Rahab and the Fall of Jericho: A Bible Story About Courage and Redemption

Do you ever think you’re too messed up for God? Too scared, too sinful, too confused, too insignificant?

Do you ever look back at some mistakes you’ve made or dark situations you found yourself in and think, “God, are You sure You want me?”

The Bible is filled with pages upon pages of stories about messed-up people God chose to use anyway. The same people the world might have called “too broken,” “too sinful,” or “too far gone,” God calls His friends and invites to participate in His good plan. Rahab is a great example.

Where Is Rahab’s Story in the Bible?

Rahab’s story is in Joshua 2, but it’s referenced several times in the New Testament as well in Matthew 1, Hebrews 11, and James 2.

A brief Bible timeline:

• God creates Adam and Eve
• Moses leads the Israelites to freedom from Egypt
• God’s people meet Rahab in Jericho
• Ruth and Naomi leave Moab
• David defeats Goliath

A Summary of Rahab and the Fall of Jericho

• God promises to set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt and give them a beautiful new home in Canaan, which He calls the Promised Land.
• The Israelites flee Egypt and begin their journey toward Jericho, a city in Canaan.
• Joshua, the leader of the Israelites, sends two spies into Jericho to see if it would be difficult to overthrow the city.
• The spies meet Rahab, a prostitute, who allows them to hide on her roof.
• The king of Jericho sends his men to Rahab’s house to ask about the spies and their plan to overthrow the city.
• Rahab says she thinks the spies have already left and sends the king’s men after them. She then goes back to the roof and tells the spies she believes in their God; she asks that He show kindness to her since she served Him by hiding the spies.
• The spies promise to keep her safe when they take over the city and ask that she hang a scarlet cord out her window so they’ll remember her house and her bravery.
• The spies return to Joshua, telling him God has already given them the city, and the Israelites prepare to move forward.

Key Bible Verse

“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign …” Joshua 2:12 NIV

A Deeper Dive Into Rahab’s Story

While the bulk of this story happens in Joshua 2, the Israelites’ journey starts way back in Exodus when they were slaves in Egypt. God had promised to set His people free and give them a new home in the land of Canaan. 

After a long, difficult journey from Egypt, the people of Israel reach Jericho, a big city in the land of Canaan. The Israelites know they’re supposed to take over the city, so they send two spies to figure out how difficult it will be.

The Spies Meet Rahab

When the spies enter the city, they come across a woman named Rahab. Rahab is a prostitute in Jericho. When she hears the spies’ plan, she offers to help.

The king of Jericho hears about the spies and their plans, so he sends a few of his own men to Rahab’s house. She tells the men she briefly saw the Israelites but was unaware of their schemes. She also tells the men that the spies had just left and, if they hurry, maybe the men can find them.

All the while, Rahab has hidden the spies on her roof. When the king’s men leave, Rahab tells the spies how afraid the people in Jericho are of the Israelites and their God, who has done all sorts of miracles.

Rahab Believes in God

She says she believes in their God, and she knows Jericho will soon belong to the people of Israel. She asks the spies to show her kindness and remember her bravery when they come back to overthrow the city.

The spies promise her that as long as she keeps their secret plans safe, Rahab will be blessed. The spies then tell her to hang a scarlet cord out her window so they will remember her home and the kindness she’s shown them.

When the Israelites come back to Jericho, Rahab and her family are blessed, not only by the people of Israel but also by God. Rahab goes down in history, not because of her past, but because of her courage and obedience. 

Why Is Rahab’s Story in the Bible?

First of all, Rahab’s story is an essential piece of God’s plan to give Israel the Promised Land. The city of Jericho was powerful in Canaan, and the fact that word had spread about God and his people—and frightened even a fortified city—was a huge advancement for the Israelites. 

Second, Rahab’s story is in the Bible to show how God blesses brave obedience. Saying yes to God’s plan, despite the uncertainties that come as a result, is a defining element of Rahab’s character. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or how scared you are; God blesses your obedience. 

What Does Rahab’s Story Teach Us?

God remembers your story. Rahab’s name is mentioned several times later on in the Bible, even though her actual story only features in two chapters of Joshua. Yet her faith was important to the people of Israel and a huge part of God’s story of the world. 

God has a plan for you. Despite your past, your reputation, your shame, or your fear, God has a plan for you. There’s no need to carry shame about who you once were or what you used to do, because God can write a powerful testimony from even the toughest stories.

Why Is Rahab’s Story Important Today?

God could have used anybody else. The spies could have talked to a banker or a shepherd or somebody with a more “honorable” reputation, but God chose Rahab.

Rahab clearly had a dark past—she was likely cast off and mistreated. Yet God chose her because of her courage, faith, and openness to Him. He didn’t overlook the darkness in her life, but He used it to tell a bright and powerful story.

This is ultimately a story of hope: If God could do so much with a prostitute, a red cord, and courageous obedience, imagine what He could do with you, your gifts, and your faith.

Common Questions About Rahab and the Fall of Jericho

Who was Rahab?

Rahab was a woman who lived in the city of Jericho, in the land of Canaan. She was a prostitute who famously hid two Israelite spies on her roof, and God blessed her because of her courage. Matthew 1 tells us that she was the mother of Boaz, which makes her the great-great-grandmother of King David and secures her a spot in Jesus’ family line. 

Why did the spies go to Jericho?

Jericho was a city in Canaan, the land God had promised to give the people of Israel. Joshua, the leader of the people of Israel at the time, was making plans to enter Canaan. Taking control of Jericho was their next step.

The spies were sent into the city to assess the number and strength of the people there. When they entered and heard from Rahab how fearful the people of Jericho were of God, they knew they could get the job done.

Was Rahab’s lie justified?

Leviticus 19:11 says lying is a sin. But even though Rahab lied to the king’s officials about where the spies were, she is now regarded as righteous. The ethics of lying in situations like Rahab’s are often debated, but most people agree that Rahab’s lie to the king’s men was justified because it was a courageous act intended to demonstrate loyalty to God and help His people.

Rahab wasn’t lying to benefit herself or hurt someone else. She was protecting God’s people and actively participating in God’s good plan. So her lie could be seen as justified because of her selfless courage.

Reflect or Discuss

• Rahab believed the stories about God before she saw Him in action herself. Where in your life are you being asked to trust God based on what you know of His character rather than visible outcomes?
• Rahab is an unlikely hero by biblical standards. What kinds of people do we tend to overlook—or quietly disqualify—when it comes to faith and leadership?
• Rahab’s story ends with her being brought into Israel rather than left on the margins. What does that say about God’s heart for inclusion, and how might that challenge the way faith communities operate today?