Rahab & Spies

Joshua 2:1-6

1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

2The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.

Chemicals

Every Tuesday and Saturday, church members come to clean our building. Building maintenance in Canada requires chemicals to be used for cleaning. There are particular instructions that needed to be followed on how to use chemicals effectively and appropriately.

It is advisable to follow the recommendation of chemical manufacturer to maximize the effectiveness of the chemical. Improper use of chemical may cause disintegration of cleaning tools or the area where the chemical is used. It is requires knowledge to properly mix chemicals. If the ratio or amount of chemicals is not appropriate, they are wasted and the after effect may not come out properly clean as expected.

Church cleaners conducted a seminar on handling chemicals. They also learned how to clean the church building methodically and efficiently. The result was better as expected. The work was more orderly and faster. Cleaning has become more delightful eventually.

Serving God, even cleaning is delightful. Joy comes from God. When God assigns us to do something, He wants us to experience joy. Working with God enables the obedient to experience the presence of God. There’s a peculiar joy in the presence of God.

When God gives us something to do, He wants it to be done according to His standards. He won’t leave us do it on our own. God works with us, in us and through us. That’s the godly way to do things. Together with God, we experienced joy in obeying the Lord.

Our human effort is not enough to reach God’s standards. God’s work should be done according to His prescription. We can only obey God according to His will, if we submit to the Lordship of Christ. When the Lord gives us a mission, He gives us strategy and safety.

1. Strategy

1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

After God commissioned and instructed Joshua to lead the Israelites, Joshua ordered the officers of the people to tell the Israelite to prepare. In three day, they will cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the promise land. While the leaders were instructing the rest of the Israelites to prepare, Joshua secretly sent spies to Jericho. Why secret?

That was a very bright strategy. Spies are supposed to be secret agents. It’s not logical to warn the Canaanites, “Hey! People of Canaan, we are here to spy your land!” Right?

Did the rest of the Israelites know that Joshua sent spies? What do you think? Let’s recall! Not all people who came out of Egypt were Israelites. It says in Exodus 12:38, 38Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

Do you think God has given Joshua a strategy on how to be successful in their conquest? When Joshua secretly sent men that he trusted to spy the land, was it from God? I believe, it was wisdom from God. The spies were safe and reported back to Joshua. When God gives mission, He makes it sure that it will be fulfilled.

The plan to spy the land was supposed to be secret but still the king of Jericho learned about it. Who told the king of Jericho? It was never mentioned. The king has spies, too, perhaps.

2The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

The king heard about the spies. He also came to know where they went. Did someone from the house of Rahab or neighbor of Rahab report to the king? It is also interesting that the spies went to the house of Rahab. Why?

Rahab was a prostitute. A prostitute in those days were despised and outcast. Humans even the outcasts desire to be accepted. Humans want to be associated with a group.

The people of Jericho might have been treating Rahab very harshly that she didn’t care if her city will be invaded. This is another lesson for us to reconsider our attitude toward people who are rejected by the majority.

David’s Soldiers

The loyal soldiers of King David were outcasts. In 1 Samuel 22:1-2, 2David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

King David was running away from King Saul. Those men loyal to him were valiant, expert and great soldiers. The Bible did not explain why they were distressed or discontented. Those who were in debt may not have been given chances to pay their debts. Perhaps, they were pressured to pay by their creditors or lenders.

Just imagine this situation. Someone cannot pay his debt on time. What could be the attitude of the lender toward his debtor? Compare it with no debt. Have your relative or friend borrowed money from you, and they just cannot pay you? Are you willing to lend more to them?

If person who has debts is welcomed into the fellowship, distress may not be felt harder. Discontentment is tougher when nobody wants to fellowship with you, right? Therefore, we can assume that those who joined David were outcasts somehow.  Their loyalty to David as their leader and king was never put in question.

Rahab had her loyalty shifted to the Israelite spies. It was not known if she came to know the spies before but Rahab and the spies have something in common, “They did not have any great concern for the welfare of the city of Jericho.” Rahab might have thought that it was time for her to have someone who cares or accepts her as a person.

When God gives us a mission or project, it always takes godly effort. It’s no easy task. God’s work is risky. The Israelite spies were at risk. Rahab and her family were at risk. God provides strategy and safety so that His work will be accomplished or completed.

2. Safety

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.

Rahab placed herself in a very dangerous situation when she hid the spies. When the spies went to Jericho, their lives were in danger, too. However, they found refuge in the care of Rahab. Rahab hid them under stalk of flax. That’s a brilliant and not suspicious strategy.

Roof tops were secured place to dry stalks of flax. Stalks of flax were manufactured into linen fabrics. That was very laborious. Linen garments were exclusively used by the kings, priests or rich people. Linen garments were very expensive.

Anyway, Rahab found it very strategic to hide the spies under the stalks of flax. Those who came to search for the spies did not assume that the spies hid under the stalks of flax. They believed Rahab that the spies came to her home and left later. When she suggested that they should go after them that they might catch the spies, they listened to her. Just like that!

Can you sense that it was God who was at work even in the heart of an outcast Rahab for the safety of the spies? When God sends us to mission, He gives us also strategy and safety, until the mission is completed or accomplished. Strategy and safety are practical exhibits of God’s grace. God works intellectually and physically among His people.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

God allowed the spies to trust an outcast like Rahab. Those who searched for the spies listened to Rahab, too. Hiding under stalks of flax may not be bright to others but it saved the spies. As humans, we cannot help but to envy the strong, wise, wealthy, popular, and not to mention about race, colors or height. God chooses even an outcast to accomplish His purpose.

Spiritual journey is not dominated by the wisest, wealthiest, fastest or strongest, but those who persevere. Every person has struggles and concerns. But we can depend upon the grace of God to enable us to persevere, and complete the spiritual race of life.

In Hebrews 12:1-3, 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith imply that our spiritual life is in progress. We need to grow spiritually. When the Lord commanded us to go and make disciples, it involves taking care of believers who need to grow spiritually mature as disciples.

It says in Philippians 1:6, 6he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

If you are active in making disciples, you are more assured eternally and more joyful than others, why?  Jesus promised, “And I will be with you always to the end of age.”

Desire to reach that spiritual maturity of being Christ’s disciples! Jesus assures His presence to disciples who go and make disciples and not to ordinary believers. Making disciples is a privilege for us to be more assured of our salvation, and to experience His joy.

When we are spiritually ready, when we have matured spiritually as disciples, God provides strategy and safety to accomplish the task He gives.

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