Joshua 2

Joshua 2

So the Israelites had three days to prepare to enter into the Promised Land which gave Joshua just three days to line out his plan of action. He had to be ready for some type of battle when they crossed the river. So he sent some spies into the land to scout it out and figure out some plan of action. But not long after entering the land, they ran into their first problem. Someone spotted them, and I doubt they were glad to see Rahab when they first ran into her.

It is amazing that God had this planned out all along, but the spies were probably wondering if they had gotten in over their heads when a prostitute took them in for the night. In that initial encounter, I bet they were scared that they had been found out and were going to be handed over to the king. Yet Rahab stood up for them, and not because she was going to gain anything from the encounter. She did it because she knew it was the right thing to do. She did not only hide the spies in her house, but she also lied to the guards by saying that they had already left the city. Rahab knew something was up, and she knew which side she wanted to be on.

There is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus, but people arrive at that knowledge in different ways. Some see the evidence in the lives of others and question their faith. Others are presented with the Gospel and begin to believe through that encounter. While others encounter Scripture or church on their own through their own personal journey and come to God. For Rahab, it was the first. She had heard of what happened in Egypt. She saw what happened to the kingdoms on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Now she was confident that the Lord of the Israelites was the real deal. She knew that her city was on the wrong side of the battle, and she wanted to know more about this God the Israelites served. To do that, she began by hiding the spies.

This led to an arrangement between her and the Israelites, and this is a great picture of how God was redeeming people from all nations unto Himself, not just Israel. They promised before God that when they came to destroy Jericho, they would be sure not to do anything to her household. They would protect her family because of how she had protected them. Rahab would receive a blessing from the Lord. God used a non-Israelite to help preserve His people. As the Old Testament continues, there will be more and more foreigners who play pivotal roles in Israel’s story. Rahab is one of the first.

The Israelites escaped the land and were more confident than ever that God had given the land into their hands. Through that moment of protection, those men saw the awesome power of God. They knew that He had been watching over them during those days, and they were convinced that He would do the same when their entire nation entered the land during the conquest. So they reported to Joshua that they were ready to enter into the Promised Land, knowing that God was on their side.

So this raises an important question for us. Do we really believe that God is redeeming people from all walks of life and all nations today? Scripture says that all the nations will hear the Gospel before He comes back, and it shows us that God loves all people: poor, rich, sick, healthy, etc. Therefore we should not exclude anyone from having the opportunity to hear the Gospel. We are all equally sinful in God’s eyes, and we need to get over our prejudices and fears and just share Christ with those around us. You never know what influence a person might have on others. Therefore, we should not hesitate to share our faith with everyone we meet.

Matt