Joshua and Judges: Crossing the Jordan - The spies and Rahab, part 1. Jos 2:1-11.
Announcements / opening prayer:
Josh 2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.
Although Joshua had received a promise from the Lord of His almighty help in the conquest of Canaan, he still thought it necessary to do what was requisite on his part to secure the success of the work committed to him, as the help of God does not preclude human action, but rather presupposes it.
Some have criticized him for this, but God does not. Christians often realize an objective that God wills for them to accomplish and then they greatly over think the steps.
God calls us to action, but He paints actions in broad strokes and allows us to figure out the details as we go. He doesn't give us step by step instructions, but commands and virtues through which to function.
Our steps are numbered by the Lord, but it is we who must take the steps. There are no procedures or rituals in the NT. A believer can find a situation “like” his own in the Bible and so find great help in application of truth, but he will never find his exact situation in the scripture, and so from the truth to which he has put his faith, so he must apply it to his unique life.
Deu 29:29
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
The details must not violate the commands and they must not be short of the divine virtues, but the exact steps are steps of faith.
David, after finally becoming king of Judah, determined to get the ark and bring it to Jerusalem to set it up on Zion. This was his decision and it was a great one. His decision was correct, but when he went to where the ark was stored he failed to remember the instruction given by God on how to transport the ark. All David was thinking of was transporting and in his haste he forgot to consult the word of God on how. Because of this lapse a man died to took hold of the ark. David actually got angry at the Lord. He had to wait another three months before returning and transporting it properly. The details must not violate the commands.
And, adding again in light of Joshua filling Moses' big sandals, what someone did that was successful is not always going to be what you should do in a similar situation. Determine the steps from your own relationship with God, from your own doctrine in your soul, through your own prayer life, through your own dependence on the Spirit and take those steps by faith, following the commands and walking in the divine virtues.
And so, in the body of Christ, we have great individuality, and great servitude and unity. It is a wonderful mix of both, and every believer must gain the wisdom to live both.
He gave the spies their instructions secretly; but this implies that they were also sent out secretly. This was done partly in order that the Canaanites might not hear of it, and partly in order that, if the report should prove unfavorable, the people might not be thrown into despair, as they had been before in the time of Moses.
Jericho was two hours' journey to the west of the Jordan, situated in a plain that was formerly very fertile, and celebrated for its palm trees and balsam shrubs, but which is now quite desolate and barren. It is early spring and the people have begun to harvest grain. This plain is encircled on the western side by a naked and barren range of mountains.
Jericho was known as the city of palm trees. As they stealthily approached they must have been struck with the extraordinary beauty and luxuriance of the district. It's vegetation is most rich and rare; almost every tree is tenanted by the bulbul or Palestinian nightingale, with the hopping thrush, the gorgeous Indian blue kingfisher, the Egyptian turtle dove, and the lovely sun bird which is resplendent with all the colors of the humming bird - its back brilliant green, its throat blue, and its breast purple with a tuft of rich red, orange, and yellow feathers at each shoulder. The little stream swarms with fish. Added to all this are the many palm trees and scented balsam gardens.
This paradise of Canaan was guarded by the fortress of Jericho - one of the strongest in the whole land. Inside the thick walls immense wealth was stored. At the back of the city to the west are the mountains of Judea which surround the city like an amphitheater. To the north are a small outcrop of mountain in which the spies would later hide. It is springtime and the air is crisp and lovely, filled with the sounds of songbirds and the delightful smells of balsam and rich soil.
Rahab is called a zonah, which is a harlot and not an innkeeper as some have translated the word.
Entering the house of a harlot would not arouse too much suspicion, or so they thought. Plus, the house being on the wall of the city would offer a quicker escape than being in the center. While these things were calculated wisely in the minds of the spies, what they could have never calculated was the type of woman Rahab would be.
God so guided the course of the spies that they found in Rahab the harlot the very person who was most suitable for their purpose.
www.youtube.comwatch?v=bYrSkikZhxI
It's not being a sinner that prevents a person from being transformed into a son or daughter of God's glory, if that were true then no one would ever become one. It is response to the truth in faith that transforms a person, and Rahab is one such person who will not only be famous throughout all history, but will be inducted into the genetic line of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The miracles wrought by Jehovah on behalf of Israel had made such an impression upon her that she not only informed the spies of the despondency of the Canaanites, but, with believing trust in the power of the God of Israel, concealed the spies from all the inquiries of her countrymen, though at the greatest risk to herself.
Jos 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
Someone recognized the unusual appearance of the two men and was able to correctly conclude that they were Hebrews and correctly deduced the reason for them being there.
Jos 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."
Jos 2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.
Jos 2:5 And it came about when it was time to shut the gate, at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."
Jos 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
Flax stalks, which grow to the height of three or four feet in Egypt, and attain the thickness of a reed, and would probably be quite as large in the plain of Jericho, the climate of which resembles that of Egypt, would form a very good hiding-place for the spies as they were piled up upon the roof to dry in the sun. We know that it is right before the Passover, so it is early spring, and in Jericho, it is the time of the harvest.
