Elevate Your Day with Andi and Brian Hale

A Legacy of Faith

A Legacy of Faith
From Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion
Rahab’s faith didn’t just transform her own life. Her faith created a ripple effect that shaped generations. She is one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith,” where she is celebrated for her bold trust in God. The writer of Hebrews highlights Rahab’s faith as the reason for her salvation, stating, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31). James also commends Rahab, using her as an example of how true faith is demonstrated through action: “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?” (James 2:25).
Yet Rahab’s legacy goes far beyond these recognitions. Her faith and obedience not only changed the course of her own life but also influenced the trajectory of history. Through her family line came King David, one of the most pivotal figures in Israel’s history, and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world (Matthew 1:5–6). Her decision to trust God in a moment of uncertainty didn’t just save her life. Her decision became part of God’s plan for redemption, affecting countless lives for eternity.
This is the power of a life surrendered to God. When we place our faith in Him and walk in obedience, our actions can have an eternal impact, far beyond what we can see. Rahab’s story reminds us that leaving a legacy of faith doesn’t require perfection—it requires trust. God doesn’t use us because of our credentials or spotless records; He uses us because of our willingness to say yes to Him.
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. – Psalms 145:4 NLT
Her life challenges us to consider the legacy we are building. Are we living in a way that points others to God’s grace and power? Are we stepping out in faith, even when it’s uncomfortable or risky, so that others can see His work in our lives? Legacy isn’t about what we leave behind for others to admire; it’s about the spiritual inheritance we pass on and a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness that inspires others to trust Him.
Rahab’s story also reminds us that no matter where we come from, what we’ve done, or how unqualified we feel, God can use us to inspire faith in others.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Her past didn’t disqualify her; in fact, it became part of her testimony to God’s redeeming grace. Like Rahab, your obedience today can impact generations to come. It starts with one act of trust and is a step of faith that says, “God, I believe You can use me.”

From Outsider to Family

The Scarlet Cord of Redemption

The Scarlet Cord of Redemption
From Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion
Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.” Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death. If you betray us, however, we are not bound by this oath in any way. I accept your terms,” she replied. And she sent them on their way, leaving the scarlet rope hanging from the window. - Joshua 2:15-21 NLT
The scarlet cord hanging from Rahab’s window was more than just a marker for the Israelites. The hanging cord was a visible declaration of her faith and a symbol of redemption. By placing it in her window, Rahab put her trust in God’s promise to save her and her family from destruction, even as Jericho faced judgment.
This scarlet cord draws a beautiful parallel to the blood of Jesus, shed for the redemption of all who believe. Just as the Israelites were spared during the first Passover by marking their homes with the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:13), Rahab’s home was marked by the scarlet cord. And just as Rahab’s family found refuge under the symbol of her faith, we find refuge in the sacrifice of Christ. Ephesians 1:7 reminds us, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Rahab’s story is a testament to God’s grace. Despite her past, she was not only saved but also welcomed into the people of Israel and became part of the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). This shows us that redemption is not limited to the “qualified” or the “deserving.” Romans 3:23–24 assures us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
If you’ve ever felt like your sins are too great or your past is too messy for God to redeem, Rahab’s story is a reminder that His grace is greater. God doesn’t just forgive. God restores, transforms, and uses us for His purposes. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. - Romans 8:1 NLT
The scarlet cord invites us to see redemption as a work of God’s grace, not our own efforts. Just as Rahab trusted in God’s promises, we too must trust that Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to cover our sins, mark us as His, and draw us into His story of salvation.

Bold Faith In Action

Bold Faith in Action
From Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion
Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families. We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.” – Joshua 2:8-14 NLT
Have you ever faced a moment when stepping out in faith felt impossible because the risks seemed too great? That is exactly where Rahab found herself, a pivotal moment where fear and faith collided. She was forced to choose between the safety of the familiar and the uncertainty of trusting in a God she had only heard about.
In Joshua 2, Rahab made a stunning declaration to the spies she had hidden: “I know that the Lord has given you this land.” Her words were not casual; they reflected a deep belief in the power and sovereignty of a God she had only heard about. Rahab’s faith wasn’t born from years of knowing or following God but from stories of His works. Her decision to hide the spies was not just an act of bravery; it was a step of faith in a God she trusted, even at great personal risk.
By hiding the spies and asking for her family’s safety, Rahab risked her life and her future. She could have been executed for treason if she had been discovered. But instead of letting fear paralyze her, Rahab chose to trust God. Her courage was not the absence of fear but the decision to trust God in the face of uncertainty.
Rahab’s story reminds us that faith is more than just believing in God. Faith is acting on God’s truth, even when the path ahead is unclear. It’s easy to say we trust God when the stakes are low, but true faith is revealed when we take action in situations where the risks are high, and the outcomes are unknown.
And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 NLT
Rahab didn’t know how her story would end, but she believed in a God who could do the impossible. Her example challenges us to examine our own faith. Are we willing to trust God when the circumstances seem overwhelming? Are we willing to step out, even when we don’t have all the answers?
 

God Choosing The Unlikely

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.