Joshua 2:8 – 24 “Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” So, she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So, she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
Who doesn’t enjoy a thrilling spy story? Yesterday we talked about the way in which God led the Israelite spies to the one person in all of Jericho with enough courage and imagination and resources to hide them and give them information. It’s quite possible that Rahab entertained a number of the local politicians on a regular basis, holding gatherings where people just came in to eat, drink, and gossip. Rudyard Kipling describes such a situation in India. Rahab may have kept her place stocked with the best food and wine, enticing important men to meet and decide policy; that would certainly explain why Rahab knew exactly what the citizens of Jericho were thinking. Rahab certainly knew exactly how long the spies would have to hide themselves in the hills to be safe before crossing the Jordan. If Rahab was politically influential, it would also explain why the king’s soldiers didn’t make a more exhaustive search of the house.
Rahab was very astute and fully recognized that the God of the Israelites was far more powerful than any of the local deities worshiped in Jericho. Rahab also realized that Jericho was facing certain destruction and that the only people she could hope to save were her immediate family members and herself. It’s quite likely that Rahab was respected by the local politicians but snubbed by their wives. Evidently Rahab had little love for the citizens of Jericho as a whole!
There are many teachings regarding the scarlet cord that Rahab tied to the window from which she let the spies down. Red is the color of blood, and some teachers feel that Rahab was symbolically covering her family and herself with sacrificial blood, foretelling the blood sacrifice Jesus would make on the cross at Calvary. Others choose to believe that Rahab had begun a business of dying materials and happened to have that scarlet cord as part of her wares. Whatever the case, that scarlet cord would have drawn attention from those around Rahab, unless God protected her by blinding their eyes when they looked at that window. God protected Rahab and her family from any questions by her neighbors, a miracle in itself.
APPLICATION: Rahab the prostitute was God’s instrument of protection for the Israelite spies and the instrument of salvation for her family; moreover, Rahab was later hailed as a heroine of faith. Hebrews 11:31 says, “It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” (New Living Translation)
Many times, we are afraid to pray to God or to approach Him in any fashion because we realize that we are sinners and our lives are a mess. But look at Rahab! Here is a woman who had spent most of her life as a prostitute. It’s possible that as a beautiful little girl, Rahab might have been sold into prostitution by her family. Certainly, Rahab had spent a long time being scorned by the virtuous women in town who were jealous of her beauty and her political influence. But look at Rahab’s life after the fall of Jericho. “Ultimately, Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, is her direct descendant. (https://www.ospreyobserver.com/2018/05/heroic-women-of-the-bible-rahab-from-harlot-to-heroine-by-gods-grace)
We should be very grateful to Rahab for her example of faith! Rahab was a brilliant realist who knew the days of her city were numbered. But Rahab also appreciated the fact that the God of the Israelites was “God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Rahab had seen enough idol worship to know the real God from the false ones served by her neighbors. When given the opportunity for salvation, Rahab seized it!
What’s wrong in your life today? Has your marriage failed or have your kids rebelled? Has your workplace turned into a war zone? Do you feel as if nothing is going right in your life anymore because you have made major mistakes? Take heart! You are the very person for whose sins Jesus died. The same God who honored Rahab for her faith and delivered her and her family is reaching out to you in love. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”
When Rahab tied that scarlet cord in the window from which she had let the spies down, she was grabbing promises beyond her imagination. Not only did Rahab and her family escape the destruction of Jericho, but she also married into the Tribe of Judah and became an ancestress to King David, as well as to Joseph, the human father of Jesus. The story of Rahab is proof that God will accept anybody who will trust Him.
PRAYER: Lord God, we confess that we are sinners and that we are incapable of doing anything good enough to wipe out our sins. But You are the God who saved Rahab and who even allowed her to become part of the royal line of the House of David. Lord, save us from our sins! Help us to acknowledge Your Will in every part of our lives. Thank You for sending Jesus as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
February 6, 2022 at 7:08 pm
I love it that she is Boaz mother, if I knew that I had forgotten it. Thank you, God is good, remembering those that remember Him..