Rahab used falsehood to avert suspicion from herself of any conspiracy in order to prevent any search and thus protect the spies.
The falsehood by which Rahab sought not only to avert all suspicion from herself of any conspiracy with the Israeli men who had entered her house, but to prevent any further search for them in her house, and to frustrate the attempt to arrest them.
At dark the gates of the city were closed and she lies to the kings messengers that they had left her house about that time, hinting that they had left the city. Then she suggests, furthering the lie, that if they were to pursue them quickly, since they would not have gotten far, that they could overtake them, hence sending them away from the possibility of searching her house, and roof.
She takes a great risk here and because of the success of it and because of the blessing that she and her household received, some have concluded that the lie was justified and in fact praiseworthy.
Most others condemn her for the lie, but cut her a great amount of slack as a young and new believer.
She is praised by James for it.
Jam 2:25
And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
And, the writer of Joshua does not comment on the lie, either good or bad.
Lying cannot be justified by the scripture.
Although it may be inferred here that the lie was praiseworthy there isn’t a scripture that says lies can be good at times.
Pro 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
So we may ask, “Was it necessary for her to lie?” If we answer yes then we conclude that God needs our help and even our lies, be they white lies or the stronger kind.
The lie cannot be justified as a lie of necessity told for a good purpose.
From verse 9 we learn that Rahab was convinced of the truth of the miracles which God had wrought for His people, and acted in firm faith that the true God would give the land of Canaan to the Israelites, and that all opposition made to them would be vain, and would be, in fact, rebellion against the Almighty God himself.
Jos 2:8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,
Jos 2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.
Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
Jos 2:11 And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
It’s her faith that makes her special amongst her people, and that’s what our focus should be.
I could state that we don’t always get all the steps right in a situation, but that wouldn’t justify sin, and in some minds who take an inch and make it a mile, would certainly take that away from this. I think the fact that God mentions nothing about it means that we shouldn’t fret over it.
Let’s say a criminal broke into your house and got the jump on you and had you at gunpoint and let’s say that your wife and children are well hidden somewhere in the house. If the violent criminal demands that tell him where they are, do you show him the way or tell him that you’re the only one in the house? Before you want to debate such a scenario or any like it, ask yourself how often such a situation as this happens, and is it really vital to know?
Rahab is not justified for her lie, but that is not at all the focus here, it is her faith and the power of Jehovah to deliver both the spies and her.
And, by the way, I have not read one commentator that took up the issue of the lie of the spies, not a verbal one, but in hiding, isn’t that deception? Why didn’t they claim the faith that Jehovah had already delivered this city to them and boldly confront the king’s messengers? Why hide? Why let this woman risk her own neck for your personal safety?
God gets the glory. Though all of us are sinners and we don’t always get everything right and we will never reach sinless perfection, He continues to fight for us and stay with us. God has promised this land and the destruction of this city, and if God somehow rebuked Rahab for her lie, we are not told, but we do know that God blessed her and her family by association, for her faith, and in that she is a heroine of the Bible.
Heb 11:31
By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Her faith is hailed. She trusted the promise of the spies and remained in her father's house when the city was being attacked.
Jos 2:7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
The fords are the places in the path of the Jordan that are easily crossed and so would be the likely places to find them and the gate is shut so that they can’t backtrack and sneak back into the city.
Jos 2:8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,
Jos 2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.
Terror in the hearts of the people of Jericho was prophesied 40 years prior in the song of Moses sung directly after the crossing of the Red Sea.
Exo 15:13 "In Thy lovingkindness Thou hast led the people whom Thou hast redeemed;
In Thy strength Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation.
Exo 15:14 "The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
Exo 15:15 "Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed;
The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
Exo 15:16 "Terror and dread fall upon them;
By the greatness of Thine arm they are motionless as stone;
Until Thy people pass over, O Lord ,
Until the people pass over whom Thou hast purchased.
Exo 15:17 "Thou wilt bring them and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance,
The place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thy dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.
Exo 15:18 "The Lord shall reign forever and ever."
God repeated this to Moses a few months later at Sinai.
Exo 23:27
I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
And again just before they fought with Sihon the Amorite king.
Deu 2:25
'This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under the heavens, who, when they hear the report of you, shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.'
And again at Shittim as they camped and Moses entreated them to love the Lord and follow all His ways.
Deu 11:25
There shall no man be able to stand before you; the Lord your God shall lay the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land on which you set foot, as He has spoken to you.
A further application here is intended by Moses, for after they take the land from the fearful Canaanites, if they continue to follow the Lord and love Him with all their heart that the nations around them will fear them and so they will have peace instead of war.
When your enemy fears you, you have already defeated him.
“Of the four wars that happened in my lifetime, none occurred because America was too strong.” [Ronald Reagan]