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James 2:25
25 Likewise [homoios] [de] also [kai] was [dikaioo] not [ou] Rahab [Rhaab] the harlot [porne] justified [dikaioo] by [ek] works [ergon], when she had received [hupodechomai] the messengers [aggelos], and [kai] had sent them out [ekballo] another [heteros] way [hodos]? KJV-Interlinear
25 And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? NASB
The story of Rahab, is found in Joshua 2. She was the harlot who gave refuge to the two spies that Joshua had sent into Jericho, to discover its secrets.
When Rahab spoke with the two spies, she told them that the people of the land had already heard of the history of the Israelites of the past forty years, and of how God had protected the Israelites during all of those years, beginning with the destruction of the army of Egypt.
Everyone in the land was fearful of the Israelites, and yet they did not see fit to turn to the God of Israel, but continued with their own false gods. Rahab believed in the God of Israel. Rahab was also aware of the promise of prophecies, of which God had given the land to Israel. Everyone was aware of this prophecy, but again, they did not turn to the one true God.
When the spies came into the city of Jericho, they found Rahab. How they discovered each other, we are not told. She hid them and even misled the city leaders as to their whereabouts.
She did this with full knowledge that, if discovered, her life would be in danger, along with that of her entire family.
Abraham was a just man, and he lived a good and honest life. Rahab had a reputation as a lady of the night. So her life was not so honorable.
But both knew of and had believed in the promised savior, the messiah, Jesus Christ. Being saved can be accomplished by both honest people and sinners alike. Likewise, both grew up spiritually by means of listening to the scriptures and learning and so forth.
Abraham demonstrated his spiritual maturity by his obedience in giving up that which was most dear to him, his son.
Rahab demonstrated her maturity by risking her life. And though she led a rather lascivious life, by this time she had changed her ways.
Her future was to become the wife of Salmon, and to give birth to Boaz, in the line of Jesus, Matt. 1:5.
