I am preparing the construct of a new book and was reading today about the two spies that Joshua sent in to explore the promised land, “especially Jericho.”  Two men that we must assume were men of absolute integrity, incredible bravery, trustworthy to protect the entire nation of Israel and yet, nameless.  Joshua 2.

We all know this story that Joshua sent the two spies to explore the new, promised land with focus on Jericho.  The king of Jericho got word from a nameless informant of the presence of these spies.  Interestingly, the named person in this marvelous story of God’s faithfulness to Israel and of Joshua’s faith, was a prostitute named Rahab.  The spies were not named.  The king of Jericho is not named.  The informant was not named.  But the pivotal person of this story, was a prostitute that God used mightily for his purposes.  Rahab.  Still think God cannot use you?

While we don’t know anything about Rahab the prostitute’s family, it seems reasonable to assume that there was shame associated with her profession that may have been a choice born out of absolute necessity.  There was no welfare from the government nor alimony from a former spouse, resulting in choices having to be made for survival, no matter how distasteful or shaming.  I love how God so often uses people shamed and judged for choices deemed too lowly for ‘normal’ people to accept.  

So for the next 3000-plus years and counting, Rahab, the key figure in the spying and successful conquering of Jericho, will always be referred to as ‘the prostitute.’  Likely shunned in some manner by her family and community, she was the conduit for her family’s survival when all others from Jericho perished.  I wonder, did her family make sure she was referred to as ‘Rahab the protector’ for her deal with the nameless spies that saved them all.

We later learn that ‘Rahab the prostitute’ married a Jewish man and bore a son named Boaz, who then married Ruth.  Boaz was an ancestor of King David, and 28 generations after David, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the World.

What’s in a name?  What is in your name, waiting to come out?  What purpose has God assigned you?  While you may feel you are insignificant in a World that rewards things that are fleeting, seek and trust in the permanence of who God says you are.  I suspect that Rahab the prostitute became acutely aware of the value of her life and her life’s purpose after this seminal event that saved her family.  God meets us where we are and if we will allow him, makes clear the path that he created us to walk.  

BTW, God knew and knows the names of the spies, the king and the informant.  We are on a need to know basis here and apparently do not need to know anyone except Rahab’s lineage, Jesus Christ.

“he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11 (NLT)

You matter.