Rahab and the Spies

Introduction

We have begun a study of the book of Joshua, of which the main concern is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham back in Genesis 12, around, or close to, 500 years prior. On the other hand, Joshua also demonstrates God’s hatred of sin and sinners. This book can be hard to read as Israel is called to kill men, women, and children. Rather than showing God to be an evil dictator, though, it gives us a hint at what the last judgement is going to be like.

Even more interesting is how Joshua begins. Chapter 1 told us the story of how God commissioned Joshua to take command of Israel after the death of Moses. We heard that Joshua was terrified of the task and so several times God had to exhort him, saying, be strong and of good courage. In the latter half of chapter 1 Joshua begins to take command, if somewhat nervously, and we know he is still nervous at the enormous responsibility because at the end of chapter 1 the people join God in encouraging Joshua to be strong and of good courage.

In chapter 2 we see Joshua make his first real command. He sends spies into the land, and especially Jericho, as that would be the first city to fall by their hand. God’s hand is seen in the background here, as unbeknownst to the spies, God is sending them on a mercy mission. In reality Joshua 2 is God showing grace to save save a wretched sinner and her family.

The Spies

Commission

From Joshua 1:10 we hear Joshua telling the people they have three days to pack up all their gear before they move across the Jordan and into the Promised Land. I think it is reasonable to say that on that same day he commissioned the spies to go scout ahead. he say in Joshua 2:1, Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” Some commentators believe Joshua is making a huge mistake. They relate this story with the first story of the 12 spies, ten of whom come back with a terrible report of giants and such. The text simply doesn’t tell us, but I don’t think this to be the case. I believe Joshua sought God’s approval and blessing before going through with the plan, as well as selecting these two men very carefully to make sure that these men were not like the 10 who gave a bad report last time.

What we see here is Joshua, the Leader and General of the armies of Israel. He is coordinating the first step that will bring victory to Israel. Joshua commands the spies to Go, view the land, especially Jericho. Joshua commands the two spies concentrate their energy on Jericho. Jericho was going to be the first city to fall and so find out the lay of the land around the city, the size of the city, the state mind of the people. You have 3 days.

Base Camp

Joshua 2:1, So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. The spies go over the Jordan River and head into Jericho. As they walk around the edge of the city they see people whispering and taking photos of them with their mobile phones. So they go into the first place they see, which happens to be the local brothel. Now, I don’t think it is necessary to believe that Rahab’s house is something of an inn, where weary travelers can find a comfortable bed and good food. The two men found lodging in Rahab’s house to hide the real reason for them being in Jericho.

Another worry is, did the two men go there for ulterior motives? The most often word used in the Old Testament to describe the physical act if intimate relations is the word know. So and so knew his wife and she became pregnant. This isn’t the word used here. The word Joshua uses is lay down, and rightly, most English Bibles say, lodged. They weren’t there to satisfy there selfish desires, rather the spies found a place to rest and discuss their next move. They were more interested in keeping a low profile so as not to attract any unwanted attention , and what better place to confuse the Jericho police department than to go to a brothel.

Trouble Comes Knocking

Hiding inside the brothel doesn’t work though. So trouble soon comes knocking. Joshua 2:2-3, And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” So the king of Jericho sent 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 country.” The city is most likely on high alert for these Israelites who have won victories east of the Jordan and so the men are found out as soon as they enter the city. God has been spreading fear into the hearts of Jericho. The king of Jericho is rightly terrified. We can hear a hint of fear as the soldiers say, Bring out all those men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country. Without looking ahead at the next verse we are left wondering who’s side Rahab is on. She is an Amorite after all. Will she give the spies up, or lie to the soldiers and save the spies.

The soldiers come around to arrest the spies, however no one suspects Rahab would lie to her own people.

