Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days,until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” Joshua 2 NIV
Joshua sends out two spies and this is familiar territory for him, for once he too was sent out on a similar errand. He and Caleb came back with a report much different than the other spies, and upon this report the people trembled. I would imagine that the general has chosen this small party because they are from his inner circle, they will report the facts and he is not deciding if but rather how the battle will take place. We must take care who we ask advice of and who would represent us. I think Joshua has made the decision of a seasoned warrior.
The two men enter the city and stay with a woman referred to as a harlot or prostitute. She hides the men who will be coming against her city and deceives her own king. Why? Well, it was the testimony of what she had heard of Israel, and probably from other visitors. Her house is in the wall of the city and she has heard of the parting of the red sea, of the defeats of neighboring kings, and while she was not there for these things, she believes that God has given them this land. She is not a Jew, but it doesn't matter, where we come from, what parents we are born to, what gods she was taught to serve, she is coming to know the one true God. She sees the fear in the men's faces, and this is interesting, because they would still try to capture the spies, and she could make a great name for herself, but while the king would know the same stories, she will be the one to risk everything on two strangers. It is a statement of faith that had to humble the spies, and when her story was brought to Joshua it must have strengthened his own. It is also a rebuke, this is a woman of ill repute, a whore, a stranger in a land that God is going to pass judgement upon, yet in all of Israel could you find such faith? She is also, to the dismay of many, part of the lineage of Christ. If that bothers you, or it doesn't fit your narrative, then I am sorry for you.
Paul wrote of her in Hebrews 11:31
The two men enter the city and stay with a woman referred to as a harlot or prostitute. She hides the men who will be coming against her city and deceives her own king. Why? Well, it was the testimony of what she had heard of Israel, and probably from other visitors. Her house is in the wall of the city and she has heard of the parting of the red sea, of the defeats of neighboring kings, and while she was not there for these things, she believes that God has given them this land. She is not a Jew, but it doesn't matter, where we come from, what parents we are born to, what gods she was taught to serve, she is coming to know the one true God. She sees the fear in the men's faces, and this is interesting, because they would still try to capture the spies, and she could make a great name for herself, but while the king would know the same stories, she will be the one to risk everything on two strangers. It is a statement of faith that had to humble the spies, and when her story was brought to Joshua it must have strengthened his own. It is also a rebuke, this is a woman of ill repute, a whore, a stranger in a land that God is going to pass judgement upon, yet in all of Israel could you find such faith? She is also, to the dismay of many, part of the lineage of Christ. If that bothers you, or it doesn't fit your narrative, then I am sorry for you.
Paul wrote of her in Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
She maintains her starting title as a prostitute, and though where we are now may not look so much like where we have been, it should keep us humble. I may have been born in Jericho, worshipping the sun, greedy, violent, perverted, totally adverse to the things of God, but this should give you hope. It is by faith and not of lineage. It should give anyone hope that a drug addict, a liar, a drunk, a fornicator and chief sinner like me, could here the testimony of what God has done and have faith. And what does saving faith look like? Ask the prostitute. She heard without being there to see, she saw the fear on the faces of those she knew, and she proclaimed Who God was, God of heaven and God of earth. She professed this with her mouth, but faith without works is dead, and she does not believe on whim or in passing. She risks her life for the men that belong to this God. Her faith leads to action.
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. James 2:24-26
Believing that God exists is nothing, even the demons know this much. This is not the time for a pat on the back, but for humble gratitude, for patience and love. I am asking God for mercy so I should also beg for a heart that is not easily offended. I should want that faith that becomes a river of life, that overflows my being to share with those around me. She asks for kindness in return and not just for herself, but also for her family. They give her assurance in the sign of Passover, a cord hanging from the window of their escape. She is not a Jew, she is a sinner, she lives in the city of God's wrath, but by faith she has come to believe, she has come to ask for mercy, and she escapes God's judgment.
The spies return with a much different report than those from 40 years now past; the spies from old thought themselves grasshoppers in a land of giants. These two men see the people melting before them.
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:36-50 KJV
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Luke 7:36-50 KJV
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