Hope for the Harlot: Filling in the Gap

By Rev. David Lance

Rahab is eager to assert her independence, hiding a secret that could shame her family. When her father finds out, he forces her to leave home with nowhere to go. Rahab learns that being on her own is not everything it is cut out to be. She will be forced to pay a price that will affect her for the rest of her life.

Salmon is an Israelite spy who falls in love with Rahab. Going against his familys beliefs and approval, he knows she is a woman worth saving. Through much toil, he is determined to prove Rahabs virtue.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449733216

Rev. David Lance

I have been in the ministry for over twenty years. I have had the privilege to lead many to Christ through preaching the gospel. I pastured for over eight years and evangelized for twelve years. This is the second book I have published. I taught Sunday school in several churches trying to make clear to the people about God's word. My life's passion is helping people understand the word of God.   I have lived a life of troubles most of my life. I was in a foster home for three years. I lived in the projects—poorly, for all of my childhood. I became a drug user and a drunk and went through two drug rehabs and three hospital beds because of drugs.  My mother is a Christian working her whole life to teach me and my two brothers about God when we were rebellious. I fell in love with God's word when I was saved. Through the years I made it my life's goal to help others understand the word.   I live in McMinnville, Tennessee, a town hit hard by the down-turn economy. Several people here know who I used to be.  I was the first in my family to finally go to college. My mother is inspired that one of her sons is publishing Gods work. I do this mainly for God and secondly for a mother who struggled to lead her sons to Christ, though she had to wait years later to reap her efforts. Now all three of her sons are saved.  

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

About The Author

I dedicate this book to a dear friend, who has always been there for me no matter what: my wife, Amanda.

Introduction

Reading the Word of God most of my life has been enlightening. I was a boy when my mother read the Bible to me and my two brothers on the side of her bed. I had so many questions about God and the stories she read. In my pajamas, I would watch her open her red back bible with her pink curlers in her hair, teaching me God’s ways. It was not until I matured that many of my questions were answered. God has given us an imagination to help bridge the gap we have about events in the Bible. We may never know for sure how the events unfolded in these characters’ lives, or how they responded to certain situations, but we need to understand that these characters were human, just like us. They felt as we feel. They hurt as we hurt. I have written this book using scripture from KJV Bible and my imagination to create what may have happened. This inspirational fictional story mixed with biblical truths will help unlock questions you may or may not have. With there being so much we do not understand, who knows—maybe it happened just as we imagined.

Chapter One

Rahab entered her house, removing the veil from her face. Wadding it up, she threw it into the corner near the woodpile. I’m tired of hiding, she said, slapping her hands against the wall. As she bowed her head, tears fell to the floor. She slid down the wall, grimacing in pain from the bruises on her legs.

Her hair was brown, spread like cobwebs decorated with strands of straw. She slowly rose from the floor and made her way to the water vase, black paint smudged around her eyes. Leaning over the bowl, she saw her reflection. What have I become? Rahab cupped her hands to hold water, washing the places that the men had touched.

In anger, she lifted the bowl and threw it across the room, almost hitting her sister Rebecca as she walked through the door. Get out, she screamed, shocking her sister. I want to be alone. Now get out. The door slammed, loosening some mortar from the wall and forming new cracks. Rahab began pulling straw from her hair while walking back to the door she came in. She noticed a piece of her dress had been torn off the left side, where she kept the money. Oh no it’s gone! My money is gone, she cried frantically as she searched the room. I need the money, she said, running her fingers through her hair. I must go out again."

She walked to the door, pulling her hair into a ball and forgetting about her smudged face and torn dress. She placed both hands on the door, trying to resist her abhorrence. I can’t go, she said softly leaning her head against the door and taking a deep breath. I am in too much pain. Rahab turned and took a spare dress from her chest, exchanging it for the torn one she was wearing. She kept her hair in a ball and washed the black smudges from her face to hide her identity. The dress was longer than the previous one, making her bruises harder to see. It was perfect for keeping her secret.

Rahab held her shoulders high and head straight. She put a small swing to her hips enough for everyone to notice. It also relieved the pain from her bruising.

Watch out with that swing, her father said laughing as she entered the family room, you may attract the wrong crowd. Rahab struggled to hold her tears in, knowing if her father found out about her secret life it would break his heart. I won’t always be your little girl, Father. I’m of age now," she said, pulling her dress down as far as it would go.

