BACKGROUND/COMMENTS:
In Deuteronomy 2:25 God said, "This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, shall tremble and be in anguish because of you." This promise was being fulfilled in the city of Jericho at the time of this chapter.
The destruction of Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan that Rahab refers to is recorded in Numbers 21. (Sihon's story is Num. 21:21-26, and Og's is in Num. 21:33-35.) A more detailed account of Sihon's destruction is found in Deut. 2:26-37, and a more detailed account of Og's is in Deut. 3:1-11. Og was a giant but was defeated by Israel, and both cities were utterly destroyed. (Take a minute to re-read these passages; it brings context and life to Joshua 2.) These are the events that struck fear in the hearts of the Canaanites!
Joshua sent the spies out secretly (vs. 2). Obviously he didn't want the people of Jericho to know they were there, but he also didn't tell the Israelites he was sending spies. Why do you suppose he kept it a secret?
Rahab (after her rescue in 6:25) became a part of Israel. She married a Jewish man named Salmon and became the mother of Boaz. (We will read about Boaz in the book of Ruth.) Matthew 1:5 tells us that she is part of the genealogical line of Jesus, so she played an important role in the Scarlet Thread of Redemption!
The red cord could also be viewed as a symbol of the Scarlet Thread of Redemption. By placing it in the window, Rahab was acknowledging the One True God and placing her faith in Him as well as in His people. That red cord was used to provide salvation from the coming destruction.
REFLECTION:
My favorite verses in this chapter are 9-11:
Rahab was a prostitute who lied to protect the spies. We often focus on her sin. God saw her faith. She understood (1) Israel's God is the only true God, (2) He is a very powerful God, and (3) this nation of His was going to take her city. She acted on her new faith in this "new" God and protected the spies. She also asked for protection from them in return when Israel actually did come to destroy the city. They promised her that protection as long as she left the scarlet cord in the window and gathered all who were to be rescued into her house.and said to the men, "I know that the LORD 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. 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."
Rahab made it into the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews chapter 11. "By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace." (vs. 31)
She was also commended for her actions based on her faith (James 2:25). If she had not acted on her faith, she would not have been saved from the destruction of the city.
APPLICATION:
As believers, our lives are very much like Rahab's. We were content to live in our sin until one day when we discovered the truth about the One True God. He was the only one to be feared, and at the same time He was also the only one to offer salvation. Once we accepted His salvation from our sin, we were rescued. But at the same time we continue to be surrounded by a sinful culture that is at war with God. We have to live by faith, not seeing the God who rescues us, but trusting that He will make it all work out right in the end. What we can always see around us is the way of life we are leaving behind. Let's not look back at the world and the pleasures it offers but press on, moving forward toward God, letting Him transform our minds and hearts.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are the great Redeemer who saves us from a life of sin. Help us to fully trust in You and to act on our faith in You. Help us to continue to turn from the sin of the world that surrounds us and to seek You wholeheartedly. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
1 comment:
George and I had a discussion about Rahab last night. Would you lie to save someone's life? We thought of Corrie Ten Boon's family, and they essentially lied to protect the Jews. We both concluded that we would lie because the command to not commit murder trumps the command to not lie. Fun discussion for us.
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