Joshua 2:19 - The Gospel in the Walls of Jericho

Joshua 2 speaks of the spies of Israel sent out by Joshua to spy out the land of Jericho for Israel. During their time in Jericho, behind the enemy lines, the spies encounter a local harlot called Rahab who agrees to take them into her house to stay.

Joshua 2:2-3 states "And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”

To set the scene, Rahab is a citizen of Jericho and an enemy of Israel. Her own people are seeking out the spies who have come to gather information on the city before the army of Israel moves in. It would be expected for Rahab to give up the spies and side with her own people, however this is not what happens. Instead, we are told in verse 5 that Rahab chooses to hide the spies of Israel in her own home and protect them, rather than give them up. 

The spies were on an intelligence mission to see what the layout of the city was before the Army of Israel came to attack and Rahab would have known this. Rahab would have known that the spies successful mission would likely result in the overthrow and attack of her home town, yet despite this she still chooses to protect them. 

The reason for this is given in verse 8 -13:

8 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for theLord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

To reward Rahab for her faithfulness and unwillingness to give up the spies, to the point of risking her own life, the spies make a covenant with her not to harm her when the impending attack comes. 

Joshua 2:14 "So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 

The spies covenanted with her that when the attack comes, Rahab should bind a line of scarlet cord in her window. By doing this, the Israelites would know that no person within that house must be touched. However, anybody outside of the house would be in danger of being struck down and killed during the attack.

Joshua 2:17 "So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will beguiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”"

Skipping forward we are told in Joshua 6:17 "Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent." 

Joshua 6:22 states "But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.”"

The Gospel in the Walls of Jericho

We all know the story of the walls of Jericho and how the Israelite army marched around the city walls seven times for seven days until they collapsed. However, this account of the battle against Jericho is a great picture of the gospel and saving grace of the Lord Jesus that was to come.

Rahab, the harlot and common person represents us, who is living in the city of Jericho, a city at enmity from the people of God. Just like Rahab we are all sinful people who all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 6:23). 

Here we see Jericho represent the world and its citizens the people of the world. The world is at enmity from God (James 4:4  "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."). 

Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."

God's impending judgment upon the world is coming whether we like it or not and God is going to deal with the problem of sin and sinful people within the world. The Lord has promised us that He will one day deal with the injustice and wrongfulness of this world. However we are told in God's word that God loves us and does not want any of us to perish (2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance").

Just as in the story of Jericho, God has sent his spies into all the world to preach the Good News and attempt to claw back those who are lost. Matthew 22:14 tells us that "Many are called, but few are chosen"). God is calling each and everyone of us to Him, yet only few answer that call. 

For those of us living in the world, like Rahab living in Jericho, we have a choice. A choice to either accept God's word and the message of his salvation brought by His spies, or reject it and side with the world. Whichever choice we make the truth does not change the fact that God will one day come to take sin into captivity. 

By acknowledging the spies of Israel and allowing them into her house, Rahab was spared by the army of God when they invaded the city. The Spies tell her that anybody in her house at the time would be spared, provided that a scarlet cord is hanging from her window (verse 18), however those outside of her house will be dealt with in the same way as everybody else in the city.

Here we should instantly see the parallel to the story of the Passover and the instructions to the Israelites to paint the blood of a lamb above their door frames to ensure that they escape the tenth plague of God (Exodus 12). Just as the Israelites where to place blood above their doors, Rahab is instructed to bind a cord in her window crimson, the colour of blood (Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord, Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.").

In both accounts, the significance of placing a visible item upon the door or window represents the blood of Christ that has been spilt on the resident's behalf. The sacrifice that Christ has made so that the benefactor may be spared from impending judgment. The significance also is a lesson to us to show that whilst we are in the midst of a sinful world, we should in no way be part of it. We should be in the world but not of it and it should be clearly visible for all to see that we have been saved by the the Lord Jesus.  Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world. 

In John 17 Jesus prays for His disciples, His followers and the believers, stating at verse 15-17: "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."

We all live in this world and have purpose from God, it is not Gods plan to remove us from this world at this time, however we can be rest assured that we will be protected and always saved through the truth of God's grace (Matthew 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.").

Today we have a chance to abide in the house of the Lord, through accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour. We are promised in Psalm 91:1-2 " He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

2 

Just as Rahab lived within the city that was about to be overrun, we live in a sinful world that is going to be brought into judgment by God and just like Rahab we have a choice whether to accept God or reject Him. 

If we accept Him God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (1 John 1:9) and save us from His coming judgment. But if we do not accept Him or leave His protection He will be blameless and any blood will not be on his hands. Just as in Joshua 2:19, where the spies clearly warn Rahab what would happen if she left the protection of her home, God has made his terms to us clear, that being, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God and must put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ if we want to live. 

God will not be guilty of any blood that is shed if the people are outside of His protection. However, we read in Matthew 27:25 in the account of the crucifixion of Jesus, how the men shouted and demanded for the blood of Jesus, an innocent man. Matthew 27:25 "And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

The blood of Jesus is on our heads, yet still out of His love for us He died for us so that we may live. We must put our trust in Christ today and repent of the blood that is on our hands. Repent of the sins and wrongs that we have committed, separate ourselves from this sinful world which will surely be dealt with as it deserves and hide ourselves away in the protection of the Lord. 

Make the choice today. Because we all have to sooner or later. 

-BACChristian