A Halt at the Harlot’s House
( A destination Just away from the Israelites’ s Destiny!
Rahab who protected the spies added spice to the Canaan Journey of Joshua and Caleb! A pause at her place got her name recorded in the Book as a credit for this Righteous deed of hers.
Guess what. This looks like a character of appearance For Righteousness Sake!!!What a privilege for a harlot. Joshua 6:16-17 the seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. Of the few women who have their traits displayed in records, Rahab found a place? Hebrews 11:31 “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient”.The Ropes aided the safe-landing and escape of the spies. She was game for the dare deed that was risky! She proved she was sure with time on her Call to defend and Rescue and disproved the unrighteous entitlement (Harlot) given to her! What was unique about Rahab?
1) She resisted the enemies of God’s people:
The people who were sent to Rahab’s house were sent by the king to bring out the hiding men. It happens to be a common trait of a woman to protect people and their lives and even go an extra mile to succeed on this mission. The woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said,Joshua 2:4 “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”
2) A hiding place (Destination) before the Israelites could reach their Destiny:
Here Rahab seemed to be destined place of halt before they could reach their God-destined land .Finding a place for people at their homes is always the responsibility of the women, she knew the stand she was taking was going to be history of Israelite’s and did it with all her heart. Joshua 2:6 she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.
3) She routed the direction of the Enemies:
Rahab turns to be a classic example of understanding and route the direction of her enemies ,so that they don’t interfere with the purpose and mission of God. Rahab knew what she was standing for. Nothing could disturb her bold stand. She clearly refused to tell the enemies the spies whereabouts! Sometimes it calls for confidence to bluntly refuse the fact, because it has a righteous cause and a clause!
Joshua 2:5 “At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”
4) She acknowledged and witnessed the God; who was with the Israelites.
She not only knew that God was with them but righteously witnessed it by pronouncing the incidents that witnessed, the God who was with them. This could have even been an eye-opener to the Israelite’s, whose very nature is to forget the wondrous deeds of our God!
a) She bore witness confidently saying ‘I know that the lord god has given you this land and great fear had fallen on us. Joshua 2:8
Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.
b) She narrated the events that she had heard of; to affirm her faith in their God and that God is on their side.
We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea. For you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
c) An Outright confession that the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
She made an outright confession of the lord our God. Joshua 2:11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
5) A Covenant –Our lives for your lives!
She asks for a sure sign from the spies before she could let go of them that they remember to show her kindness and spare her and her family, after they occupy the land! Joshua 2:12, 13,14Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
6) The Rope of Rescue turns Rahab to righteousness
Rahab, having known the place and the time of return of the enemies, suggests where they could hide in the hills for three days, and ensures to fulfill her rescue operation successfully.
Joshua 2:15, 16 she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
Rahab was earmarked for righteousness according to Matthew 10::41 whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.