Joshua 2
-Joshua sent out two men as spies to view the Promised Land
that they were about to invade and conquer. They had a specific mission to spy
out Jericho, which was just across the Jordan to the western side, protected
with walls around the city. The two spies went and came into lodging with a
harlot in Jericho. Her name was Rahab, and she hid the men when the king of
Jericho was told of them being involved with her. The king inquired of Rahab as
to the whereabouts of these men who were supposedly searching out the land, but
she lied saying that she did not know where they were from or where they had
gone. She told the king that they had gone out of the city gates near the time
of darkness. She falsely implored the king to have his men pursue them quickly
for they would overtake them for all practical purposes towards the east.
However, secretly Rahab had brought these spies up to the roof of her house and
hid them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order up there. The men
from Jericho did pursue after the wanted spies along the road to the Jordan and
into the fords that were there shutting the city gate behind them. There was
intense fear in the city due to the reputation of the Israelites, and the spies
soon got the full low-down from the helpful harlot. Before the spies went to
sleep that night, Rahab came and spoke with them, “I know that the LORD has
given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all
the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.” The people of the
land that Israel was about to invade had been privy to the stories of how God
had dried up the Red Sea in their departure from Pharaoh in Egypt. They had
also heard of how the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan were utterly
destroyed. The spies soon realized that these inhabitants had no courage left
in them. Rahab confessed openly, “…For the LORD your God, He is God in Heaven
above and on earth beneath (Joshua 2:1-11).” Therefore, she begged them to
spare her and her family with an oath not to harm them when they sacked the
city, which seemed inevitable at this point. Since she had dealt kindly with
them, she asked for mercy, and the spies obliged. They would indeed promise to
spare her and her family from death if they would keep totally quiet about the
matter of being with them. They would in fact deal faithfully and kindly with
her house (Joshua 2:12-14).
-Rahab let the two spies down by a rope through the window
of her house, which providentially was on the city wall. Before she released
them, she instructed them to go the opposite way to the west into the hill
country for three days in order to not accidentally come across the men from
Jericho who searching for them. After three days, she felt like it would be
safe to be on their way to wherever they were going. The men gave some final
instructions to Rahab for her protection. Her house was to have a cord of
scarlet thread in the window through which they were let down for
identification purposes. The family was ordered to stay in their house, else
those who left would have their blood on their own head. Only the people in
Rahab’s house would be safe. They reiterated their command not to tell of their
business there with anyone, and the harlot complied willingly with an oath. She
tied the scarlet cord to her window and the men were gone, departing to the
hill country where they remained for the recommended three days until their
pursuers returned. They were not found as they ventured back down to the Jordan
Valley, and then they crossed back over to safety to the camp of Joshua and the
Israelites. When they related all that had happened, all were encouraged by the
LORD to take the land and all who inhabited it (Joshua 2:15-24).
-*Application* This special woman, Rahab, although not
perfect by any stretch, played a key role in not just the national history of
Israel, but for the salvific history of mankind. She is assumed to be part of
the Messianic line according to Matthew 1:5, even though that may be debated as
to who this Rahab was specifically. No matter the case, she overcame some
glaring sins (sexual immorality and lying) to find mercy. Her total confession
before the God of the Universe is something for us to ponder today. She
acknowledged her Sovereign and went along with His program for her people. Her
submission to His glory is what we need to glean from this Scripture more than
anything else.
Verses to Memorize:
Joshua 2:1, 11
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