Joshua 2:15

Joshua 2:15 says, Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.  Rahab lived in a house on the town wall.  I guess some people would say that the spies were fortunate that she did, but I believe that God was at work even before the spies got there.  Rahab had acknowledged the power of the God of Israel.  Verse sixteen states,  And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.  Before she let them down, she told the two spies to go to the mountains and hide for three days until the pursuers left, then go on their way.  She wasn't just helping them get out of the city, but she was telling them how to get safely out of the country.  When we present the gospel and someone accepts it, then that person will get safely to his or her heavenly home.  The gospel is not just a way to escape a temporary situation, but is a way to everlasting salvation.  Verse seventeen declares, And the men said  a way unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.  Then verse eighteen adds, Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.  The two spies said that in order for them to be blameless in the oath that Rahab was going to have to take some action when they returned.  She was to bind a line of scarlet thread to her window and have her family there with her.  Though Christ died for the sins of all people, if His death is to have any impact in our life, we must take the action of accepting His sacrifice individually.  Of course, we cannot accept salvation for our family, but we can share the gospel with them.  Verse nineteen continues, And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.  The spies told Rahab that if anyone went out of the house that they were responsible if any harm came to them.  As long as they remained in the house, the spies would be accountable if any harm came to those inside.  As long as we remain faithful in our spiritual relationship to Christ, then if harm were to come to us, spiritually He would be responsible, but this will never happen.  Also, the spies had to believe that when they returned that they would be victorious, and we today know that we are already victorious through our faith in Christ if we have accepted Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty concludes,  And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.   Rahab had to be faithful in not telling anyone what she had done or what the spies were to do for her.  Now, we do not have to be silent about what God has done for us, but are told to share the good news of Christ with everyone.  That is the way that we are faithful in our relationship to Christ.  Verse twenty-one declares,  And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.  Rahab agreed, and the spies departed and she bound the scarlet ribbon to the window.  She was already preparing for their return.  We today must be preparing for the return of Christ, even if it does not happen in our lifetime.  When He does return, it will be to late to accept His salvation.  Verse twenty-two says, And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were gone: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.  The two spies went to the mountain and hid for three days as Rahab had advised them to do, and they were not found.  Verse twenty-three adds, So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:  After the three days passed, the spies returned safely back over the Jordan and gave their report.  If we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we are already assured that we will pass safely out of this life and into our heavenly home.  Verse twenty-four concludes, And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.  These spies declared that God had already delivered the land to them and that the people there fainted at even the mention of the name of the Israelites, and more specifically their God.  Lost people and those who are actively working against God may not faint when they come into contact with a Christian, but the victory is already ours through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  As then, the victory and honor go to God.