Biblical hospitality is not always comfortable or safe—it sometimes requires courage, discernment, and deep faith. In Joshua 2 and Joshua 6:22-25, we encounter Rahab, a woman whose decision to welcome Israelite spies into her home becomes a turning point not only for her household but also for her destiny. This episode of Hospitality Heroes’ Spotlight explores how faith-driven hospitality can position even the most unlikely person within God’s redemptive plan.
Host: Hello, everyone, and welcome to another thriller episode of Inside-out Hospitality Heroes’ Spotlight. Today, we have a woman who did not let her past stop her from being used by God. She had raw faith, unshakeable faith, and received people who were not only strangers but also spies and enemies of her homeland. That’s some radical hospitality right there!
Her story is woven into the very fabric of faith.
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Hebrews 11:31, NLT
Who would have thought a former prostitute would find herself in the Hall of Faith right alongside Father Abraham? She harboured 2 Israelite spies in her home despite the risk to her life if caught. It was not just an act of kindness but great faith. She is brave, intelligent, resourceful, and strategic.
From an outsider in Jericho to an insider in Israel. From a woman with a stained past to a matriarch in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Now that is a story worth hearing!
Let’s welcome Rahab!
Rahab: Thank you very much, it is a pleasure and honour to be here.
Host: Your hospitality was dangerous, radical, and costly. You risked your life for complete strangers. Why would you do that?
Rahab: We were going to die anyway. Jericho was trembling in fear. We had heard about the God of Israel—how He humiliated Pharaoh, parted the Red Sea, and gave His people victory after victory. We knew Jericho was next.
I believed God had already given Israel the land. If I aligned myself with my people, I would perish. If I aligned myself with God, I had hope. Faith often requires strategic decisions. Hospitality is not just kindness—it’s discernment and alignment with God’s purposes.
We face the same choice today. Many hear about God’s power yet fear choosing Him—fear of family, fear of change, fear of the unknown. But not choosing God is choosing death.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death… Oh, that you would choose life.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)
Host: Powerful. You believed based on what you heard, while many Israelites doubted what they saw. Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Some assume the spies came for… services. Were they distracted from their mission? (winks at Rahab)
Rahab: (Laughs) Not at all! But I understand the assumption. My house was a familiar place for (coughs) visitors, and it was located by the city gate—perfect for escape. God used my location, my knowledge of the city, and yes, even my past.
God doesn’t waste anything when a heart is surrendered.
Host: That hits deep. What if we viewed our homes as strategic locations for God’s work?
(To readers)Maybe your home is meant for Bible study, mentoring, prayer, missionaries, or a safe refuge.
Now, let’s talk about the scarlet rope. You just happened to have one?
Rahab: (Smirks) It used to be for quick escapes of the (coughs again) visitors. But God repurposed it. That scarlet cord became a sign of faith—just like the blood on the doorposts in Egypt. When Jericho fell, my household was spared.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31 (NLT)
Hospitality has a ripple effect. One person’s faith can bring salvation to many.
Host: Amen! Hospitality isn’t just about meals—it’s about refuge, safety, and salvation. And your story proves that God doesn’t discriminate by past, only by faith.
Before we close, what final word would you give our readers about hospitality?
Rahab:
- Know God. He is worthy of your trust.
- Have faith. God can rewrite any story.
- Align yourself with His purposes. Hospitality is a kingdom tool.
- Don’t live in fear. Fear kept Jericho bound—but faith set me free.
Host: She ate and left no crumbs! Thank you, Rahab—not Rahab the prostitute, but Rahab the woman of great faith and hospitality.
Inside-Out Hospitality Takeaway
Rahab teaches us that biblical hospitality begins with faith, not perfection. When we open our homes with discernment and courage, God can transform ordinary spaces into places of refuge, redemption, and destiny. Hospitality, when led by God, becomes a powerful instrument for salvation and the advancement of the kingdom.
Inside-Out Question
Are you allowing fear, past mistakes, or social labels to limit how God can use your home?
What would it look like to view your space as a strategic place for God’s redemptive work?
Want to go deeper?
Read more about Rahab in Joshua 2; Joshua 6:22–23; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25.
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Up next on Hospitality Heroes’ Spotlight: Boaz
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