Joshua Chapter 2 - Unlikely Faith

Rahab the Prostitute.  That is all we know about the woman that helped Joshua's spies in Jericho.  An unlikely ally for the children of the Most High God, right?  She lied to the King of Jericho when he asked her to send the spies to him.  Someone knew they were in her house and told the king.  Rahab admitted they came to her, but she denied knowing where they were from and then misdirected the king's search for them.  After she misdirected the king, she let the men escape and told them where to go to avoid the king's search for them.  But then she struck a deal.  Rahab tells the two spies everyone has heard of them.  They have all heard how God parted the Red Sea and delivered them from Egypt.  They heard how the children of Israel "utterly destroyed" the three cities on the other side of the Jordan.  She told the spies how everyone feared them because of the things they heard.  No courage remained to fight them because of the Lord their God..."He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." (Chapter 2 verse 11)

Rahab recognized who God is.  She recognized the One who had delivered the people into the hands of the Israelites was the Lord God.  Was there any other way former slaves with no fighting or battle experience could defeat the Pharaoh's army or survive the wilderness for as long as they did or defeat two kings of the Amorites or utterly destroy Sihon and Og?  I don't think so, but that's just me.  As a result of her help and the deal she struck with the two spies, her life and those of her family that came to her home, were spared when the battle of Jericho ensued. 

Can you imagine having to trust in the words of an invading enemy?  I mean, your very life and the lives of the ones you love hang on the fact that you have to have faith in the words of someone that has destroyed entire groups of people.  Their advance is legendary and the stories of their victories have spread before them.  Yet, they say they will keep you and yours safe from harm if you only leave the marker that identifies your home hanging outside your window so it can be recognized.  

This whole scenario is not unlike the faith and belief we have to have in the Lord, right?  There are so many people in our lives that we place faith and trust in that on occasion don't really have our best interests at heart.  We believe reports we hear about what someone said about us.  We believe promises made for this or that.  We believe so many things we see, hear, and read that we often take at face value...especially with social media.  But we find it so difficult to believe the word of the Lord.  

The scriptures are very specific with what the Lord thinks of His children.  He is called a Good Father.  He even says:


Matthew 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Yet, we can get mad at God, we can blame Him for the things that go wrong.  We can blame Him for our poor decisions. We have no hesitation as children to ask our parents for something we want.  Yet, why do have that hesitation with God?  Or better yet, why do we not include Him in our battles?  We know the battle belongs to the Lord.  We know Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave with His death and resurrection.  We know that our enemy has been conquered FOR us.  Yet, we do not have the faith necessary to know that the God of heaven above and the earth beneath is trustworthy and faithful to honor His promises to us.  

Did Rahab have faith? I believe so.  I believe it was faith based on the reputation of the Israelites and the God they served.  To be saved and the deal honored upon the battle of Jericho, Rahab had to accomplish a couple of tasks.  She had to bring all her family to her own home.  They could not be caught outside her home.  That was a distinguishing factor, you see.  If they were in Rahab's home, then they belonged to her and were safe.  There was no way to identify them in the heat of battle outside the veil of protection.  Once Rahab had gathered her family, she was to hang a red cord outside her window (which was on the wall and could be seen by the army as they marched around).  The invading army could identify the home they were to spare.  Rahab was obedient and honored her part of the deal she struck with the two spies.  As a result, they honored the pact as well. 

Jesus said our faith could move mountains.  Rahab's faith saved her life.  What does your faith do for you?

Please join our discussion on Facebook as we move to some discussion questions regarding this chapter.