The Promise between Rahab and Israel Pt. 4

Promise is; Promise does

Joshua 2:10–21 NASB95

“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 utterly destroyed. “When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. “Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 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. She said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” The men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 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. “It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. “But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

Joshua 2:19–21 ““It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. “But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.”

For the past 3 weeks, we have been exploring the decision Rahab has been making with God’s people. We notice the decisions have been focused on, keeping promises with God.

As we continue, we begin with verse 19, as it says:

Joshua 2:19 ““It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.”

As we explore this verse, we see God’s direction

Do not go out the doors of your house

In similar times, we find the marking of blood on the doorpost.

Exodus 12:22–23 ““You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. “For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.”

Today, you can find this practice spread across seas and likely here in America, where people continue to practice it in the hope of warding off evil spirits or preparing for what the Lord may do in our times. Living a life of obedience like this brings us to recognize the true nature of God’s wrath. The might and power of Yahweh affects future generations and opens the eyes to His mercy and grace.

You and I, we practice in such a manner to follow in that obedience. The excellence we seek is the excellence of God, which falls behind obedience. This is a transparent image of faith and works under Christ, as we know, according to James 2, faith alone is dead. Instead, we must live with faith and be able to do God’s work. Not our own.

2 Samuel 1:16 “David said to him, “Your blood is on your head, for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’ ””

1 Kings 2:36–38 “Now the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, “Build for yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not go out from there to any place. “For on the day you go out and cross over the brook Kidron, you will know for certain that you shall surely die; your blood shall be on your own head.” Shimei then said to the king, “The word is good. As my lord the king has said, so your servant will do.” So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.”

Church, how often do you go in life thinking about this story, and you know, ponder over the OT experiences? The times were rough and look somewhat different from today.

We need to be thankful for Christ, who took away sin and laid Himself down for our salvation.

Just to imagine the fear and pain, we need to be grateful for what the Lord has done for us and through us as believers. You and I, we do not have to experience such an ordeal. We are saved. We live by the blood and for the blood of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (If you believe that, say Amen!)

Because of the blood of Christ Jesus, no bloodshed is on our own head except for the blood of Christ, which protects us from evil and sin.

Joshua 2:20–21 ““But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.”

Rahab was faithful to obey

As we know, to make an oath or swear, one is bound to that person forever. When you submit your oath, it is normal for an agreement to take place. Naturally, we desire such oaths to be given to us because the person has essentially made a permanent contract by committing to what they have sworn to. Removing an oath is dangerous because it has to be released from the sworn person or by death. Both of which involve pain most of the time.:

Rahab teaches us how we need to be as believers

Our walk is to be trustworthy and to keep our word

Our walk needs to be a straight path

Our walk is our testimony to others

Our walk is Godly

Rahab was a woman with many choices. With her story and her experience, we all can come to the understanding that:

We should take God seriously and align ourselves with Him. Everything God does is a ministry for His people, aimed at fostering love and fellowship.

We need to start embracing this adventure by loving and fellowshipping with others. We should seek what aligns with God’s will and allow Him to take complete control.