What more shall I say? ∙

What more shall I say? ∙

The two spies returned to Joshua and told him what they had learned, “The LORD has given us the whole land, for all the people in the land are terrified of us.” – Joshua 2:24

Hebrews 11:31 It was by faith that Rahab the harlot was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Do you always believe what you hear or read on the Internet?

In 2012-2013, State Farm ran a TV Commercial which has come to be called, “The Internet and French Model.” A man named Mike is reporting an accident using his new State Farm mobile app. His neighbor walks by and she says, “I thought State Farm didn’t have all those apps.” Mike asked, “where did you hear that?” She responds, “the Internet.” Mike somewhat amazed queries, “and you believed it?” She responds, “yeah, they can’t put anything on the Internet that is not true.” Mike asks, “where did you hear that?” And they both respond simultaneously, “the Internet!”

The commercial ends with his neighbor introducing her date that she met on the Internet. She tells Mike that he’s a “French model.” He awkwardly mouths the words, “Ah, Bonjour.” Of course, the audience left aghast at the utter naïveté of the lady who believes everything she reads on the Internet.

Perhaps the best choice is to adhere to the sagacious advice of former president Ronald Reagan, “Trust but Verify.”

Long before the Internet and even without streaming 24×7 news services, word of major world events still got around. While the nation of Israel was wandering in the wilderness, news out of Egypt was spreading throughout the region. Stories were told and retold about how the God of Israel had brought the land of Egypt to its knees. Most of the army of Egypt had been destroyed. The God of Israel freed the Jewish people from their slavery and bondage by His mighty hand.

At that time, Egypt had the most powerful army on the face of the planet. No one had ever stood before Egypt’s armies and defeated them. They had mastered the use of what was then the new unmatched weapon of the day, the chariot. No doubt merchants and travelers had been telling and retelling the stories for decades. Undoubtedly, wealthy powerful cities such as Jericho had fortified their defenses to prepare for a possible invasion. But who could resist the power of the living God?

People were living in fear of the day that the armies of Israel would appear to take possession of “The Promised Land” that their God had sworn to give them. 40 years had come and gone, and the people of Jericho were still fearful of what the Lord might one day do.

Joshua 2:8-11

 8 Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them.

 9 “I know the LORD has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror.

 10 For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. . .

 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

Rahab was no princess. As a matter of fact, she is better known to biblical history as Rahab the harlot. But when she heard the truth regarding the Lord God of Israel, she believed in Him. Rahab dared to stand alone because she knew it was right. Rahab knew the risks of helping the spies, concealing them, deceiving their would-be captors, and helping them to escape. She provided the first “Hiding Place” much like the Dutch family of Corrie ten Boom during World War II.

Stellar reputations or the lack thereof never prevent people from going from unbelief to faith, from gross immorality to risking it all for the sake of what is right.

Joshua ordered two spies to go to Jericho to get the lay of the land. He directed them to secretly go to Rahab’s house. But they must have been seen. Somehow, word got out that they had come to her house. The king of Jericho sent out his stormtroopers to capture the Jewish spies. Rahab risked her life. She hid them and lied to protect them. They were able to escape alive from their pursuers. However, Rahab requested something in return for her hospitality, kindness, and protection. When the city was conquered, she wanted to be spared along with her family. The two spies agreed (Joshua 2:12-23). And it was so (Joshua 6:17).

Hebrews 11:31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

The two spies returned to Joshua and told him what they had learned, “The LORD has given us the whole land, for all the people in the land are terrified of us” (Joshua 2:24).

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father values faith and obedience even in the small details.

Father I long to be faithful and obedient, even when it involves risk and loss. Encourage me to be bold, daring, and faithful.

INSIGHT

But there’s more, the Father is always full of surprises.

After Rahab cleaned up her act and left her salacious life behind her, she became a part of the nation of Israel. She got married to a man named Salmon. They had a son named Boaz. Boaz was kind and generous and became a wealthy man. One day he found a young Moabitess, a widow, working in his fields. For Boaz, it was love at first sight. It turned out that her dead husband was a near kinsman. And Boaz had the right to become her kinsman-redeemer. He had to pull a few strings but eventually, he married her.

Her name was Ruth. Ruth and Boaz had a son. Their son’s name was Obed. None of this would’ve been very important except for the fact that Obed also had a son and his name was Jesse.

Now the name Jesse may sound very familiar. For you see Jesse was the father of David. And the great, great, great, . . . great-grandson of David is the Lord Jesus Christ.

A small deed done in faith for the right reasons at the right time for the right people had consequences beyond anybody’s wildest imagination. At the time, only the Father knew in advance that Rahab would be the distant ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-6,16).

Putting it another way. Rahab went against the tradition, custom, religion, and laws of Jericho. She stood alone and did what was right. If Rahab had refused to do what is right, would she have ever married and become part of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Now is always the right time to do the right thing for the right reasons.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 2-03-2