Rahab and the Spies in Jericho

Rahab and the Spies in Jericho: A Testament to Redemptive Grace

As the children of Israel stood on the cusp of the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, their hearts must have been filled with both anticipation and trepidation. Forty years of wandering in the wilderness had prepared a new generation for the formidable task ahead: conquering the fortified cities of Canaan. Jericho, a city of immense strategic importance and formidable walls, stood as the first great obstacle. It was into this crucible of divine purpose and human uncertainty that two spies, sent by Joshua, embarked on a mission that would intertwine their destiny with that of a most unlikely figure: Rahab, a harlot of Jericho, whose story stands as a profound testament to God's sovereign grace and the transformative power of faith.

The Perilous Mission and an Unexpected Refuge

After the death of Moses, the mantle of leadership fell upon Joshua, a man chosen by God to lead His people across the Jordan. His first strategic move was to gather intelligence on the city of Jericho. He sent two men secretly, charging them to "go view the land, even Jericho."

And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Joshua 2:1

Their arrival in Jericho was not unnoticed. News quickly reached the king that "there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country" (Joshua 2:2). The king, threatened by the presence of these foreign agents, immediately dispatched messengers to Rahab's house, demanding she surrender them. This moment presented Rahab with a stark choice: betray the spies and align herself with her people, or defy her king and cast her lot with the God of Israel, whom she had only heard about. Her response was immediate and decisive, demonstrating a faith that transcended her circumstances.

Rahab's Profound Confession of Faith

Rahab, displaying remarkable courage and shrewdness, hid the spies on the roof beneath stalks of flax. She then misled the king's messengers, claiming the men had departed at dusk before the city gates were shut, urging them to pursue quickly. This act of deception, while morally questionable by human standards, was an act of faith in God's ultimate plan, as recognized in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25. Once the king's men had departed, Rahab ascended to the roof and revealed her true heart to the spies.

And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Joshua 2:9-11

Rahab's confession is astonishing in its depth and theological insight. She acknowledged:

Her faith was not merely intellectual assent but led directly to action. She pleaded for mercy for herself and her family, recognizing that her only hope lay in aligning herself with the God of Israel.

The Covenant of the Scarlet Thread

Moved by her confession and recognizing the hand of God in her actions, the spies entered into a solemn covenant with Rahab. They swore by their lives to spare her and her family, provided she met specific conditions. This covenant was sealed by a visible sign: a scarlet thread.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear, Except ye bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

Joshua 2:14-18

The instructions were clear: the scarlet thread was to be bound in her window, and all her family members were to be gathered within her house. This thread, a striking visual marker against the backdrop of a doomed city, served as a powerful symbol. Many theologians see in the scarlet thread a profound type of the blood of Christ, which alone provides salvation and protection from divine judgment. Just as the blood on the doorposts in Egypt protected the Israelites from the angel of death (Exodus 12:7, Exodus 12:13), so too would the scarlet thread protect Rahab and her household when the walls of Jericho came crashing down.

Rahab's Deliverance and Enduring Legacy

After the spies reported back to Joshua, confirming Rahab's words and the fear gripping Jericho, Israel prepared for the miraculous fall of the city. When the walls collapsed after the seventh day of marching and the shout of the people, Rahab's house, incredibly, stood firm. Joshua commanded the two spies to fulfill their oath:

And Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. And she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day.

Joshua 6:22-25

Rahab and her family were brought out and integrated into the community of Israel. Her story does not end there; it blossoms into one of the most remarkable genealogies in human history. Rahab married Salmon, a prince of Judah, and became the mother of Boaz (Matthew 1:5), who would marry Ruth, another Gentile woman of faith. Through this lineage, Rahab, the former harlot of Jericho, became an ancestress of King David and ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Her inclusion in the Messianic line underscores the universality of God's redemptive plan, reaching beyond racial, social, and moral boundaries.

Lessons from Rahab's Faith

The narrative of Rahab and the spies offers profound theological insights for believers today:

• God Uses the Unlikely: Rahab's past as a harlot did not disqualify her from God's grace. He often chooses the weak and despised things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).
• Faith Leads to Works: Her faith was not passive; it was active and demonstrated through her courageous actions of hiding the spies and defying her king. As James reminds us, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). Her works were the evidence of her genuine belief.
• Grace Transcends Barriers: Rahab was a Gentile, an outsider to the covenant people of Israel. Her salvation highlights God's expansive grace, available to all who believe, regardless of their background or past sins.
• The Efficacy of Christ's Atonement: The scarlet thread serves as a beautiful prefigurement of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Just as the thread saved Rahab from physical destruction, so Christ's blood saves believers from eternal condemnation. "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13).
• Repentance and Transformation: Rahab's story is one of radical transformation. Her repentance, evidenced by her turning to the Lord and aiding His people, led to her inclusion and a new life, illustrating God's power to make all things new.

Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, stands as an eternal monument to God's boundless mercy and the power of a faith that trusts in His promises, even when facing overwhelming odds. Her story continues to inspire, reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of divine grace, and that God delights in using ordinary individuals to accomplish His extraordinary purposes.