Old Testament 1 Lesson 4

Christians should have this same attitude toward their Captain, Jesus
Christ!
RAHAB
One of the cities Israel had to conquer in order to take possession of the
land was the city of Jericho. Joshua sent out two spies to find out the
strength of the city. These spies found lodging in the house of Rahab, a harlot.
This woman, despite her past life, feared the God of the Israelites. She
told the men that she knew God was going to give them the land. She also
related to them that all of Jericho knew about the miracle at the Red Sea,
and Israel’s victory over the Amorites.
Rahab said,
...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 2:11
Someone had seen the two spies entering the city, and then entering
Rahab’s house. This was reported to the king who sent men unto Rahab,
saying, “Bring forth the men that are come to thee.” However, Rahab took
the men and brought them up to the roof of the house where she hid them
under the stalks of flax which had been arranged in order upon the roof.
She then told the men who had come after the spies that she had seen
the men, but they had gone out the gate of the city about the time of the
shutting of the gate, and that she did not know in which direction they had
gone (Joshua 2:2-6).
Because Rahab had spared the lives of the spies, she requested a favour from
them. She told them that she knew some day they would take the city. She
requested that whenever they did, they would spare her house. She would
have all her family inside. They agreed to this plan. She then let the spies
down by a scarlet cord through a window, because her house had been built
upon the town wall (Joshua 2:8-15).
The men told her that she must make sure her family was safe inside the
house. The scarlet cord used to aid their escape was to be displayed in the
window, so that when Israel came to destroy Jericho, they would see the
cord, and not destroy the house. There would not be any mercy or safety for
any person not in her house!
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