By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:31

Isn’t it amazing that God uses people and doesn’t try to hide their flaws? We know of the failures of Abraham and Moses and Peter and Paul, yet God chose to use each of these for the completion of His ultimate plans. The same is true for Rahab. It was this prostitute who was a key factor in the victory at Jericho as they people of Israel entered the Promised land.

Joshua’s spies found refuge in the home of Rahab which was built inside the walls of the city. Why did she risk her life for the spies?

Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

Joshua 2:8-9

You know the rest of the story. The walls of Jericho fell and Rahab and her family was spared.

In both the Old and New Testaments this woman is remembered for her act o faith. She’s included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1: 5) and she’s honored in the verses above from Hebrews above. Finally, James referred to her –

You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.Y

“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?  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:25-26

Your past (and mine) doesn’t matter. Our failures don’t matter. What matters is faith the believes God’s word and responds likewise.