 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.
8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.”17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Meditation God’s sovereign plan of redemption reveals His steadfast love for every person from every nation. God is faithful to save all who have faith in Him! Contrary to the popular portrayals of an only angry Old Testament God, the first thing God does with His people in the promise land is welcome an unclean gentile into the family. Rahab was a prostitute, a Canaanite, and she had no business experiencing the blessing of God promised to Abraham- except that she believed. Rahab heard of God’s work, redeeming Israel from Egypt (10), and she believed in God’s saving power. Putting her faith in the Lord (the covenant name of God mentioned four times by Rahab- 9, 10, 11, 12), Rahab proclaimed, “The Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and the earth beneath” (11). Rahab was saved by faith (Hebrews 11:31) and her saving faith was demonstrated by hanging the scarlet chord from her window during the judgement of Jericho (James 2:25). The spies promised Rahab and her family that they would be “delivered from death” (13), a hope that carries us to the cross. Jesus was “delivered over to dearth for our sin and raised for our justification” so all who believe can be counted righteous (Romans 4:25). Jesus took the judgement we deserve so we can be delivered, with Rahab, from the just judgement of God that is coming. This is amazing grace! Richly Dwelling -What revelation of God’s grace grabs you from today’s reading? -Where do you adopt cultural caricatures of God rather than embracing the Biblical revelation of God? -Jesus was delivered to death so all who trust Him can live abundant life. How can you share God’s amazing grace or show His steadfast love to someone in your life? Key Verse 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Comments are closed.
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