Let’s talk about a woman named Rahab. She was a prostitute who lived in Jericho. She was on the edge of society, one stop short of total rejection. Her house, built into the city wall, provided both lodging and favors for travelers. It was a natural place for the Israelite spies to stay, as they would be mistaken for her customers as they scoped out their plan of attack on the city. (Note: God was about to destroy Jericho because of their rebellion and sin). Rumors of an Israelite attack had been circulating for some time. The people were living in fear. While Rahab lived in fear with the rest of the city, she alone turned to the God of Israel for her salvation. Her Faith gave her the courage to hide the spies and keep the authorities from discovering they were there when they showed up at her door. Rahab took a huge risk. She could have been killed for harboring the spies. But she sensed the Israelite people relied on a God worth trusting. She helped the spies escape by using a scarlet cord to climb down to safety from her window. The spies told her when they returned to destroy the city, to hang that same scarlet thread out her window and they would be sure to save her. When the walls of Jericho came tumbling down and everything and everyone was destroyed, God rewarded Rahab for her faithfulness. He saved not only Rahab but her entire family as she had asked. (Spoiler alert for those who have not read the bible: Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus!) That Scarlet cord she hung out her window is a type and foreshadow of the scarlet blood that would be shed to save those who call on the name of Jesus. No matter what side of the tracks you are on. No matter how much dysfunction has been in your family. When you step out in faith, your family tree starts at Calvary. That old rugged cross becomes your family tree as you become a child of God. YOU can be the one to start a new heritage for your children and grandchildren.

“The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. The moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.” – Joshua 6:23.

How about you? Do you have enough faith to move your family closer to God?

Writers note: I love the stories in the bible where God gets ahold of a prostitute, a drunk, a murderer and transforms their lives. I believe those stories are there to show us that the ground is level at the cross. God can and will use the most unlikely of candidates to get His message of hope and freedom out to those who need to hear it.