40 Days of Faith: Day 32

Hebrews 11:31 – By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Chrissy Outlaw grew up in a broken home and endured abuse from an early age. As a teenager she longed for love and affirmation but instead found herself trapped in toxic relationships. By her twenties, she became involved in the pornography industry, which promised quick money but left her feeling degraded and hopeless. She later said she felt like she was “too far gone” for God to forgive her.

But in 2003, Chrissy encountered Christians who loved her without judgment and told her that Jesus offered forgiveness and new life. She gave her life to Christ, walked away from the porn industry, and began a ministry sharing her testimony to help others find freedom in Christ. Like Rahab, her past did not disqualify her — instead, God redeemed her story to draw others to Himself. Today she has spoken at churches and conferences, telling thousands that no one is beyond God’s grace.[1]

 How does the gospel transform a life like this? How can a young woman go from a broken family, abuse in toxic relationships, and the pornography industry, to speaking in church and pointing people to hope?

 I think the answer is simple: faith in Christ Jesus. The good news of Jesus changes our identity. Through Christ, we are moved from death to life, from darkness to light, and from enemies of God to children of God and co-heirs with Christ. Our Heavenly Father adopts us and grants us an inheritance, even though we were his enemies. This comes to us when we see the truth and respond in faith.

 This is Rahab’s story. Rahab was a prostitute living in Jericho when Israel came to conquer the city (Joshua 2). She hid two Israelite spies on her roof and misdirected the king’s men who were searching for them. Rahab had heard of Israel’s God — how He had parted the Red Sea and defeated mighty kings — and she confessed her faith. Joshua 2:8-14 states:
 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

 Because of her faith, she asked the spies to spare her family. She took courageous action to secure the rescue of her entire family because of what she could see coming. Thus, the spies promised safety if she tied a scarlet cord in her window as a sign.

 Before we move on from this scarlet cord, consider a few nuggets of deeper meaning:
 “The scarlet cord tied in Rahab's window held significant meaning in the story of Jericho's fall. It served as a symbol of salvation for Rahab and her family, marking her house for protection when the Israelites conquered the city.[2] [3] This cord was part of an agreement between Rahab and the Israelite spies, requiring her to keep her family inside the house during the attack. The scarlet color of the cord has been interpreted by many Christian scholars as a foreshadowing of Christ's blood and sacrifice.[4] [5] Rahab's act of hanging the cord was seen as a public declaration of her faith.[6] Her story is notable not only for her salvation but also for her subsequent integration into Israelite society and her place in the lineage of Jesus Christ.[7] The scarlet cord in Rahab's story is often compared to the blood-marked doorposts during the first Passover in Egypt, both serving as signs of divine protection.”[8] [9]

 What riches we find in the word of God! When the walls of Jericho fell, Rahab and her household were spared (Joshua 6:22–25). This set Rahab apart from the rest of Jericho and gave her a new future.

 Rahab’s story shows that faith, not background, secures salvation. Even a Canaanite prostitute can become part of God’s covenant people through belief. As you ponder this truth, consider also how Rahab was the mother of Boaz and the great-great-grandmother of King David. She even appears in Matthew’s gospel as part of the lineage of Jesus.

 Rahab’s scarlet cord still speaks to us today—it points us to the blood of Jesus, which secures our salvation and gives us a brand-new future. Your past does not disqualify you. Your mistakes do not define you. By faith, you too can be marked by the blood of Christ and welcomed into God’s family. Just as Rahab’s household was spared and Chrissy Outlaw’s life was transformed, so can yours. Faith is not about where you’ve been, but about who you trust now. Will you place your full confidence in Jesus and receive the future He has prepared for you?

Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your grace is greater than my past. Thank You for the scarlet cord that points me to the blood of Jesus, shed for my forgiveness. I confess that I need You to redeem my story and give me a new future. Help me to live by faith, trusting You to protect, guide, and restore me. Use my life as a testimony of Your transforming love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] Chrissy Outlaw, testimony in I Was Wrong: Why the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Called It Quits by Lee Strobel (interview reference).
[2] Amy Grant et al., Faithful (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2021), 21.
[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You (Nashville, TN: Nelson Books, 2005), 62.
[4] Adolph L. Harstad, Joshua, Concordia Commentary (Saint Louis, MO: Concordia Pub. House, 2004), 142.
[5] O. S. Hawkins, The Bible Code: Finding Jesus in Every Book in the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2020).
[6] Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 274.
[7] Hawkins.
[8] Harstad, 142.
[9] Summary of Rahab’s Scarlet Cord, Logos Bible Software, accessed, August 18, 2025.