But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day. (Joshua 6:25)

King David’s great-great grandmother was Rahab, the prostitute from Jericho. She was a Canaanite, of the people-group that the children of Israel were forbidden to marry. Yet she is of the lineage of David and an ancestor of Jesus. Now that doesn’t sit too well with the laws of the Moses, which goes to show you that the law of the Old Covenant was and is not the last word. There is another covenant — the new covenant — that Christ ushered in, that was evident even then. That covenant is evidenced by the grace of God, and entered into by faith. And Rahab acted on that faith when she found out that the two men in town were from the new nation of Israel and they had come to spy out the city. Rahab, and indeed the whole town, had heard how the children of Israel had crossed the Red Sea and the Jordan River and were successful in all their conflicts so far. She was terrified. And so she, being a smart one, hid the spies when the authorities came looking, because she knew that God was with them and she was hoping to make a deal.

“When we heard of it [your success], our hearts melted in fear,” Rahab said, “and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”  (Joshua 2:11) Now that’s quite a statement for a pagan to come up with: God in heaven and on earth below. That God is definitely God all over. Rahab believed. And she asked the spies if they would protect her and her family in exchange for her hiding them from being discovered. (“They went that-a-way.”)(This, by the way, also flies in the face of the law which would say you must tell the truth at all times no matter what.) She believed, and that was all that was necessary according to the new covenant. So she was saved, and became a part of the nation of Israel, and not only that, her Jewish husband (Salmon) was part of the lineage of Christ. Forget that old covenant; skip right to the new. The new covenant takes precedent on either side of the cross. Rahab was brought into the Jewish family by faith and her blood became part of the line of the savior. That was what God wanted to say through Rehab.

God draws outside the box. The old covenant is there, but He’s been operating out of the new covenant all along. Don’t ever rule anyone or anything out of the mercy of God.

A Unique Opportunity to Support a Rare Ministry

Please pray for our partner, Hope International Ministries. Under the leadership of Doug Stevens, friend of Catch Ministries and frequent guest on our podcast, HIM is hosting a retreat for pastors and their families—men and women who continue to serve their communities with incredible courage and sacrifice in the Ukraine war zone. Last year’s retreat near Odessa, on the shores of the Black Sea, was a time when these pastors shared stories of staying when they could have fled and of shepherding others while bearing their own grief. It was both inspiring and heartbreaking, which is why Doug left feeling deeply moved and convinced he had to go back.

We want to help raise funds to support the costs of over 100 Ukrainian pastors and their families attending this retreat again this year in the end of June. It will be a week of rest, healing, and spiritual renewal—an oasis in the chaos. For many, it’s the only break they’ll have all year. It’s not just a retreat; it’s a lifeline.

We’re also helping support the launch of two trauma healing centers—one in Kharkiv, just 25 miles from the Russian border, which focuses on families living in the shadow of war, and another in Kyiv, aimed at helping wounded veterans and military widows find healing and hope. These centers will be operated by local therapists, pastors, and social workers who are already engaged in this sacred work.

Doug is traveling with other pastors and laypeople to Ukraine at their own expense, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to the families attending the retreat and to the trauma centers on the frontlines of healing.

The overall goal is to raise $50,000 (of which $30,000 has been raised so far). Whether you contribute a little or a lot, you are stepping into the narrative of resilience, love, and Jesus’ unshakable hope amid suffering.

Doug wants to thank you in advance for your kindness and prayers.

Let’s do this together!

To contribute, click here, and write “For Ukraine” on the memo. This is a unique and vital ministry and a rare opportunity to get help to where it can do so much good. Let’s send Doug and Hope International Ministries a generous gift on behalf of Catch Ministries.

To learn about last year’s retreat, click here.