Kevin Reilly – Gdansk, Poland

Whilst sensing that a new chapter might be ahead of us, I’ve wondered about beginning a slow read through the book of Josuha. Then, whilst chatting over coffee with my friend Pawel, he casually mentioned that he was reading Joshua with his kids before bed. I felt I was on the right track…

Joshua continues where Deuteronomy finishes. Moses has died and the unbelieving generation of Israel – less Joshua and Caleb – has all died in the desert. It’s time now for this new generation of Israelites to come into God’s promises, through the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan.

Chapter 1 outlines the preparation of Joshua himself as the Lord speaks to him directly (v2-9) and then Joshua – freshly anointed by God – prepares the nation for its historic crossing into the land (v10-18). This is a pivotal moment for Israel, as she readies herself to inherit the promise to Abraham of coming into the land of Canaan (Gen 12:5-7). And the nation and her leaders respond magnificently!

Chapter 2 then takes a curious detour as (before crossing the Jordan) Joshua sends two young spies to go view the land, especially Jericho (2:1) which they do. And as they enter the city of Jericho they take refuge at the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab. (2:1) Unfortunately – though very wonderfully for Rahab – they are seen and the presence of Israelite spies in the city is reported to the King of Jericho who then sends soldiers to Rahab’s house, commanding her to bring out the two spies. Whereupon, she hides them in the thatch of her roof and boldly insists:

…swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” (2:12-14)

She then returns to the king’s men and covers for the two spies, saying that they have already left under cover of darkness. They then head off and the two Israelites are let down by a rope through the window, for Rahab’s house was built into the city wall… (15).

Unsurprisingly, Joshua’s historic victory at Jericho will be noted for us in Hebrews 11 as an example of obedient faith, stirring us to something similar. But more remarkable is the fact that Rahab’s bold, self-preserving action for herself and her family, immediately follows:

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.(Heb 11:30-31)

Indeed, Joshua is not even mentioned by name!! He is referenced only by inference within v30 in that he led the nation…but he is not mentioned personally – Rahab is! How is this possible? Joshua is the Lord’s anointed – one of only two men out of a million or so who made it through the Red Sea under Moses, traipsed around the desert for 40 years and then led the nation through the Jordan (Joshua 3) and – of course – into the city of Jericho (Joshua 6). But he is not even mentioned in Hebrews 11. Rahab is. Remarkable!

So what do we know about Rahab?
Well, not much. She’s a Canaanite woman living in Jericho, providing for herself and her family as a sex worker. Two Israelite spies come to her house for lodging, information, and/or sex. And then, sovereignly, she finds herself in a moment of great decision where she needs to pick a side – which she does. She defies the Canaanite King of Jericho and she saves the lives of these two men and in so doing she is the means of salvation for her entire family. This is pretty much all we know about her in this story.

She doesn’t get a mention again until Joshua 6 where (following the fall of Jericho) Joshua commands, Go into the prostitute’s house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her. (6:22).

And then in v25 the writer of Joshua expresses retrospectively that Rahab …lived in Israel to this day or (better translated) she dwelt in the midst of Israel, unto this day (6:25) – the word dwelt carrying the sense of dwelling deeply within / literally within the bowels of a creature.

Therefore, Rahab was not just spared or tolerated by Israel, she was absorbed into the very heart of the Israelite faith and tradition. So much so, in fact, that she catches the eye of a chap called Salmon, and together they had a son called Boaz, who married Ruth (two books after Joshua). And before you know it, this incredible woman is turning up as one of only four women mentioned in Mathew’s extensive genealogy of our Lord Jesus (Mt 1:5)!!

Also James, when stirring his readers to justification by faith with works, he makes a point of mentioning Rahab the prostitute who was justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way…no mention of Joshua in this list of great doers either. But Rahab is in there!

So, what to make of all this?
Well as the writer of Hebrews puts his quill to parchment, his thinking steeped in the Jewish characters and stories of the past, the Holy Spirit draws his attention to the life of Rahab and so she is included. The writer would know, not only of the part that she played in the overthrow of Jericho and Israel’s subsequent victory. But he would also be mindful of the person that she had become – an Israeilte, not by birth, but by faith; grafted into the nation, absorbed into its life and then finally blessed with the privilege of sharing in the genealogy of our saviour, Jesus.

The Lord has a most remarkable way of elevating small things to the dizziest of heights, compounding our sense of what is right or just and – quite honestly – leaving us breathless. Joshua has his journey, his book and his exploits for God. He is a remarkable man of faith who was privileged to serve alongside his mentor Moses.

Rahab, the sex worker, seizes her life-defining moment with boldness and courage and in time, becomes the mother of Boaz, who fathers Obed, who fathers Jesse, who fathers David…and so on, to Jacob and to Joseph and to the Lord Jesus (Mt 1:1-17)

What a remarkable woman. And what a testimony to God who:

…chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Cor 1:27-29)

So be encouraged. Stay bold and seize the day. And remember that the Lord is always so very drawn to humility and courageous faith – wherever, and in whomever, he finds it.