Joshua
chapter 2 contains one of the most famous stories in the Bible. The
chapter begins with Joshua sending two spies into the land. Unlike
Moses, who sent twelve spies to “see
if the land is good”
(Num 13:19) which showed a lack of faith in God’s promise.
Joshua’s spies are sent to witness the supernatural power of God.
We read “they
entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there“.
The king of Jericho was told and sent a message to Rahab to bring
out the men. But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them,
telling the messengers, “They
left… go after them quickly“.
Then we hear the motives of Rahab, “I
know the Lord has given this land to you… great fear of you has
fallen on this land… all who live in this country are melting with
fear… for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and the earth
below“.
Rahab continues, “Now,
swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to me as I have
shown kindness to you… that you will spare the lives of my father
and mother, my brothers and sisters and all who belong to them…
that you will save our lives… our lives for your lives“.
The spies agree, but add two conditions. She was to tie a “scarlet
cord”
on her window (which was in the great wall and faced outside the
city), and all of her family had to stay inside this house. “Anyone
who goes outside this house into the streets, we will not be
responsible for“.
“So
she let them down by a rope through the window… Hide yourself three
days… then go your way.”
When the spies returned to Joshua, “They
told him everything that had happened“.
The
chapter ends with the spies exclaiming, “The
Lord has surely given this whole land into our hands“.
No doubt they confirmed the soundness of Jericho’s walls and
defense. This served as proof that the source of the victory is the
power of God and not the greatness of the Israelite army.
The
symbolism in this chapter is remarkable. It is interesting to ask,
why a prostitute? Rahab is clearly not righteous on her own, yet she
has enough faith to ASK to be saved. Perhaps she was the only one in
the city that understood she was a lowly sinner. Her faith is in
God and the promise of salvation in the sign of the blood-red cord.
The only protection from destruction was inside the house. Just as
on the night of Passover in Egypt, only those that spread the blood
of the lamb on their doors were saved. No one was saved because they
were righteous, only those that believed the promise of God. Rahab
is even mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, in the “Hall of faith”.
“By
faith, the prostitute, Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not
killed with those who were disobedient“.
What is even more amazing is the transformation in the life of
Rahab. According to Matthew 1:5, she married an Israelite named
Salmon (who tradition tells us was one of the two spies). She was
the mother of Boaz…who married Ruth…who bore Obed…whose son was
Jesse, the father of David…through whose line came Jesus, the
Savior of the world. There is hope for anyone. Romans 10:13
declares, “Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved“.