Joshua 2:2-7 – Daring faith

The two spies on their reconnaissance mission had now come into the land of Canaan. They went and dwelt in the house of Rahab, who was described as a harlot. Though it was their choice to go to Rahab’s house, it was God who had guided their footsteps. Remember that the steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord. Bear in mind that Christian journey is a divine-human collaboration. God had a design to save Rahab. At this point, she must have already stopped plying her former, immoral trade. The spies being led to the house of a harlot reminds us that God is no respecter of man. His love for everyone, even a harlot is highlighted. The fact that Rahab was eventually saved and even listed in the ancestry of the Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, reveals to us that our God is truly a God of grace.  

Obviously, the exodus of the children of Israel and their 40 years of wilderness wandering must have been known to all the people in that region. Since their camping at Shittim located opposite Jericho, the king of that city must have been observing their movements. Soon he was alerted of the spies from Israel who had crossed over to recce the land. He was even aware that they had lodged themselves at Rahab's house. So, he sent word to her demanding that she surrenders them to him. The action of the king of Jericho speaks to us of the opposition we will face when we are on a mission with God. Christians should expect resistance as we seek to reach the goal of our journey. Trails and temptation are part and parcel of a Christian’s journey to attain the promise of God. He had permitted them so that we will learn to rely on Him and His grace to provide the wisdom we need. James in his letter gives us a very sound advice on how we ought to respond to trials. He said that we should face trials with joy and wisdom. For when trials are endured with joy and wisdom, we will be brought to a place of completeness and maturity, lacking nothing. Hence, we should seek the wisdom of God when facing the trials of life.

Another matter to take note is this: unlike the first spying mission of the 12 spies, recorded in Numbers 13, this one has not been kept a secret. God allowed the mission of the two spies to be uncovered. We are reminded that God works differently in all situations. He does not have a uniform way of dealing with us, even when the encounters may seem similar. He varies His methods to help us deal with our encounters in life. This will ensure that we rely on Him totally throughout our mission to possess the abundant life. The truth about Rahab’s response to the king's demand tells us that God has stationed people along the way to help us achieve our goal. Anyone, even the least expected, can be God's instrument to assist us in the mission. And when God has set before us an open door no one can prevent us from entering in. Why? It’s because God will use different means to help us accomplish our mission in life. Thus, wisdom dictates that we should commit all our ways to Him and trust Him to see us through.

The account of Rahab’s defiance of the king’s demands can be troubling. A quick scan of the situation can pose difficulty for us trying to reconcile the call to obey all civil authorities. Was Rahab right to do what she did? This depends on which angle we are looking at. We have the privilege of hindsight which Rahab clearly did not have. She did what her faith demanded. Her goal was to align herself with the true God, whom she must have heard so much about. Her defiance is best seen in this light - trusting God requires that one takes risks. Rahab's situation was not a case of disobeying civil authority but rather about taking a bold risk to trust God with her life. The question is, do we dare to trust God so wholeheartedly as Rahab did in accomplishing the goal of knowing God? This is the type of faith that God expected of all who believe in Him. We must demonstrate the “bold and courageous” faith which God demanded of Joshua to adopt, which Rahab here so clearly mirrors it for us!