Rahab & Jericho : Sunday school stories part 5

Rahab & the Taking of Jericho : Joshua 2:1-21, 5:13-6:25

Our next story begins after the wandering of Israel for 40 years. Moses led them following the LORD’s glory as a pillar of fire and smoke. They were prevented from entering the Promise Land by their own doubts. Moses sent 12 spies to see the land they were entering, and 10 of them said it could not be done. The inhabitants were like giants, and the cities were too fortified. Only Joshua and Caleb told Moses the LORD had given the land to Israel, and so they could conquer it. 

The naysayers led the people against God’s plan, and so the LORD sent them into wandering exile for 40 years. As the 40 years winded down, Moses died, and Joshua took charge. The LORD told Joshua to take courage, because He would be with Joshua just as He was with Moses, and Israel will surely take the land promised to them.

And so, as Joshua begins once again to scope out the land, he sends out spies to decide the best course of action. Our story picks up with two spies heading through Jericho…

The spies find an unlikely ally : Joshua 2:1-21

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who 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, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, 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 hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

8 Before the men 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 fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt 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 devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.”21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

The spies enter the land and stay at Rahab’s place. Now, we could get sidetracked for quite a bit on the morality of these spies staying at what amounts to a brothel, but keep in mind these spies need a place to lay low. Hotels are possibly not the best option. A couple of travelers passing through town, heading into a prostitute’s home would not arouse much suspicion. However, we should note that this particular meeting was guided by God. Because, it was in this house they found an ally who would help them escape capture. 

Now, this is certainly not an excuse for you to go hanging out in brothels, but it does bring us to the first point:

Sometimes God sends us unlikely allies in order to help prepare our task ahead.

In the mission field, this is known as a “person of peace.” There is a pattern in the New Testament of people who were far from God, but God was drawing them into the family. The missionary was to befriend the unlikely partner, and the person became a gateway to the wider community. If God is preparing us to enter a new land, or a new demographic, He will prepare the way by calling out individuals who will aide the people of God. But, we should not be surprised when the ‘person of peace’ is someone who is outside of our comfort zone, or goes against our social sensibilities. After all, if the person was already in our cultural sphere, then they would not be much help in our efforts to reach new people

Now, she has hidden them under stalks on the roof. This area would be something like an attic or crawlspace. The roof was held up with wooden beams, and then the stalks would be laid over the cross beams. They are hidden because the word has gotten to the king that spies are at Rahab’s, and they are up to no good. Rahab lies and sends their pursuers on a wild goose chase.

After sending the king’s men out, she goes back to the spies and makes a covenant with them. This covenant reveals what God has done for Israel, even while they were wandering from disobedience. The people are deathly afraid, and have no spirit for battle against Israel. Rahab understands what is about to happen, and so she is striking a deal in order to save her family.

The Lord will prepare our paths ahead of time, so we only have to walk in obedience rather than doubt.

The spies take the deal and tell her to hang a scarlet cord out the window in order the Israelites to know whose house is to be left alone. The destruction of Jericho is going to be complete, with no person or animal left.

Joshua receives his instructions : Joshua 5:13-6:5

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” 15 And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

As Joshua is near Jericho, a mysterious figure appears with sword drawn. Joshua asks a pertinent question in times of war, but notice how the figure answers. “No. I am the commander of the army of the Lord.” His answer reminds us of our next point.

The soldier is not bound to any earthly army. He belongs to the Lord. We must always remember that we do not control God. No amount of incantations or rituals will cause God to be in our debt, or will somehow cajole Him into doing what we want. We certainly cast our cares on Him, because He cares for us, but the idea that somehow we can make ‘God on our side’ subverts the truth. God is on God’s side. If we are to be ready for the task ahead of us, we must be on His side.

So, Joshua receives some odd instructions for how to take the city. The instructions do include the sacred number ‘7’. In fact, there are 7 days, 7 marches on the 7th day, and 7 trumpets will blast. However, outside of some numerology, the instructions have no practical purpose. The marches and trumpet blasts are to demonstrate it is God who gives the victory. The walls will fall, because God has deemed them to fall. The city will be captured and destroyed, because God has deemed it to be. 

Now, the majority of the time, God will work through absolutely normal circumstances. In fact, most of the battles Israel will face are fought under relatively normal circumstances. This is certainly not the only time God will intervene miraculously, but it is normal to expect natural actions to create natural results. However, there are times when,

God may provide strange instructions to us in order for His power and presence to be known by all who saw His miracle happen.

Again, when the natural and wise course of action is plain in front of us, then that is what we should do. But, every once in awhile, God will call us to walk a path that is more faith than reason. If such a task is laid before us, then we should just keep walking as He tells us.

