The Book of Joshua is my new journey as of the last week. I forgot how many incredible stories are bound within it's pages - war, triumph, character plots, and the command by God that repeats itself throughout the whole book,
"Be strong and have courage."
"Be strong and have courage."
This week, Chapter 2 took my interest.
Particularly, with the character of Rahab the Harlot.
Here's the story:
Two spies are sent by Joshua to check out the city of Jericho. When they are spotted by the King and His men, they come to the house of Rahab the innkeeper/ prostitute to hide out. Now, whats up with these Godly men running to a prostitute's house as their first response? Who knows. They could have been frantic, confused, desperate, OR well... you know. However it happened, apparently they were lead to the right house. Rahab hides the men on her roof under bundles of flax and then lies to the King and His men saying that the spies had come by her house but late at night they snuck away and she didn't know who they were, where they came from, or where they were going. Had she been caught in her lie, she would have been executed. (Told you - some good stuff)
But that isn't really what caught my attention. Rahab - this gentile prostitute - speaks to the spies in verses 8- 13 with remarkable understanding of the true and living God saying: I know the Lord has given you this land for we have heard the things your God has done. The Lord your God, He is God in Heaven above and on earth beneath. Now I beg you, deliver me and my family from death." (Paraphrased)
She saw the works of God
She feared Him
She Believed
You can imagine seeing this look of deep desire on her face as she speaks. A desire to be separated from her corrupted society, identity, and life and be placed under the name of the true God who saves. Her declaration of faith and actions done out of that faith display the condition of her heart.
The spies promise her that as long as her and her family remain inside the walls of her home and she remains faithful on her side of the deal and they will be saved. The outward sign for her faith? - A Scarlet Thread hung outside the window of her home. Similar to the passover in Exodus where they covered their door posts with the blood of a spotless lamb. When Judgement time came God said: "When I see the blood, I will passover you." Exodus 12:13
James talks about Rahab saying "Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them another way?"(James 2:25) - She had Faith and she worked from that Faith.
Justification by Faith alone means a faith
- not dead- but working by LOVE.
BUT WAIT The question still remains... What happened next?
Don't worry, The story keeps getting better.
FaSt FoRwArD --> --> --> --> -->
Well, it's assumed that, after Jericho was destroyed, Rahab left her life of sin and followed Joshua and the people of God.
Why the assumption you ask??
Because guess who Rahab gets married to?!?!
.... One of the spies who she hid on her roof - Salmon!
**Pause for the exhausted "AwwwwwWWWWwwww!"**
It doesn't end there, this beautiful legacy of redemption lives on through their descendants as well. Rahab and Salmon have a son named BOAZ who would eventually get married to RUTH! ( For those of you who know the story of Ruth, maybe Boaz's love and compassion for Ruth stemmed from the testimony of his mother? Just a thought.)
And not only that, (it keeps getting better) the family line that Rahab married into would eventually lead to the Messiah - Jesus - the central and most powerful story of redemption ever told.
It goes to show.....
You never know who God will use for His Glory.
He is not bound by our past but uses it as a powerful testimony of His grace.
