Quick recap BRIEFING from yesterday- There were two SPIES to search out the SPOIL. There was a SINNER in need of a SAVIOUR! A SNITCH told the SECRET. This was just the first part of the mission. Today we'll look at the middle of the mission.
Joshua 2:2 says the secret, that the spies had entered Jericho, was told unto the King of Jericho. This produced a SUMMONS. Verse 3 says that the King sent unto Rahab, telling her to bring out the spies because they were come to seek out the city's destruction. This summons produced a STAND that had to be taken. Anytime the world makes a command and tries to enforce it upon God's people, we have a choice to make. We can choose to STAND for the Lord, or "bow down" to the decree of the wicked. Acts 5:29 says, "... We ought to obey God rather than men." This is just what Rahab did. She knew that it was the Lord that had sent them there and that she was to provide them with shelter. Rahab chose to stand for God. But, with the stand that has to be made, there is a decision that has to be made about HOW to do that.
Rahab took a STAND, but told a STORY. We are to take a stand, but we need to do it according to God's Word and Way, not ours or the world's way. Romans 3:8 says, "..Let us do evil that good may come?...whose damnation is just." Paul pretty much meant God help us if we do something wrong in order to get a CHANCE to do something that is right. Rahab was a new believer, and having been raised in Pagan society, she was not taught the ways of the Lord. She probably thought nothing of lying. When we get saved, things do not always change over night. We have to learn things as the Lord changes us from the inside out. But, the Lord is patient with His children and blesses us in spite of ourselves! He still blessed the spies and protected them! So, even though there was a STORY, God provided a SOLACE! Rahab could have been killed according to the rules of warfare had they found the spies at her home. She had faith to know that the Lord was going to protect them since He had given them the land. But, the fact remains that she placed her life on the line. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13. Just as our Lord spoke these words, and did so for us, we should be willing to do the same for Him. Are we willing to do whatever it takes to obey the Lord and serve Him? Rahab seemed to already have understood this important truth. She knew that if God had graciously saved her from destruction in the city, that He would keep her safe from the King as well.
Rahab took the spies to the roof of her house, where she had laid out flax, in order, upon the roof to dry. She left them to tell the king's men the STORY, but was back to talk to the spies before they could even lay down, vs. 8. This is when her SALVATION was proclaimed. To bring this SALVATION, there had to be a SAVIOUR! She confessed with her mouth, that she believed in her heart, that the LORD, or JEHOVAH, was the only true God, (Romans 10:9 &10). When we trust the Lord as Saviour, we need to do the same thing. We should tell it publicly. Because she believed, she hid the spies, and was now going to ask them for safety in return. But, Rahab was not only concerned for herself, but for all of her family. They promised safety for her family as well, AS LONG AS THEY ENTERED HER HOME! Her family wouldn't be saved just because she was. They would be saved if they BELIEVED THE SAME MESSAGE that she was told from the spies. They had to believe that Joshua was coming and would spare them, but destroy the city. Is this not the same as when we get saved? We are burdened for our family. We can't save them, or bring them in, but we can tell them the Gospel that Jesus is coming, and He will save us from the destruction, if we BELIEVE! They saw the change in Rahab and believed as well, for in chapter 6:23 it says all of her family were brought out as well. If we live a sanctified Christian life before our lost family members, and they see the change the Lord has wrought in us, they are more likely to listen to the message as they did Rahab. She had been saved, but asked for a "true token" vs.12, to seal it, or for assurance.
This token was the SCARLET THREAD, OR CORD that she would use to let the spies escape by through her window. They went out of her window, down the wall on the outside to escape. Verse 18 says they told her to put this same thread in the window so that it would signal to all of Israel that this was the house that would not perish. All of the Israelites would know its meaning, even if Joshua had not told them to spare her.(Josh. 6:17). They had done the same thing with the blood of the Passover Lamb in Egypt, (Ex. 12:13). This scarlet cord stood for the saving BLOOD OF THE LAMB!
The SUMMONS from the king produced Rahab's STAND. She told a STORY, but in spite of it, the Lord gave SOLACE. Her SALVATION was proclaimed through her SAVIOUR! A SCARLET THREAD was given as THE SEAL! Tomorrow will be the conclusion of Operation Scarlet Harlot!
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