One Important Paragraph

In the book of Joshua, in its 6^th chapter, and between the 17^th and 19^th verses, we find the names of two important people:

1. Rahab, and
2. You.

Joshua was about to lead the people of Israel into their very first battle toward conquering the Promised Land. They had traveled far and for a very long time. The generation who had witnessed Moses’ deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt, who had crossed the Red Sea on dry land, who had witnessed the presence of God as He spoke with Moses, and who had wandered in the desert for nearly thirty years, arguing and complaining, crying and moaning, had died. A new generation had been circumcised and had tasted the joy of the Passover celebration (Joshua 5). It was now time to do what they’d come to do.

Rahab

Joshua 2 tells us that the actions of the advancing Hebrews would come as no surprise to the residents of Jericho.

Joshua had sent two spies into the fortified city; they entered into the house of a prostitute, Rahab. Rahab, in an act of bravery and honesty, hid the spies from the king’s men sent to bring them out (no doubt for killing). Such an act on Rahab’s part held two possible consequences:

1. Death (if caught), or 
2. Life (if taken into the protective order of the spies).

Rahab laid her bets on the second. She lied to the king’s men, deceiving them as to where the spies had ventured off to, and then, when they had gone, gave the spies some pretty valuable information.

"I know that the Lord has given this land to you 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. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea 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. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  (Joshua 2: 9b-11)