GRACE RECEIVED
Joshua 2:4–21
A Bold Act (4–7)
Joshua sent two spies to check out the defenses of Jericho. As word of their presence was made known to the king of Jericho, the spies sought shelter at the home of Rahab, a harlot.
The soldiers knew the spies had been to the home of Rahab and questioned her about them. She sent them in the wrong direction, saying they had left the city at night, though they were actually hiding on her roof. The soldiers believed her lie and headed out of the gate in hot pursuit. This story reminds me of Corrie ten Boom.
Corrie and her family saved the lives of 800 Jews in Haarlem, Holland, during World War II. It is always surprising who God will use to accomplish His purpose. In the case of the spies, He enlisted the help of a woman of ill repute. And while the Bible condemns her lifestyle and bearing false witness, she was doing God’s will in this case. It is also interesting to note that Rahab is listed in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 1.
A Kind Action (8–13)
Years ago, Paul Harvey was well known for sharing “the rest of the story.” In these verses, we are told the rest of this story — the motivation for Rahab’s kindness and her actions in hiding the spies. Rahab, along with all the residents of Jericho, knew what God had done for the Israelites by parting the Red Sea and giving them complete victory over the Amorites across the Jordan.
That knowledge had taken away any hopes of their ability to stand against God’s people. Rahab hid the spies with the hope that they would protect her family and their possessions when they conquered Jericho. Like Rahab, we should be willing to take a risk for doing the right things, knowing that God is faithful.
A Daring Escape (14–16)
Not only did Rahab hide the two spies and send the guards in the wrong direction, but she also warned them to hide in the mountains for three days before they returned to Joshua and the Israelites.
The protection of Rahab’s family would be based upon her keeping her word and not revealing their presence. Since her house was built into the city wall, she let them down the wall with a rope. She made a definite choice based upon her belief in God. This was not just a hypothetical agreement; she was required to act upon her belief.
Has God asked you to do something that requires not only faith, but action?
A Firm Assurance (17–21)
In these verses, the spies reiterate their promise and commitment based upon her act of kindness. However, she would need to gather her entire family into her home and extend a scarlet rope out of her window to identify this place of safety. She kept her part of the bargain and made the preparations. The spies returned to Joshua with the encouraging news that God had “handed over the entire land to us” (v. 24).
The scarlet cord reminds me of the “scarlet thread” of redemption that runs through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God offers free grace to us because of the blood sacrifice of His Son. We see the faithfulness of God in the past, and it builds our trust that what He promised, He will perform!
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
