Today’s scripture reading is from the second chapter of Joshua. This chapter is the beginning of the story of Rahab. Rahab grasped a truth that every human needs to grasp. She made a choice that illustrates the choice every human needs to make.
In the first chapter of Joshua, Yahweh commanded Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. In preparation for that, Joshua sent officers through the camp, telling the Israelites to prepare provisions for the journey.
Joshua 2:1 ¶ Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, see the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab and lodged there.
Take note of the number “two”. Moses had sent 12 spies (see Numbers 13). Joshua only sent two.
Notice the word “secretly”. Moses sent men who were leaders of the tribes, so the people would have known that spies went (see Numbers 13:3). Joshua sent two men secretly. Most of Israel did not know that men went out to spy out the land.
Look at the words “especially Jericho”. Israel was camped on the east side of the Jordan River. Jericho was directly across the river. Jericho was the first city Israel would have to conquer.
The Israelite camp was within 12 miles of the city of Jericho. Plus, the elevation of Jericho was several hundred feet higher than the Israelite camp. Thus, the citizens of Jericho would have been able to see Israel camped on the other side of the river. During the events recorded in the book of Deuteronomy, Jericho would have been able to observe what Israel was doing. They would have seen this swarm who numbered over 600,000 men.
Joshua 2:2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”
Joshua 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”
Joshua 2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
Joshua 2:5 Now it happened when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.”
Joshua 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and concealed them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
Joshua 2:7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
Take note of the word “fords”. There were no bridges across the Jordan River in antiquity. Instead, there were several places along the river where sediment deposits made the water shallow enough to cross. One of the fords was close to Jericho.
Joshua 2:8 ¶ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof
Joshua 2:9 and said to the men, “I know that Yahweh 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.
Look at the words “terror” and “melted away”. Jericho and all the cities in Canaan would have heard about all the events recorded in Exodus and Numbers. They had good reason to be afraid.
Joshua 2:10 For we have heard how Yahweh 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.
Imagine you were a resident of Jericho and heard all this news about Israel. How would you feel?
Joshua 2:11 Indeed we heard it, and our hearts melted, and a courageous spirit no longer rose up in any man because of you; for Yahweh your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Don’t miss the words “He is God.” Rahab drew the correct conclusion about Yahweh. She grasped the truth about Yahweh better than many Israelites.
Joshua 2:12 So now, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have shown lovingkindness to you, that you also will show lovingkindness to my father’s household and give me a pledge of truth,
Notice the word “swear”. Rahab did not merely ask for a promise. She asked the spies to swear an oath. In modern times, a promise is not legally binding, but a written, signed, and notarized document is legally binding. Likewise, in ancient culture, a promise was not legally binding, but an oath was legally binding.
Joshua 2:13 and preserve my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters alive, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”
Rahab understood that she and her family would die unless they received mercy.
This is the truth that every human needs to grasp. Paul wrote that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This means every human will die and suffer eternal punishment unless they are saved from punishment. Believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved from eternal punishment (see John 3:16 and 14:6).
Rahab also illustrates something else Jesus taught. Rahab deceived her own king because she knew Yahweh was more powerful than her king. Jesus exhorted us to fear the One who can destroy both body and soul in hell, not those who can only kill our body (Matthew 10:28). God is the One who determines the eternal destiny of every person. He is the One we should fear above all else.
Joshua 2:14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it will be when Yahweh gives us the land that we will show lovingkindness and truth to you.”
Joshua 2:15 ¶ Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.
Joshua 2:16 And she said to them, “Go to the hill country, lest the pursuers reach you. And hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.”
Look at the words “hill country”. The pursuers had gone east from Jericho to the Jordan River. Rahab told the spies to go west, up into the hills, hide for three days, and then go back across the river.
The colors on the map indicate elevation. The browns are the higher elevations. The dark greens are the lowest elevations. The land west of Jericho was higher than the land east of Jericho.
Joshua 2:17 And the men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear,
Here we see that the spies did indeed swear an oath to protect Rahab and her family.
Joshua 2:18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household.
The king of Jericho asked Rahab to turn over the spies of Israel. Rahab grasped the truth that Yahweh is the most powerful force in the universe. She knew she and her family would die unless they received mercy. She had to choose between her king and Yahweh. She correctly chose Yahweh.
Likewise, there are many forces on earth encouraging us to choose man over God. However, every human on earth will spend eternity in hell unless they receive salvation from Jesus. We need to choose Jesus over everything and everyone.
Thanks for visiting Bible Mountain. If you have already joined my email list, thank you, and please tell others about Bible Mountain. If you have not joined my email list yet, please do so now. In order to join, go to BibleMountain.com, click Subscribe, and that will take you to a page where you can sign up. Your email address will not be sold or given away. Once again, thanks for visiting Bible Mountain.
“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”