Women of Worth

It is a rare moment of silence in her house. She takes advantage of the stillness and sits in her favorite place, the ledge of her window, and leans back against the wide wall. She is grateful that her house is built into the side of the city wall for this window allows her to momentarily forget her life and gaze upon the outside world. Her eyes roam across the view of the hills in the distance. The sun is chasing away the early morning shadows as a welcome breeze stirs the palm trees. It is a familiar sight and a relaxing one. She has lived in this city of Jericho all of her life and she knows it well. The rhythm of daily life in the city is soothing in its predictable routine. Growing up she ran through the streets with her brothers and sisters engaged in their latest imagined escapade. It was a joyful time in her life filled with family and friends. Rahab smiles as she remembers the laughter of those days and the innocence of her youth. It seems so long ago.

Much has changed since those days. Jericho has grown into a strategic city, an important city in the Amorite kingdom. Thick, solid walls which seem to reach to the heavens surround the city, making it an impregnable fortress able to withstand any form of attack by its enemies. The king boasts of the strength of the walls and the security they bring to the city, and the residents feel safe within their protection. They even promise refuge for neighboring villagers who flee to the city in times of trouble. A small frown appears on Rahab’s face as she studies the walls. Others may be comforted by the presence of these walls but they sometimes feel like prison walls to her, keeping her trapped in her way of life. Her window offers a temporary escape.

She watches as a group of travelers approach the city from afar. No doubt they are heading to the gates of Jericho to seek entrance. There is a continual stream of visitors through the gates of the city since it lies in the valley of the Jordan on the route into Canaan. She assumes the travelers have come to buy from the storehouses which are bursting with the recent abundant grain harvest or to enjoy the sensual pleasures offered in the city. The reputation of Jericho as corrupt and depraved is widely known throughout the land. Its pagan culture draws those who love its wickedness and Rahab has lived in its carnal lifestyle all of her life. Some of the travelers will find their way to her house. It is well known by all as a place to lodge and find pleasure. Sexual lust drives the men to her house. This is a need she understands and knows how to meet. She is not proud of her profession but she also does not hide it. It is the way she makes her living. She has no illusions about who she is.

But the years of her life as a harlot have taken a heavy toll. A small sigh spills from her lips as she closes her eyes. Her heart has built its own wall of protection against any stray hope or dream that attempts to invade. She has convinced herself over the years that this wall is as necessary as the solid walls of the city. She is safe only if her heart remains asleep within its wall of protection. Emotions are the enemy here. A very dangerous indulgence in her profession. If she allows her heart to feel anything, it will destroy the hardened facade of her wall. The wall of her heart must remain as impenetrable as the city walls. So she dare not weaken. She dare not allow any attack against her wall. Her survival is based on staying strong and vigilant. However, the price she has paid to protect her wall is steep. The absence of emotion has brought a lingering emptiness to her soul. Despite her constant guard, in moments of silence her heart defies her and reaches out for more. It pleads with an invisible force to find some sense of purpose, something to bring meaning to her days. She does not even know what she is seeking. She just knows she hungers for it.

Blinking away a betraying tear, she steps down from her window in the wall.