Grace In Strange Places

Joshua 2 Grace In Wrong Places

Jos 2:1  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 a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 

Joshua (Jehovah-saved) son of Nun (Perpetuity). We do not often look up people’s names we cannot pronounce, but there are times when someone stands up and their genealogy is given and it is a sermon before the man speaks. From Perpetuity Jehovah has saved His people.

We call Him Jesus, but in Hebrew His name is is Jehoshua or Y’shua or Joshua and He saves for perpetuity.

Rahab’s name means proud. We would think such a name for sex worker is not fitting as we would think it should be shame. God had plans for this woman that remove her shame and make her a proud mother.

Shittim means acacia trees so a wooded area good for hiding in. Jericho possibly means fragrant.

Jos 2:2  And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 

Jos 2:3  And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 

She was a person that would know much of the business of the city and especially strangers. The king might have had her house watched and someone reported it. Being a city of commerce with people coming and going all the time you would wonder what made them stand out among all of the other strangers that would seek a room and a concubine for the night.

Jos 2:4  And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 

Jos 2:5  And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 

Liar! Liar! Her pants would have been set on fire as well as everything else she owned had the king not trusted her. In a few verses, we will find out why she took such a risk.

Jos 2:6  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 

Flax was used in clothing, food and medicine so it was at the right time for the spies to be there because they could hide in the flax. In it’s raw state they may have been uncomfortable. Being soldiers, comfort was probably not something they were accustomed to having on a regular basis.

Jos 2:7  And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. 

She sent the kings’ men on a long goose chase and with the gates closed the men were safe for the night.

Jos 2:8  And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 

Jos 2:9  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. 

Jos 2:10  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. 

Jos 2:11  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. 

While they did not have internet back in the day, word still got out about the Israelites and people feared. Think about it. If they would have entered the land when God told them to they could have been in the land victorious for forty years. It seems that these people have lived in fear for forty years wondering when the Israelites would come for them. The Israelites were afraid so did not know these people would have been an easy conquer forty years sooner.

Jos 2:12  Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: