Today … one more lesson about Rahab, at least exclusively about her. (I may fairly soon write an article for the Website about the chronology of the Book of Joshua, a conundrum at times. If so, Joshua chapter 2 will of necessity be discussed, the Rahab event, its “timing.”)
Now … read Rahab’s statement to the spies: “9And 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. 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. 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. 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: 13 And that YE WILL SAVE ALIVE my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” Joshua 2:9-13
First … she clearly believed that God was going to “destroy” all the Canaanites, her ancestry! (Including her and her family!) She was fully aware of the seriousness of the Judgment of God, its 100% inevitability!
In this Rahab is the first person in the Book of Joshua to specifically mention this “dedicated to destruction” idea that God had so carefully taught Moses! Deuteronomy 20:17 gives an example: “Thou shalt UTTERLY DESTROY them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.”
So she (Rahab) first mentions God’s Holy Wrath!
Then secondly, she is also keenly aware of God’s (amazing) Grace!
“Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD … that ye will also SHOW KINDNESS (hesed) unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: and that ye WILL SAVE ALIVE my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and DELIVER OUR LIVES FROM DEATH.”
The “kindness” for which Rahab begs is none other than the “Grace, Mercy” of God! “Hesed” or “chesed” (merely a pronunciation difference) is one of the great words of the Bible! It’s the well-known “lovingkindness” of the Old Testament!
Rahab knew that … though God’s Judgment was real … so was His Grace!
And that trust in God (faith) triggers that marvelous Grace that overcomes God’s Judgment! (Ultimately through the Blood of Jesus shed on Calvary, which propitiated God’s Wrath against sin. When applied to the human heart, that is.)
Psalm 30:5 beautifully says: “For His (God’s) anger endureth but a moment; but in his favour is life (some lexicons say this favour is ‘lifelong’).” More than a “moment,” anyway!
Praise the Lord!
Rahab, the little theologian!
Rahab, the teacher!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Rahab asked for Grace! And was given that Grace! In fact, “and a whole lot more!” Sounds just like our great God, doesn’t it?