Joshua 2:1 says, And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there. These spies weren't sent to see if the people of Israel should go into the land, but to get the lay of the land. They came to Rahab, the harlot's house. One thing we need to remember is that women had very few rights in those days, so this likely wasn't her choice of what to be in life. We should be careful about judging people based strictly on what they do. Verse two states, And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. The king of Jericho was made aware of the presence of the two spies. Verse three adds, And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. The king not only knew that they were in the country and why they were there, but he knew where they were. This could have been Rahab's opportunity to profit from telling the king what he wanted to know, or she could have let her fear compel her to tell him. When we are serving God, we cannot afford to be guided by profit or fear. Verse four declares, And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: Rahab hid the two spies then lied to the king, telling him that they had been there but they left and se didn't know where they went. Had the king found them there, the spies wouldn't have been the only ones who have likely been killed, but Rahab would have too. We must stand up for what is right even it puts us in danger. Verse five adds, And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. Rahab said they the two men had gone out at about the time of the closing of the gate, and if they hurried they might catch them. She continued in her lie to protect these two men, who were strangers to her. Verse six proclaims, But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. The two spies were hidden on the roof, and were evidently effectively hidden. Verse seven adds, And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. Those looking for the spies chased them to the Jordan, and as soon as they left in pursuit the gate was closed. Now, the spies were trapped inside the city walls, so it would have still looked very uncertain to them that they could escape. When things look bad and we are on a mission from God, we need to remember that He is still in charge. Verse eight states, And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; Then verse nine adds, And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. Rahab came to the two spies and said she recognized the power of their God. The first step anyone can take today in order to claim salvation through faith in Christ is to recognize Who God is. Verse ten says, For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. Rahab said they knew of the power of the God of Israel. It was not the people of Israel themselves that they gave credit to, but their God. Many people today recognize the power of God, but instead of acknowledging Him, they want to discredit Him. Verse eleven adds, And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Instead of wanting to come into a right relationship with God, the people simply were very afraid of Him. If we do not accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we have every reason to fear God. Verse twelve continues, Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: Rahab asked that they show mercy to her and her father's house, just as she had shown mercy to them. Verse thirteen declares, And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. I don't know how Rahab got into the position that she was in, but she wasn't just concerned about herself. She was concerned for her whole family. We today should be just as concerned for our families. Verse fourteen concludes, And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. The two spies agreed with what Rahab had asked them to do. We today need to help others come to know Christ, whether they have helped us or not.
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