Joshua 2:14-24 Be reassured that God will make the righteous dwell in safety
Joshua 2:14-24
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. Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, “ Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “ We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”
Background
Rahab and her kin were saved because she trusted the men of faith and obeyed their instructions. God knows those who are His and rescued Rahab’s family while the rest of the city burned. Today’s passage assures us of God’s faithfulness in protecting those who are righteous. Rahab’s salvation was attributed to her obedience in diligently carrying out the instructions given by the men of faith.
Observation
Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours …
The men responded with earnest assurances with their very lives as guarantee: Our life for yours, as the stakes were high for both Rahab and the men of Israel. In order for this arrangement to work, trust and faithfulness is the essence: we will deal kindly and faithfully with you. Rahab went beyond with just providing harbor for the men; she guided their escape in order to prevent detection. It seemed that Rahab had started to act as if her clan’s life depended on the safety of these men.
Unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window …
The men stated precisely what Rahab must do in the event that the city was breached, taken by force, the houses destroyed and lives lost. Rahab was to tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window, and to ensure that her kin will be with her in the house. If these conditions were not met, the men shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear.
Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.
The men heeded Rahab’s advice, which spoke of the trust they have built during this short encounter. The men escaped detection and returned to Joshua telling their chief all that had happened to them. Perhaps, the most important element that came out of this reconnaissance mission was: Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands, for the state of panic of the Canaanites was evidence of their impending defeat.
Truth
On the day of peril, God will not leave the righteous unprotected. In dire circumstances of danger and economic peril, the righteous are providentially provided for and protected by God. God knows those who are His and will protect them at all cost. The purposes of Joshua’s reconnaissance mission apart from gathering intelligences, was to rescue Rahab and her kin. Despite being gentiles, God went to great lengths to retrieve Rahab and her clan back into His fold. Therefore, the people of God have reason to stay calm and reassured in times of chaos and divine judgment. Many people are accustomed to looking out for prophecies of judgment that warned of great loss and destruction; they were afraid that the stock market would suddenly crash leaving them penniless. Yet they hang onto them being overcome with greed. They reinforced their houses and stocked up supplies fearing a worldwide catastrophe. The psalmist wrote,
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
Therefore, God’s people should not actively look out for signs of disasters, but to focus on knowing His will and walk in it.
In order for the righteous to prosper, they must find a community of faith whom they can trust. Rahab and her clan found safety while the rest of the city burned because she trusted the men of faith by obeying their instructions. The men of Israel escaped detection and accomplished their mission because they trusted the advice of Rahab. Trustworthiness is the virtue of one who fears God and who loves others. To assess the trustworthiness of another, one only had to understand his view of God; one who has no fear of God will do anything if he can get away with it. But one who fears God will keep himself from evil. There are many churchgoers who do not fear God supposing He has removed all punishment and wrath through Christ’s work on the cross. Therefore, one has to be discerning in understanding who can be trusted and who cannot.
Salvation must be acquired through works that demonstrate a genuine change of heart. Rahab and her kin were saved because she followed to the tee the instructions given by the men of Israel. She kept secret the reconnaissance activity of Israel. She tied the cord of scarlet in her window and kept her family in her house at all times. Faith must find expression in works of love and obedience. There are churchgoers who observe church culture by attending weekly services but will not fulfill the basic responsibilities of a Christian. They do not give to their parents, nor do they give their tithes and offerings on a regular basis. Their lives revolve around the comfort of their family without investing time in doing works of charity. Many of them suppose that the only obedience required of them for salvation is water baptism. Yet Jesus said,
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6
Unless, one has his spirit regenerated by the Holy Spirit to love God and to love others, he cannot enter God’s kingdom. The basic inclination of man is to use religious observances and works as cover up to mask his true self. However, God does not take notice of our observances but our heart and the works that demonstrate a genuine change of heart.
Applications
- Do you constantly live in fear that you may suddenly be fired or be struck with terminal illness? Be assured that God knows the ones who belong to Him and will protect them from all harm and danger. Perhaps, you are not sure of your position because your heart betrays you. The solution is to repent and do what God has instructed while trusting Him to protect and provide.
- Are you averse to trusting others because you have been burned before? It could be an issue of misplaced trust, of not knowing how to assess the trustworthiness of another. By reading the word regularly and by fearing God, you will sharpen and develop the power of discernment and wisdom.
Dear Lord, I reject all fear knowing that you have your eyes on the righteous. Increase my trust in you by obeying your commands. Surround me with the people of faith so that I can learn to trust and to prosper. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.