Joshua 2:1-14 Allegiance to God brings divine provision and protection
Joshua 2:1-14
Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “ I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.
Background
Jericho city was considered impenetrable in those days. However, Rahab’s foresight that resulted in her allegiance and reconciliation with the God of heaven and earth saved her entire clan from certain annihilation. Today’s passage teaches us that man’s allegiance must first be reserved for God, then for men. Man’s unreserved allegiance to God brings divine provision and protection.
Observation
Go, view the land, especially Jericho …
Even as God had spoken to Joshua, “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you…” It requires Joshua to exercise common battle procedures and foresight in gathering intelligence concerning the land. Joshua and the people had every reason to expect the city to be taken by force. As we know it, the intelligence gathered did not have any bearing towards the miraculous fall of the Jericho wall. Nevertheless, the reconnaissance did give Rahab occasion to demonstrate faith that saved her entire clan. However, under God’s providence, the king’s messengers that demanded the surrender of the spies were quickly taken in by Rahab’s words that no search of her house was done.
I know that the Lord has given you the land.
After Rahab had rid herself of the king’s men, she went up to the roof where the men had been hidden. She expressed her conviction that the Lord has given you the land. She also spoke of the terror that had befallen upon Canaan’s inhabitants because of the miraculous drying up of the Red Sea and their recent exploits against the Amorites: our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man. It is obvious to the readers that Rahab had just begun to emerge from her pagan beliefs. She confessed: for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Her conversion and allegiance towards Israel was due to her recognition of God as Lord in heaven above and on earth beneath. The cause of her conversion was not political but one motivated by faith.
Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord.
In this context, it was not solely Rahab’s faith that saved her clan and but her shrewdness and wisdom. In the event of Jericho’s destruction, she demanded safety for her clan in exchange for secrecy concerning Israel’s clandestine activities. And nothing less than a solemn oath from the spies would seal this arrangement: secrecy in exchange for safety.
Truth
Faith demands one’s level best, faith is no excuse for sloth. Even as God had given full backing to all of Joshua’s military campaigns and that no man could stand before him, it was still required of Joshua to give his level best. Jericho city’s miraculous fall had indeed made Joshua’s reconnaissance efforts appeared superfluous. Joshua was discharging his due diligence as command in chief and intelligence gathering was a standard procedure in any military campaign. Joshua was not to in any way let down his guard because of God’s divine assistance: God’s unconditional love does not tolerate sloth! There are churchgoers who utilize God’s grace to compensate for their lack of diligence. They eat recklessly supposing God’s grace will sustain their health. Some ministers do not put in time in meditation on the word, and in prayer and fasting; they think that the Holy Spirit will come to their assistance when they invoke the name of Jesus. Some businessmen suppose by virtue of their identity as God’s children, become complacent thinking they have an edge. God grants divine assistance to those who give their utmost. In fact, what saved Rahab’s clan was her diligence when she demanded a pledge of truth from the spies. Therefore, in all our endeavors, we must exercise faith as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us. By giving our level best in the spirit of excellence, we provide an ideal condition to manifest God’s power and glory.
Allegiance towards God ranks above all earthly allegiance. Many could not commit themselves fully to God because they made a promise to someone to disavow Christ. There are those who refuse to be baptized in Jesus’ name because they give in to their parent’s demands. There are also those who would not offer their tithes and offerings in order to preserve peace at home. Yet God demands allegiance towards Him despite dire oppositions. What made Rahab do what she did? It was obvious that she had committed treason against her own people. Yet she was considered a woman of faith,
By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. Hebrews 11:31
She was also part of the lineage, the mother of Boaz leading to Jesus (see Matthew 1:5). As a result, God approved of her act and preserved the life of her clan. God was Creator and Father of the human race, but man turned his back on Him and became disobedient. God came in the flesh and suffered in order to reconcile sinful man to God, yet many refused to give Him total allegiance. Man’s allegiance must first be reserved for God, then for men. Jesus taught,
If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:26
The world when left to her own devices is diametrically opposed to God. Jesus said,
If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. John 15:18
Lines of allegiance are drawn from the beginning of time and will divide families. Jesus said,
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter- in- law against her mother- in- law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:34-37
Unless we choose Christ and give Him absolute allegiance, there is no salvation. Rahab made the decision and chose the God of heaven and earth and was rewarded with life and glory.
Applications
- Are you accustomed to working out of fear and anxiety or trust in God? People who work out of fear, worry even after putting in their level best. Yet there are some who experience overwhelming peace even when things did not go their way. One must be accustomed to peace as a new norm while working with his level best.
- Do you give in to human oppositions when it comes to the things of Christ? Perhaps, you are averse to disagreement and need divine strength to stand. Ask God for strength by praying the below prayer.
Dear Lord, I acknowledge you as my Creator, Father and Savior. I have been alienated from you because of the sins of my ancestors. Forgive my sins. I reestablish my allegiance to you and will obey all that you have commanded. Now, bless my family and protect us from evil. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.