Acting On Her Faith

Joshua had commanded the people to be ready to cross the Jordan in three days.  Since they had never been there, he sent a couple of spies to scout out the land, in Joshua 2:1.  “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.”  There was only two of them, and they went to a prostitute’s home where it was not uncommon to see strangers going in and out.  It seemed like an idea cover. 

 

Unfortunately, the king was very aware of the Israelite encampment across Jordan, and their victories over the Amorites and Og the king of Bashan, and the destruction of the various Midianite cities.  He also knew how Pharaoh and his army had been destroyed, so any strangers were closely watched and their actions reported back to the king.  As a result, the king heard about the two spies within a short time, as Joshua 2:2-3 describes.  “And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.  And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.”

 

Instead of turning them over to the king, Rahab hid and lied, sending the king’s men on a wild goose chase, as Joshua 2:4-7 describes.  “And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.  And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.”

 

After the king’s men left, Rahab explained that the entire city was on high alert, convinced that Israel would attack and defeat them, in Joshua 2:8-11.  “And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

 

Because she believed God would give Israel the victory, Rahab asked the spies to spare her family, in Joshua 2:12-13.  “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”  As she described it, most if not all the people believed God would give Israel the victory, yet she was the only one who acted in accordance with that belief.  The others joined forces with the king in an attempt to stop god from giving the victory.  Because of her willingness to help them escape, the men promised to protect her family, warning that since the Israelites didn’t know them, they would have to stay inside the house , marking it with the red cord so that they would know who to save, in Joshua 2:14-20.  “And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

 

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

 

And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.  Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.  And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.  And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.”

 

Agreeing to their instructions, Rahab immediately tied the rope in her window as a marker so it wouldn’t get forgotten.  Following her advice the spies went to the mountains for three days so they didn’t risk running into the kings men who were looking for them. as Joshua 2:21-24 tells us.  “And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.  And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.  So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”

 

After talking to Rahab, the two spies were convinced God was going to give them the victory.  Their positive report undoubtedly encouraged the people and made it easier for Joshua to gain their confidence.