Yet because of her actions, she was counted righteous. Why? Because she lived out the teaching Jesus later gave in Matthew 10:40-42:

He who receives you receives Me; and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me… whoever receives a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.

Rahab received God’s servants, provided hospitality, protected them, and safely guided them. Because of this, she was counted righteous and was included in the list of the mothers of Jesus Christ.

In the same way, if you and I abandon sinful deeds and are washed in the blood of Christ, He will be born in our hearts. When Jesus is born in the cradle of your heart, that is your true Christmas.

Just as the sinful woman Rahab became a mother in Christ’s first coming, you, like a pure bride, must carry Christ in the temple of your heart as we await His second coming. Through His first coming, may the blessing of His second coming be granted to you. Amen.