The Reach of Divine Mercy

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.,c 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 Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land.”

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”

17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault,,j and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”

21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. 23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, “The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.,c

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 Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city.

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”

16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear,

17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault,,j and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”

18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault,,j and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault.

20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window. 22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them.

21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. 23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

Introduction:

I. An Unlikely Candidate

The New Testament mentions Rahab in and also in . In both passages, she is referenced as a prostitute. Her life was certainly one of an immoral and pagan woman. From a human perspective, she is an unlikely candidate for rescue. Judgment was coming to the city of Jericho, why would Rahab, as immoral as the rest of them, be rescued? The answer - faith, not human morality or goodness.

The Environment She Lived In

Rahab, dwelt among people who had no knowledge of the living God. Her city and her people are thoroughly pagan.

Her Lack of Morality

She is a prostitute. Scripture doesn’t call this the worst of sins because the scripture does not deal in comparisons of sin as human beings do. The bible does speak to sin as separating the sinner from a holy God and that every human being is subject to condemnation and judgment.

Rahab is a liar. Her lie creates for us a bit of an ethical question. But the bible clearly condemns lying as sin. The narrative here of the scripture is simply relating to us the events that took place. In no way to I believe we should read this text and affirm that lying is good. A lie is a distortion or denial of the truth with the clear intention of deception, and this is clearly what Rahab does in this case. Lying came natural to her, as it does to all fallen human beings. God was not dependent upon her lie to save the spies or to further his purpose.

Rahab is a clear demonstration that no one is beyond the reach of divine mercy.

II. An Amazing Confession

Jericho, what seemed like a formidable if not impossible obstacle to the people of God, was already a destroyed city.

V.9 , “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.”

The Reputation of God’s People (v.9-10)

“These verses furnish information about Israel’s reputation, the Canaanites’ fear, and Rahab’s faith. Clearly, Israel’s reputation had preceded them: Rahab knew that Israel’s God had given her people’s land to Israel (v. 9), and the entire land was melting in fear because of Israel (vv. 9, 11). God already had dramatically delivered the Israelites in several ways in its brief history as a nation, and Rahab mentioned two of these great events in v. 10: God’s drying up of the Red Sea () and the victories over two kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og ().” (David Howard, New American Commentary, Joshua.)

The Faith of Rahab in Words

, “When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.”

The New American Commentary: Joshua (2) Rahab’s Faith in Words (2:9–14)

These verses furnish information about Israel’s reputation, the Canaanites’ fear, and Rahab’s faith. Clearly, Israel’s reputation had preceded them: Rahab knew that Israel’s God had given her people’s land to Israel (v. 9), and the entire land was melting in fear because of Israel (vv. 9, 11). God already had dramatically delivered the Israelites in several ways in its brief history as a nation, and Rahab mentioned two of these great events in v. 10: God’s drying up of the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the victories over two kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og (Num 21:21–35).

1. Rahab was a Canaanite, and as such was a worshipper most likely of many different gods. A Canaanite prostitute, a pagan idol worshipper, affirms that the God of Israel is the God in heaven and in earth below, the God ruled over all.

2. Rahab affirms that God is the only God. She uses the word Lord, or Yahweh your God is God. She uses the personal name of God. Her further usage of “heaven above and on earth below” is terminology that is used to affirm God’s sovereignty.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” ().

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below ().

“Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” ().

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” ().

III. Faith in the Living God

It’s important to note that Rahab and her family were saved by faith in the God of Israel and not by faith in the rope hanging out the window. The fact that she hung the rope from the window was proof that she had faith, just as the blood of the slain lamb put on the doorposts in Egypt proved that the Jews believed God’s Word. Faith in the living God means salvation, and faith in His covenant gives assurance; but faith in the token of the covenant is religious superstition and can give neither salvation nor assurance. The Jews depended on circumcision to save them, but they ignored the true spiritual meaning of that important rite (; ; ). Many people today depend for their salvation on their baptism or their participation in the Lord’s Table (the Eucharist, Communion); but this kind of faith is vain. Rahab had faith in the Lord and in the covenant promises He had made through His servants; and she proved her faith by hanging the scarlet rope from the window. When the Jews captured Jericho, they found Rahab and her family in her house; and they rescued them from judgment ().

It’s important to note that Rahab and her family were saved by faith in the God of Israel and not by faith in the rope hanging out the window. The fact that she hung the rope from the window was proof that she had faith, just as the blood of the slain lamb put on the doorposts in Egypt proved that the Jews believed God’s Word. Faith in the living God means salvation, and faith in His covenant gives assurance; but faith in the token of the covenant is religious superstition and can give neither salvation nor assurance. The Jews depended on circumcision to save them, but they ignored the true spiritual meaning of that important rite (; ; ). Many people today depend for their salvation on their baptism or their participation in the Lord’s Table (the Eucharist, Communion); but this kind of faith is vain. Rahab had faith in the Lord and in the covenant promises He had made through His servants; and she proved her faith by hanging the scarlet rope from the window. When the Jews captured Jericho, they found Rahab and her family in her house; and they rescued them from judgment ().