Rahab and the Gentile Inclusion

Is Yahweh the God of the Jews only? No, He is the God of the Gentiles, too (Rom 3:29). In fact, He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36; 17:24); and there is none beside Him, none before Him (Is 44:8; 45:5, 21). To be included in Yahweh’s salvation, one must be granted repentance and given faith by God (Acts 5:31; 11:18), regardless of one’s ethnicity. There is neither Jew nor Gentile (Gal 3:28), but all who belong to God’s family hear the Word of God and believe in one Lord, revealed by one Spirit.

As the writer of Hebrews presents a litany of faithful Old Testament saints, he includes Rahab. She is referred to in Hebrews 11:31 as a harlot, a prostitute. We learn from Joshua 2 and Joshua 6 of her faith in action, which James later referenced in James 2:25. She helped the two Hebrew spies at Jericho by hiding them from the King of Jericho, who desired to apprehend them (Joshua 2).

The people of Jericho were very uncomfortable with the Hebrews camping across the Jordan River from their city. Word of the spies within the city gates made them even more uneasy. Rahab took a different tact. She recognized the situation was dire for her people. Thus, she bargained for her salvation and for her whole household. The terms were established and oaths were made.

This Gentile woman had heard of Yahweh’s dealings with the Israelites. She understood the scenario, but she also had good theology, “I know Yahweh has given you the land” (Jos 2:9a), and “for Yahweh your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Jos 2:11b). If one’s opinions or speculations prevail over the truth, that person’s conclusions will be erroneous. Only the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit) can issue God’s Word of truth and ensure a right interpretation (2 Pet 1:20–21).

Rahab received the Word of truth about Yahweh, and she acted on the grace afforded her. We, too, are saved by God’s grace through His gift of faith (Eph 2:8–9). It is the truth as it is in Jesus that sets us free from bad theology (Jn 8:32; Eph 4:21; 2 Tim 2:15). The people of Jericho heard and observed the same information as the harlot. They remained disobedient to Yahweh, in their love of sin. Jericho was a cesspool of sin, and everyone was a sinning swimmer. Rahab got out of the pool by siding with Yahweh and His people. The gates of hell like the walls of Jericho cannot withstand the assault of God’s army of believing priests (Mt 16:18).

Love for and allegiance to this sinful world is the natural man’s problem (1 Jn 2:15–17). For one to be saved from Yahweh’s righteous wrath against sin and sinners (Rom 1:18), one must turn away from the world and turn to Christ Jesus, the one and only Savior of sinners (Jn 14:6). There is only one name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). His name, Jesus the Christ, is the name above every other name (Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9). Jesus is mighty to save, and to save His people from their sins was His purpose in coming into the world (Mt 1:21).

Destruction was coming to Jericho and the rest of cities and villages of Canaan. In the same way, the Day of the Lord is near for us (Joel 1:15; 2:1; 3:14), and only warrior King Jesus saves us from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10). When the Israelites marched around the city, once each day for six days, they issued a visual warning for the people of Jericho to heed. Clearly, this was no ordinary military strategy. Yahweh operates above the wisdom of men. His ways are higher (Is 55:8–9), to ensure no flesh will boast in His presence (1 Cor 1:29).

Seven priests, seven trumpets, and seven days is indicative of Yahweh’s perfect plan to execute His will — destruction for the disobedient, unbelieving majority, and salvation for the household of the believing remnant (Rom 9:22–23). The Gentile family of a prostitute was rescued, as God knocked down the walls of the city and showed no mercy for the reprobate (Joshua 6).

Yahweh, our God, is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). The wicked are punished in perfect justice, while the children of God are disciplined so to escape the allure back into the city of man set for devastation (see Sodom and mystery Babylon). Cursed was the man who desired to rebuild Jericho (Jos 6:26).

Yahweh puts His mercy and His grace on display with Gentile women like Rahab and Ruth in the Old Testament. We see the same in the New Testament with the woman of Tyre (Mt 15:21–28) and the woman of Samaria, who met Jesus at Jacob’s well (Jn 4). In Christ, there is no separation, men and women, as it pertains to salvation (Gal 3:28).

Christians, most of whom are Gentiles today, take great comfort in so great a salvation (Heb 2:3), shown to us on the pages of Scripture and throughout church history. We rejoice with heaven at the turning of one sinner into a saint (Lk 15:7). With Jesus Christ’s atoning death upon the cross, we now see the expansion of ethnic Israel from a type and shadow to a greater Israel — the body of God’s people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Rev 5:9; 7:9).

Our mystical union in the body of Christ has Jesus as our exalted Head (Eph 1:22; 5:23; Col 1:18). The addition of more members, by His predetermined plan and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23), assures us that when the last of our brethren have been gathered into Christ, then the end will come to this world, doomed to destruction (Mt 24:14).

Just like Rahab was gathered into Israel, God is pleased to show us, by her example, that none of His chosen people and their unrighteous works are too far out from God, to prevent their being brought near to Him and being used by Him to bring Him glory, resulting in our joy. Therefore, let us blow the shofar and shout to the Lord, for the battle belongs to the Lord!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

April 21, 2026

Hebrews 11:30–31; Joshua 2, 6