Scripture:

“The king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you to stay the night in your house. They’re spies; they’ve come to spy out the whole country.’

 

The woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, ‘Yes, two men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they’d come from. At dark, when the gate was about to be shut, the men left. But I have no idea where they went. Hurry up! Chase them—you can still catch them!’ (She had actually taken them up on the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax that were spread out for her on the roof.) So the men set chase down the Jordan road toward the fords. As soon as they were gone, the gate was shut.

 

Before the spies were down for the night, the woman came up to them on the roof and said, ‘I know that God has given you the land. We’re all afraid. Everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt, and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you put under a holy curse and destroyed. We heard it and our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us. And all because of you, you and God, your God, God of the heavens above and God of the earth below. Now promise me by God. I showed you mercy; now show my family mercy. And give me some tangible proof, a guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters—everyone connected with my family. Save our souls from death’!” Joshua 2:3-13 (MSG)

 

Perspective:

 

Rumors had been circulating about the Israelites in Jericho. Two Israelite spies went sent to survey the city, but the king of Jericho found out they were there. Rahab welcomed the spies into her home and hid them at the cost of her own life. The king of Jericho could have had her killed if he found out. Rahab had a checkered past, but when two foreigners showed up at her door, she didn’t let her position cause her to not be brave. She had heard the stories of the Israelites. She knew what God had done for them. While everyone else in Jericho was afraid, she asked for something. These men did not know her; they had no reason to honor her request except that she was hiding them from the authorities. Yet, Rahab was strong in her own right. Earlier in Joshua 2, Rahab is referred to as a harlot. She had countless men through her home because of her job. Yet, she knew this was her time. While she could have cowered, she stood up for her family, and they were were saved.

 

While some may focus on the redemptive story in Rahab’s life, Rahab was strong, brave, bold, and ready for that life-changing moment. The ironic part about Rahab’s story is that she ended up being in the genealogy of Jesus. Do you remember the story of Ruth and Boaz? Rahab was Boaz’s mother. Boaz would have known his mother’s story, and it’s quite possible that he wasn’t afraid to help Ruth because of his upbringing. Isn’t that amazing? God saved Rahab and her family because of her bravery and boldness, then planted her in His story of redemption. While we might put her in the background of a story we were writing, God didn’t spare any time in putting her in the forefront of what He was doing. God didn’t have to do that. He could have just saved her family, but it is a wonderful thing to know that God doesn’t just do the minimum when loving people. He goes above and beyond.

 

Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.  Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

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About Hona Amer

I help people live life to the fullest. Check out my book, Smart Work U. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. In order to receive updates, subscribe below.

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