Rebecca walked into the room where her family was sitting. She sat beside her father, refusing to look at Rahab, with both knees touching his leg. I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier I was tired, Rahab said, rubbing the top of her legs. Silence came over the room. Rebecca stared out the window with her hands folded in her lap. How was your day, Rahab? Father asked. Rebecca glanced at her out the corner of her eye, as if she knew something about her secret. Rahab arose from the stool, and walked around the room with her slight swing of the hips. Her hands circled each other rigidly, trying not to give away her nervous motions. Rebecca followed Rahab around the room with her eyes, waiting for a response to their father’s question. I just hung out with a friend’s father, Rahab said as she stared at Rebecca wondering what she knew.

Who did you hang out with? Rebecca asked with her high-pitched voice. Rahab stood where her father could not see her. Staring at Rebecca, she said her hand across her throat signaling for her to stop asking questions. What is your friend’s name? Rebecca asked, licking her lips, trying to stir her father’s curiosity. Rahab left the room after being excused by her father.

At the doorway, she signaled Rebecca to follow her, needing to speak to her in private. Rahab walked down the hall to her room, looking back to make sure Rebecca did not see her limping from her bruises. She found a soft place to sit and waited for her sister. A few moments passed before Rebecca finally walked through the door with her naughty intentions. What was with all the questions? Rahab asked, pulling her eyebrows together. Rebecca walked over to her and sat down on the floor. Rahab, what do you do all day? she asked, trying to know her secrets. Rahab sat silently for a few moments struggling for what to say. Her eyes began to reveal what Rebecca was searching for. Rahab started fidgeting again, which she always did when she was nervous.

Not comfortable about telling her sister her secret, Rahab just deflected the question. We were at the river playing in the water. Without a word, Rebecca stared at her knowing she was not truthful. Bowing her head, shaking it back and forth, she placed both hands on each side of her face. Rebecca took a deep breath before walking out of the room. I hope whatever you’re hiding Father finds out, and it doesn’t bring shame on the family.

She walked out of the room, leaving Rahab in a state of shock from her evil desire to betray her own sister. Sitting down with her mouth open, Rahab pondered over what was said. She fell to the floor, weeping and punched the mat with her fist. She felt as if she were going mad. Drying her tears with her dress Rahab came back to herself. I have to be more careful, or I will get caught and be excommunicated from the family, she said, knowing now that her sister was trying to expose her.

Rahab sat quietly for some time, staring out the window and rubbing her legs. She glanced at the veil in the corner, as she grew aware of how she tired of living two lives. The veil was black and stretched about thirty-six inches long. Large enough to wrap around her head twice, hiding her face. It was made with thick black material and her name was stitched inside. Many called her the woman with no face that creeps around houses.

Rahab crawled to the corner on her hands and knees, taking hold of the veil. She began shaking the dirt that clung to it from when it hit the woodpile. This is the only thing I’m good at, she thought to herself, burying her face into the veil. Rahab walked around the room, wishing for a place of her own. Tired of Rebecca trapping her in front of Father, she decided to work full time as a prostitute. It was one way to make money fast and have anything she wanted in a short time. The more Rahab thought about the money the closer she grew to telling her father of her plans. She knew the risk would be great if he found out about her prostituting, so she decided to wait until she collected enough money to buy her own place.

While she paced the floor, there was a knock at the door. May I come in? her mother asked, peeking around the door. She entered the room, as Rahab sat down on a mat near the fireplace. Her mother sat next to her, wearing a long dress showing only her feet. It was old and faded from years of wear and tear. She was of a quiet nature, only speaking if necessary. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Full of anxiety, she placed her arm around Rahab, full of anxiety. Her breathing was deep, as if she would pass out from her walk. After a few moments, she spoke.

Rahab, you know I love you right? Rahab just nodded with short strokes. Your sister informed me about a secret you’re carrying and felt like we needed to know. Rahab sat silently trying not to break under pressure, moving her hands across her legs. The longer she sat the more anxious she became. Rahab knew would be no perfect time to reveal her secret, so she revealed her true identity. Rahab placed both hands on her dress while stretching her legs out in front. Her mother