“And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.” (Joshua 2:1)
Copyright CaptBlackEagle 2020
Joshua had sent two men to recon Jericho. Recon missions come with special dangers. Not just that spies are executed on sight, but that spies that are caught tend to reveal information of any planned attack. Intelligence missions are a two edged sword.
The spies had penetrated the city of Jericho and picked the seediest part of the city as a base of operations. Anyone new in these neighborhoods are immediately suspect. The King of Jericho was informed that these Israeli spies were not just in the city, but they were lodging with Rahab.
Rahab had already told the spies some very important information.
I know that God has given you this land.
I know the people here are scared of you.
I know God had parted the Red Sea to allow you to escape Egypt.
I know that you utterly destroyed the Amorites.
Rahab added, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:11)
The King of Jericho interrogated Rahab about the men who had stayed with her. Rahab took a dangerous track. Instead of telling the King that she knew where they were hiding, she denied knowing who they were. She lied to the King and told him that the men had left and headed toward the river. She further stated that if the King sent his men out of the city they can catch them.
The deception worked. She hid the men on her roof until the Kings men had left heading toward the river. After the gates had been closed she told the men to head into the mountains for three days. Rahab lowered the men out of the city by a rope from her house.
A promise is made. The men tell Rahab that is she keeps their secret she and her family will be well treated. They told her to mark her window with a scarlet thread.
The men returned to Joseph and said, “And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.” (Joshua 2:24)
Stay tuned…
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