The Ruse

Joshua 2:4-7, Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. In verses 4-7 Rahab’s actions are external proof of her faith in Israel’s God, Yahweh. God uses the sympathy of a non Jewish woman prostitute to keep the men safe, hiding them on the flat roof of her house. Rahab lies to the soldiers in order to keep the spies safe. Lying is wrong. So wrong that it makes it on God’s top 10 list, the Ten Commandments. It is wrong to willfully lie on your tax return. It is wrong to lie to your parents. If you lived in Afghanistan at the present time and you had a 12 year old daughter, I think God would permit that you hide your daughter and lie to the Taliban soldiers, knowing what they would do with her. Yet, despite of Rahab’s lie God blesses her and the two spies. These two Israelites do not make very good spies, but thankfully the guards don’t make very good soldiers. Apparently they don’t even think to search her house. If they had searched it, both the spies and Rahab would be tortured and killed before the king. Instead, They take her word and leave the city in hot pursuit of the two spies, sending them off on a wild goose chase into the countryside.

Rahab’s Confession

Rahab goes up to the roof to give the news to the Israelite spies. Joshua 2:8-13, Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

Rahab comes clean on why she saved the spies.She doesn’t want to be destroyed by Yahweh, the most powerful God of the Israelites. She confesses her faith in their God. This is the internal proof of her faith in Israel’s God. She has come to believe that Israel’s God is the only true God. “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you… This confession begins with the Supernatural parting of the Red Sea in verse 10, For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. If you’ll remember that was 40 years ago, yet is still on the lips of the people now. Can you imagine some major event, from 40 years ago, still having this big an impact on the inhabitants of Jericho and all the land of Canaan? 40 years may not seem a long time to some of you, but to me that represents nearly 90% of my life. Some of us may understand that the crossing of the Red Sea is still known because it is not something that happens on a regular basis. But it was not only known in Canaan but gave the people of Jericho nightmares 40 years later.

Adding to the nightmare and in more recent history, within the last year or two, the Israelite army destroyed two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, east of the Jordan. Og is one of the giant people of ancient times. In Deuteronomy 3 we are told that his bed was over 4 metres long. You won’t find that size bed at Harvey Norman or Furniture One. How did this group of desert wanderers defeat Sihon and Og? Rahab understands that it was the covenant God of Israel, Yahweh. The sovereign rule of the one true God. In verse 9 Rahab says it was the LORD who has given, past tense, and who brings terror in the land. Verse 10, It was the LORD who dried up the sea. And in verse 11 we are told that the actions of the LORD melted their hearts and took away their courage. God gives courage to His covenant people, while at the same time removes the courage of His enemies.

Verse 11 also says, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Like many ancient cultures the people in Canaan had many different gods. Here we see Rahab throw away all the beliefs of her people, and those she was taught as a child. She has tossed them aside in favor of taking refuge in the God of heaven above and of the earth below, asking, in verse 12, Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

The Christian Life

Rahab demonstrates what true faith looks like. In the New Testament, Matthew 16:24, Jesus says that if you want to be my disciple, then you must take up your cross and follow me. In this short interaction Rahab has essentially repented of her old life and put her trust in Yahweh, the only God. And yes it is true. All who are God’s true people in the Old Testament were saved by the future atonement of Jesus Christ.

Paul uses the language of putting to death the old man and living for the new birth. This is what Rahab does. She puts to death the old life by safekeeping the Israelite spies rather than helping her people to thwart the invaders. But that isn’t all she does. She shows her desire to save those she truly loves, her family. Verse 12-13, show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” She is not out to con the spies in the hope to save her own neck. She desires to save her entire family. Those whom she deeply cares about.

This is what true faith looks like. We are saved by God and for God. Our old desires that promote our selves above all else die. We are born into God’s family and so take on His values. We have grace and mercy instead of looking for worldly gain. We take on new desires given by the Spirit of the Most High God. We place our trust and hope, our very lives, into the hands of the only one who is able to miraculously save whomever He delights in. Whether you were born into a Christian home, who brought up in the most despicable circumstances. God is greater than everything. He is able to change your wicked ways and save you from His wrath which is coming.

In the Hebrews 11 Rahab is counted among the great people of faith and was blessed to be a direct ancestor to the one who saved her - the Lord Jesus Christ.