The Unexpected Name in Jesus’ Genealogy
Divine Grace In Action — Part 3
Her name shouldn’t be there—yet it is. Rahab’s story is a quiet testimony to the reach—and demand—of God’s grace.
In my last post, A Forgotten Heir and the Grace That Found Him, I explored the story of Mephibosheth—Saul’s grandson—who not only lived in obscurity but had been driven from his inheritance. In this post, I want to explore another story of God’s grace in action.
Unlike Luke, who traced Jesus’ genealogy in reverse all the way back to Adam, Matthew traces it forward, beginning in Matthew 1:1–16 and leading to Joseph, His earthly father. Then, in verse 5, Matthew includes a surprising detail—a woman:
“Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse”
— Matthew 1:5
Although Matthew had already mentioned Tamar in verse 3, it is still striking that he includes Rahab alongside Ruth. It is noteworthy that they are all gentile women.
The mention of Rahab is unusual not only because biblical genealogies typically list men, but also because of who she is. If you don’t know her story, the name might pass by unnoticed—until you realize that she was not only a non-Israelite, a Canaanite, but also a harlot. Yes, you read that right.
If you find yourself wondering how God could include a harlot in the genealogy of Jesus, let’s step into her story and see.
Rahab’s Story
Joshua 2 is where her story unfolds. In verse 1, Joshua sent two men to spy out the land, saying:
“Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”
The two men entered Jericho and, by what can only be described as divine orchestration, lodged in Rahab’s house. But they were quickly recognized as spies (v.2), and the king sent men to seize them (v.3).
In a surprising turn, rather than give them up, Rahab chose to protect and hide them (v.4–7)—even though she knew they were Israelites who would eventually conquer Jericho. Why would she do this? Because she had come to understand this:
“…for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
— verse 11
This was an incredibly risky decision. If she had been discovered, it would have been considered treason. She chose faith in the God of the Israelites over loyalty to her nation. This is a lesson for our time: faith must always take precedence over allegiance to state, party, or political ideology.
We are called to be Christ-first—not American-first, or defined by any political party or system.
Then she negotiated for her life and the lives of her family, saying:
“Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
— verse 12–13
The spies agreed to ensure her safety—and that of her family—on the condition that she did not betray them. They also instructed her to tie a scarlet cord in the window through which she let them down, and to gather her entire family into her house (v.18). She obeyed (v.21), and when Jericho was later overtaken (Joshua 6:22–23), she and her entire family were rescued.
Lessons from Rahab’s Story
Rahab’s story is not just another example of God’s grace in action; it is also a powerful illustration that His grace is universal—available to anyone who is willing to receive it. We see that grace expressed in several ways:
One. God does not reject or disqualify anyone because of their past. Rahab was a harlot, yet God included her in the genealogy of Jesus. No one is too damaged or too broken for God to use. But this also calls for a complete renunciation of the past—you cannot claim God’s forgiveness and justification while continuing to live as your old self.
Scripture also warns that God will reject those who persist in sin:
“For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”
— Hebrews 6:7–8
God’s grace is free, but it is not permission to remain unchanged—it produces fruit in the life of the one who truly receives it. If we do not, we place ourselves in danger of rejection.
Two. Rahab should have perished with her people, yet God spared her and her family because she aligned herself with His will by protecting the spies. She chose faith and her family over nation. Grace is undeserved, but when we align with God’s will, we position ourselves to receive it.
Three. The grace in this story is not only at work for Rahab, but also for the spies. She understood that helping them would mean the destruction of her nation, yet she acted anyway. When God’s grace is at work in your life, He will move others to go out of their way to help you.
Four. Rahab’s inclusion in Jesus’s genealogy reminds us that it is not how a story begins that defines a life, but how it ends. God’s grace can rewrite your story, no matter how it began.
In my next post, I’ll examine another Bible character whose story reveals God’s grace at work once again. Stay tuned.