We left them in the land of Moab.  Our story continues from there this evening: (Josh 2:1 NKJV)  "Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there."

 

“Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly,”

 

Why is this spying different from the one that Joshua was a part of?  This is different because there are only two and for Joshua.  It is military.

 

 

Adam Clarke says: Harlots and inn-keepers seem to have been called by the same name, as no doubt many who followed this mode of life,

from their exposed situation, were not the most correct in their morals.”

 

I am not suggesting that inn-keeper is the correct translation rather than harlot, but I’m looking for an answer as to why these spies turned in to a harlot.  If indeed she was also an inn-keeper, then this was a logical place to turn in.  Remember that spies do not want to be conspicuous.  But who they really were was soon discovered.

 

Very clearly this is a dangerous situation.

(Josh 2:4-5 NKJV)  Then the woman took the two men and hid them. [See verse 6] So she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. {5} "And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them."

 

Everything in color is a lie.  It just isn’t true.  What do we say about this?  Well, here is what Adam Clarke has to say:

 

“The falsehood to which she had recourse may be excused by the pressure of circumstances and by her own antecedents, but cannot be defended.”

 

“But cannot be defended.”  Now that let’s Adam Clarke off the hook.  He is saying that a lie is not acceptable even when it is to spare someone’s life.  I do not accept Clarke’s explanation, as pious as it sounds. 

 

(1 Sam 16:1-2 NKJV)  Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." {2} And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'

 

Is this the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth – so help me God? 

 

Well, the so help me God part certainly seems to apply, but was it the whole truth, or is the real reason for his coming, missing?

 

We like for everything to be black and white, but isn’t this a case where it was a choice between saving two lives or telling a lie? 

 

I’m not trying to suggest situation ethics here,

 but are you going to tell a gunman where your children are if he comes to try to kill them?

 

 

(Mat 1:5-6)  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, {6} and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.

 

(Josh 2:6-8 NKJV)  (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) [This seems to explain verse 4] {7} Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. {8} Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,

 

It’s negotiation time:  Here is the premise:

§     You are going to win.

§     Right now you need me to protect you.

§      I’ll protect you if you’ll save me and my family.

 

(Josh 2:9) and [she] said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.

 

"I know:”  what a statement of faith!

No wonder she is listed in the chapter of the great men of faith—Hebrews 11!

 

(Heb 11:30-31 NKJV)  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. {31} By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

 

 

(Josh 2:10) "For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

So while the people of Jericho were terrified of the children of Israel, the Israelites were terrified of the people of Jericho.  As a result, all of them over 20 year of age, died without ever seeing the Promised Land.  All because of lack of faith.

 

 

(Josh 2:11) "And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you,

for the LORD your God,

He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

 

That is indeed a great statement of faith.

Hundreds of years later Jesus made this statement about the descendants of the faithless Israelites:

(Mat 21:31 NKJV)  Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you."

 

(Josh 2:12) "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, {13} "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."

 

 

(Josh 2:14-24 NKJV)  "So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you."

 

 

(Deu 7:2-3 NKJV)  ""and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.

(Deu 7:3) "Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son."

 

What can we say?

1.        This was with an individual not the nation.

2.        It was a special situation.

3.        It was for a special person.

4.        God obviously allowed this exception.

She was part of the lineage of Christ and is listed in the great chapter of men of faith.

 

 

(Josh 2:15) Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. {16} And she said to them, "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way."

 

(Josh 2:17) So the men said to her: "We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, {18} "unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father's household to your own home. {19} "So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. {20} "And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear."

 

Rahab agrees to the Amended Deal:

 

(Josh 2:21) Then she said, "According to your words, so be it." And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. {22} They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them.

 

(Josh 2:23) So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them.

 

 

(Josh 2:24) And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.""

 

What a report!

 

It is the complete opposite of the report of the 10 faithless spies of 40 years earlier.

It is uplifting and encouraging.

It properly credits God:  "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands,”

It is the message of Rahab for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.""

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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