May 22, 2026 – Broken Stories Redeemed
Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 12:1-3
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday when Christians traditionally celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit. The correlation in OT times is the celebration of the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22). This Feast was associated with Israel receiving the Law at Mt. Sinai. A tradition for modern Jews is to read the book of Ruth during the holiday since, for them, she is considered to be the first convert to Judaism, thus embracing the Law of Moses for herself. However, most Christians think that Rahab was the first convert. Why the discrepancy?
The Bible leaves no room for doubt about Ruth’s conversion. After Naomi’s husband and two sons (who were married to Ruth and Orpah) died, she urged them to return to their Moabite people. Ruth 1:14-15 says that Orpah left Naomi and went “back to her people and to her gods.” But in verse 16 Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” Ruth is quoted here specifically professing that Yahweh is her God, his people are now her people. The language is also recalling the covenant promise that God made with Israel, “I will be your God and you shall be my people.” (Gen 17:7-8; Ex 6:7; 2 Cor 6:16)
Ruth made a conscious choice to leave her father, mother, and native land to go to a people that she did not know (Ruth 2:11). It’s also astonishing that she took the leap of faith to enter into the covenant with the future still completely uncertain. She had no idea that she was about to meet Boaz, who would become her husband and redeemer. But God honored her faith, redeemed her as one of his covenant people, and she became the great-grandmother of King David.
There is much less clarity and detail in the Bible about Rahab’s story and conversion. This is especially true from the Jewish perspective since they only have what is written about her in the book of Joshua. Rahab was a Canaanite and a prostitute. She hid two spies that Joshua sent to Jericho, saving them when the king sent for them. Joshua 2:8-13 is her plea to the spies for mercy from the judgment that was coming when the Israelites would take the land. Rahab tells the spies what she knows about the LORD (2:9,10). She declares who God is in 2:11, “the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” She doesn’t profess that the LORD is her God. Joshua 6 doesn’t add any specific proof that she converted either. Verse 25 says that “she lived in Israel because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.” This confirms she was saved because of what she did, not necessarily because of who she became.
As Christians, we have three more references to Rahab. The New Testament allows Rahab to be remembered as one of the ancestors of Christ (Matthew 1:5); for her faith (Hebrews 11:31); and for her good works (James 2:25). These attributes make a much stronger case that Rahab did in fact have a genuine conversion. It’s also interesting to consider why these particular authors reference her. It could be because all three are writing with an intent to influence a Jewish, or Jewish Christian, audience. The Gospel of Matthew is written about a Jew, by a Jew, for the Jews. His intent was to write a narrative that would identify Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, and the one for whom they had been waiting. James was writing to Jewish Christians who had become worldly and had lost the evidence of faith in their lives. His reflections on the Torah and Jewish heritage were not depicted as a requirement for faith in Jesus. Rather, he was reminding them of the guidelines, and the standard, by which they were called to live as a set apart people. The book of Hebrews is a book of encouragement, first written to early Jewish Christians. Its underlying theme is that Jesus, the Christ, is supreme over the angels, Moses, high priests, and he established a new, better covenant. Rabab being included in Matthew, James, and Hebrews demonstrates that she is included in God’s people for eternity, even if we don’t have definitive proof that she professed a personal faith.
However, there are two suppositions that we might be able to take the liberty to make supporting Rahab’s conversion. One, we do know that Rahab had head knowledge of who the God of Israel was, even though she doesn’t profess that the LORD is “her” LORD. Joshua 2:11 could imply that she had a heart change and was the beginning of her personal faith – as soon as they heard [what the LORD had done], their “hearts melted.” Two, Rahab was Boaz’s mother, and Ruth became his wife. This could imply that Rahab was not only saved, but embraced by the people of Israel to the point that she was taken as one of the Israelite’s wives.
Even if some mystery remains regarding Ruth and Rahab, there are some things of which we can be certain. Both women’s lives are a testimony of how God will use the smallest acts of faith and obedience in huge ways. Matthew included both of them, along with Tamar, Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah), and Mary in his genealogy of Jesus. By doing so, the lineage included men, women, adulterers, prostitutes, heroes, and Gentiles, and Jesus is savior of all. This is the inspiration and hope that we have from studying the lives of Ruth and Rahab. Their broken stories are our broken stories that Jesus came to redeem, and the Holy Spirit empowers to live as a new creation, a holy nation – one bearing witness to the end of the earth.
Further reading: John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9-12
Reflection Questions:
1. What comes to mind when you reflect on your conversion story?
2. How have you seen evidence of the Holy Spirit empowering you to live as a new creation?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling and drawing me to yourself, for inviting me into the communion of saints, and for the Holy Spirit that enables and empowers me to live as a new creation. Guide me. Give me courage to be your hands and feet, and to bear witness of your saving grace, your faithfulness, and your saving grace that redeems even the most broken of stories. Amen.
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