God Choosing the Unlikely
From Rehab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion
Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. But someone told the king of Jericho, “Some Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab: “Bring out the men who have come into your house, for they have come here to spy out the whole land.” Rahab had hidden the two men, but she replied, “Yes, the men were here earlier, but I didn’t know where they were from. They left the town at dusk, as the gates were about to close. I don’t know where they went. If you hurry, you can probably catch up with them.” (Actually, she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had laid out.) So the king’s men went looking for the spies along the road leading to the shallow crossings of the Jordan River. And as soon as the king’s men had left, the gate of Jericho was shut. – Joshua 2:1-7 NLT
I often wondered if God could ever use someone like me. My past felt like a heavy chain, a constant reminder of my failures. Shame and regret weighed me down, and every mistake seemed to echo the same lie:
- You’re unworthy.
- You’re disqualified.
- You’re beyond redemption.
I couldn’t imagine how a life like mine could ever have a place in God’s plan. Then one day, I came across the story of Rahab in Scripture. Her life may have been different from mine, but her story showed me a truth I desperately needed to hear: God’s grace is not limited by our past. Through Rahab, I began to understand that God doesn’t call the qualified. He redeems and uses those who are willing to trust Him.
Rahab lived in the city of Jericho, a place marked for destruction. She was known as a harlot, someone society would have considered unworthy and disposable. By every worldly measure, Rahab was the last person anyone would expect God to use. Yet, God’s plan for her life far exceeded her reputation or her past.
When the Israelite spies entered Jericho, Rahab made a choice that altered her destiny. She hid the spies and protected them from the king’s men, risking her life to do so. Why would she take such a bold risk? Rahab had heard the stories of the God of Israel: His power, His miracles, and His victories. These accounts stirred something in her heart, awakening a faith in the one true God she had never known.
When the moment came, Rahab made a life-changing decision: she chose to align herself with the God of Israel and His people rather than the gods of her city. In doing so, she demonstrated a faith that went beyond words and into action. This faith not only set her apart but also positioned her for God to work through her in a remarkable way.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
Rahab’s story reminds us of a profound truth: God doesn’t see us the way the world does. He doesn’t define us by our mistakes or label us by our failures. Instead, He looks at us through the lens of His grace, seeing our potential and calling us into His purpose.
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NLT
Rahab’s life is proof that God delights in using the unlikely to accomplish His plans. He didn’t choose Rahab because she was perfect. He chose her because she was willing. Her faith marked the beginning of her transformation, not just in her own life but in her role in God’s greater story. Through her faith and obedience, Rahab became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, a testament to the redemptive power of God’s grace.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. – Psalms 34:18 NLT
No matter what labels you carry, no matter how heavy your baggage feels, Rahab’s story offers hope. God’s grace is bigger than your past, and His purpose is greater than your failures. Like Rahab, your faith can mark the beginning of a new chapter. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about trusting the God who takes broken lives and turns them into something beautiful for His glory.