12/10/23 The Women of Advent: Rahab

Watch this Week's Message

ICEBREAKER

1. What's the smelliest thing you've ever encountered?
2. What's a label you've been given over the years and how have people treated you because of it?

DISCUSSION
Review the story of Rahab in Joshua 2:1-21 and 6:20-25.

1. First, what is the conquest of the land all about?
   1. Driving out the wickedness of the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 9:4-6).
   2. Giving the land to the Israelites instead.
2. What are some things you've noticed or that have stood out to you about Rahab's story?
3. What do you think life was like for Rahab in Jericho among the Canaanites?
   
4. Innkeeper?
   Many Jewish teachers and Rabbis both before Jesus and the New Testament and shortly afterward promoted the idea that Rahab was an innkeeper. In fact, a strong tradition developed believing that Rahab married Joshua and that a number of prophets were descended from them: Jeremiah, Hilkiah, Seraiah, Mahseiah, Baruch, Ezekiel and Hulda.
   
   1. Is there a footnote in any of your Bibles or have you come across any articles suggesting that Rahab might have been an "innkeeper" rather than a "prostitute"? 
      
   2. How would that change our perspective of her?
   3. Why would they have come up with this tradition?
      The root Hebrew word for what is translated as "prostitute" is "znh" which has some connection to "feeding" or "being fed." The context of Joshua 2 also hints at her running a household where travelers can find lodging. But mostly, it's understood that it was too shameful to have a prostitute in the line of such great prophets.
5. Prostitute?
   The root word "znh" is more strongly understood as "stinking" or "rejected" or "unfaithful." The actual word used in Joshua 2:1 is "zenuth," is the exact same word used in Genesis 38:15, which means "prostitute" or "promiscuous." The Canaanites had many religious prostitutes who served in the temples of Baal and Asherah, but there's a different term for them. Furthermore, Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 both indicate that Rahab was a prostitute.
   1. Why did the two spies "stay" in the house of Rahab?
   2. Rahab hid them under flax stalks that had been soaked and now were drying. They were probably very stinky. Is there any significance to this?
6. Prophetic words.
   The Lord promised to give the land to the descendants of Abraham, the Israelites (Genesis 15:18-21). He promised it would be spacious and fruitful (Exodus 3:8; Joshua 1:13).
   1. What do you think the spies thought when they met Rahab, whose name in Hebrew means "wide" or "spacious"?
   2. What is the significance of Rahab speaking prophetically the words of Joshua 2:8-11?
7. What is the significance of Rahab being brought in to dwell among the Israelites (Joshua 6:25) and even marry Salmon (Matthew 1:5) in light of God's prohibition to marry Canaanites in Deuteronomy 7:1-6?
8. How does this story demonstrate God's judgment against the wicked and grace for those who turn to him?
9. Have you seen this kind of grace at work in your own life or in the church?
10. Why is it significant that Matthew just says "Rahab" rather than "Rahab the prostitute" (Matthew 1:5)?
11. What is the significance of what Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25 are saying in light of Rahab's story?

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, pray about what was discussed—confessing how we experience God's grace today. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.