The Walls Fall Down : Joshua 6:6-21

6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.” 8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.” 11 So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. 12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. 15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.” 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

Joshua commands Israel to march just as the commander of the Lord told them. And lo and behold, the walls come down flat. Then, they devote the whole city to destruction. Now, in verse 21, we are given some information that is disconcerting for our modern ears. The entire city is to be burned, including the women and children. How do we reconcile the God of love commanding that whole populations be destroyed by the sword? This seemingly irreconcilable difficulty has prompted much discussion, as well as some heresies within Christianity. I would like to submit a few possible points to add some perspective to our story.

The violent depictions of God in the Old Testament are not normative to the Old Testament. Normally, God is characterized by His covenant love for Israel. 

First, God is not the “vengeful God of the Old Testament” that is normally tossed around by unbelievers and heretics. Now, that certainly is not to dismiss the apparent contradiction, but it does lead us to question this violence further. If it is not ‘normal’ for God to offer complete destruction for rebellious people, and God is normally characterized by His love, then something is very different here that we should explore further rather than dismissing this as a “contradiction of the Bible.”

The inhabitants are not innocent casualties of war.

Second, we should note this city is not ‘innocent’—not even in the eyes of modern sensibilities. The sins of the Canaanites were especially heinous, even for the ancient world. They routinely sacrificed children to the god Molech. They practiced a number of sexual sins which are condemned by Levitical Law, including incestuous and bestial acts which even most people today would condemn. Though we should not attempt to categorize sins into ‘bad’ and ‘really bad’, we should note that when questioning  the order to destroy the city, the city had fallen into the extent of sin which others have also done bringing destruction.

The land must be cleansed of all unrighteousness if it is to be the Promise Land for God’s people.

Third, the destruction of Jericho, as well as with other cities, works towards sanctifying the land to God. This area was to be the Promise Land for God’s people. It could not be corrupted by sin, lest that sin corrupts God’s people. And, when Israel failed to destroy cities as commanded, that is exactly what happened. In fact, the failure of Israel to remove idols and pagan societies brought about their own idolatry and a mixed Jewish/pagan religious system which brought about their Exile in later generations. 

The wages of sin is death, so any time God allows, or calls, for the destruction of sinful people, it is a just call.

Romans 6:23 is very clear, the wages of sin, what we earn for sinning, is death. We saw this in the Garden when Adam is warned they would die for their sin. We saw this in Noah when the whole earth was filled with corruption and had to be purged. We saw this in the Egyptian plagues. We see it time and time again, the wages of sin is death. And, we see it in our own day. It is not difficult to understand that when people go against the Law and Nature of God, seeking evil rather than good, they bring death upon themselves and others. 

Therefore, when examining how the absolute destruction of Jericho is related to God’s love and justice, we should be reminded that our sin brings condemnation just as much as Jericho’s. Our lack of understanding God’s justice being administered has more to do with our own sin than God’s nature. 

So, as we look at these perspectives, it leads to:

The violent depictions of God in the Old Testament highlight the love God poured out on us at the crucifixion. 

Consider, if God is absolutely just to condemn sinners to destruction,

And, if we are guilty the same sin as Jericho,

But instead, God pours out that wrath on Himself in Christ, 

Then we should praise God that we do not experience the same destruction!—that instead, we can receive mercy and grace through Jesus Christ.

Last, as we look at these points, we should also note, as we have in previous sermons in this series, the story here is a typology of what is to come in Christ. But, the destruction typified here has not happened yet. Jesus came first to seek and save the lost, just as the spies found Rahab and covenanted a way of salvation for her—though, of course, she initiated the covenant. However, the next time He comes, it will be to administer God’s justice by purifying the earth in fire. Those who have entered the new covenant will be spared, just as Rahab was spared, but the rest, they will face that utter destruction.

Let’s read those final verses of Rahab’s deliverance.

Rahab and her household are saved : Joshua 6:22-25

22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, “Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.” 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

In these last verses we see Rahab spared because the covenant is fulfilled. Her family remained in the house fulfilling their part, so Israel fulfilled theirs. But the significance of Rahab does not end with just a happy ending for her family. 

If we look quickly at the genealogy of Jesus as found in Matthew 1, you will notice some familiar names in verses 5 & 6. Salmon is the father of Boaz, yes the Boaz found in the book of Ruth, and Rahab is Boaz’s mother. Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse, who is the father of King David. 

Because Rahab’s faithfulness, she is brought out of prostitution and brought into both the physical and spiritual lineage of Jesus Christ. She is a shining example of this truth:

It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters where you are heading.

We do not get to pick what family, what country, what culture we are born into. But we can set out for a greater destiny. It doesn’t happen on our own, and when people are left to their own devices, they will always fall into ruin. But through the power of God, with the grace of Jesus Christ and the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit, we can find ourselves with an eternal destiny far greater than we could ever imagine. 

Today, let Jericho remind us God’s justice is certain, just, and complete in destruction. But, let’s also remember that just as with Rahab, we have been given a way out of destruction that is in keeping with God’s justice, but reminds us of His great love for us.