Joshua 2:1 – 7 “And Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, (Acacia Grove), saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So, they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”
So, the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So, she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” (But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)
So, the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.”
This is the second time the Israelites have sent out spies. The first time was when Moses sent out twelve spies to spy out the Promised Land. The produce of the land was so bountiful that two men had to carry a huge cluster of grapes between them. But ten of the spies also brought back horror stories about giants, frightening the Israelites so much that they refused to enter, even though God would be with them. That act of fear cost that generation of Israelites their chance to enter Canaan; instead, nearly all of them died in the wilderness, leaving only Joshua and Caleb. Now Joshua is leading the Israelites and he is sending two spies across to Jericho.
In those days, Jericho was an extremely important city with huge walls that had collapsed at least once or twice due to earthquakes. At the same time, earthquakes had also caused the cliffs overlooking the Jordan River to collapse, damming up the river. (Source: World History Encyclopedia: Early Jericho) There were large springs of water at Jericho that also led to its development as a city.
When the Israelite spies reached Jericho, they went to the house of a prostitute named Rahab. Rahab’s house was part of the city wall, and she may have been near the city gates. For a prostitute to entertain strangers would be business as usual, and Rahab may also have been operating a kind of inn where travelers could get food and drink. Somehow the men found Rahab; however, their mode of dress and their language were probably just enough different to raise suspicions. In those days, city elders would have been sitting in the city gates, so it would be natural for the Israelites to ask for directions. But when strangers arrived, the elders would probably report to the king.
Somehow the king of Jericho got to know about these strangers and began asking questions. Perhaps the traditions in ancient Jericho worked the same way they used to in Ghana. In Ghana traditionally, if you entered a town as a stranger, your first point of call would be the chief’s palace, so that you could introduce yourself and state your reason for coming to the town. If that tradition was in place in ancient Jericho, then the king would certainly be within his rights to begin investigations.
Rahab lied to the king and hid the spies under stalks of flax on her rooftop. You might wonder if the spies were holding their breaths and trying not to sneeze as the king’s men were investigating!
APPLICATION: The fact that the spies found Rahab and that she did not report them to the king of Jericho is a big miracle. Look at the situation. These two guys are strangers entering a city that is a center of trade. But news of the migrations of the Israelites has already spread by traders and others. If these two men had not found someone sympathetic to their situation, they could have been killed on the spot. In all Jericho Rahab was probably the only person bold enough and with sufficient imagination to seize this opportunity, hide the spies, and lie to the king. There is no mention of these men praying before they entered Jericho or thanking God afterwards, and yet, it was God who guided them to just the right person to help them and give them information and protect them.
Have you ever been in dangerous situations, only to realize afterwards that God has really protected you? In 1979 I went with a tour group to Jerusalem. We were staying in a hotel on the Mount of Olives; however, I had taken city buses to meet a friend who was studying at Hebrew University. On my way back, I thought it would be great to walk across the Kidron Valley at dusk. (No! I would never do this again!) One kind man riding with me on the bus begged me not to do this, but I was stubborn and foolish and chose to do so anyway. As I was walking down a path below the Eastern Gate, one teen age boy tried to befriend me and began asking about the camera I was carrying (it belonged to my pastor!) and my cheap Timex wrist watch. Just as I began to realize he was sizing me up for a mugging, an American couple came along. The husband was a U.S. Marine who quite obviously could defend himself well. My teen age “guide” suddenly chose to disappear. As this couple and I were walking up a path by a cemetery, suddenly two police officers stood up from behind the tombstones. The police officers were just then arresting a would – be thief who had been hiding in the cemetery! I conservatively estimate that God had to deliver me at least twice and possibly three times – all because I refused to take sage advice!
Why did God protect me from my stupidity? My tour group consisted mostly of members from my home church. There were a number of people who had promised to pray for us all the time we were in Israel. Those people must have really been praying up a storm that evening!
Psalm 34:7-8 says” The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!…” Notice that it does not say anything about how intelligent or deserving these people are. God is a good Father who cares for His children, even when they do incredibly foolish things! But if/when we realize that God has protected us, we should praise Him for His goodness, His mercy, His watch – care, and His deliverance. Who knows when you will get yourself into another mess?
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for Your promises of protection and deliverance. Lord, help us to listen to wise counsel. Thank You that even when we do something foolish, You still take care of us. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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