The Bible is full of stories of men and women who became immigrants, like Abraham, Moses, Daniel, and Esther, to name a few. Their experience as immigrants not only intersected with their personal spiritual formation but also played an important role in the meta narrative of the Bible. Ruth and Rahab, for instance, were foreigners who were grafted into the salvation story.

One of the goals of this podcast is to highlight biblical immigrant characters so that we recognize how migration intersects with Scripture and draw important truths from their stories to strengthen our faith.

This episode kickstarts a new series of conversations about immigrants and foreigners in the Bible. I talked with award-winning author and speaker, Shadia Hrichi, about Rahab, a prostitute and a Canaanite woman. Our discussion was like a mini Bible study because we dug deep into Joshua 2 and analyzed Rahab’s involvement in Israel’s conquest of Jericho.

To get most out of this episode, read Joshua 2 before you listen. Or, open your Bible to Joshua 2 and follow along.

Takeaways from this episode:

1. Rahab’s courageous actions were prompted by her faith in Israel’s God. We, too, can take take bold steps of faith when we put our trust in God, who is the God of heaven above and earth below.
   
2. Rahab’s belief came from hearing stories about Israel’s mighty God. She did not see any miracles with her eyes, but still believed. God was at work, developing her faith all along.
   
3. God saves ALL who come to Him, without exceptions. God is gracious and merciful.
   

Would you like a copy of Shadia’s latest Bible study, Rahab: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me? Click here to participate in this exclusive giveaway.

Shadia Hrichi is a passionate Bible teacher and award-winning author who loves seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. She is the author of several Bible studies, including Tamar, Hagar, Legion, and Worthy of Love and the recipient of several awards, including the 2022 WCCW “God’s Word is Alive” award. Having experienced many heartbreaks, including abortion, date rape, divorce, and more, Shadia captures the hearts of her audience as she illustrates, through personal experience, God’s love, faithfulness, and power of redemption. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies as well as a master’s in criminal justice.

Learn more about Shadia here.

Mabel is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. An immigrant from India who has lived in seven cities across the U.S. in fourteen years, Mabel navigates between cultures, feeling at home everywhere and nowhere. In her award-winning book, Far from Home: Discovering Your Identity as Foreigners on Earth, Mabel draws from her personal experience as an immigrant and examines the lives of biblical heroes to shed light on how we can find purpose and joy as sojourners on earth.

Learn more Mabel here.

Buy Mabel’s book, Far from Home: Discovering Your Identity as Foreigners on Earth, on Amazon.

Buy Mabel’s book from End Game Press.

Download the tip sheet, Love Your Immigrant Neighbor : 5 Action Steps, here.