This Article: (7 Pages)
- 1. Why spy?
- 2. Consequences Joshua's Two Spies'... Actions
- 3. Rahab's Faith
- 4. Rahab's Family and Boaz
- 5. Joshua's faith
- 6. The 12 Spies and Israelite Faith
- 7. Faith and Providence
2) Consequences Joshua's Two Spies' Actions
Joshua sends two men to view the land, and specifically the city of Jericho. The record does not name these two men. The two men go into Jericho and come to a harlot's house. This harlot happens to be the faithful Rahab. Some remarkable aspects are:Joshua feels the need to command spies to view Jericho.
The spies decide to actually go into Jericho.
In a whole city the two men just happen to find Rahab.
Rahab happens to go to extraordinary lengths to conceal the men.
She has a simple faith in Israel's God that many an Israelite lacked.
She happens to know and believe that the city will be destroyed.
She asks for salvation not only for herself but “her father's house”.
It could be that only a harlot would offer lodging to foreign visitors. Josephus calls her an innkeeper. The two occupations were not exclusive of course. Rahab could have been the only harlot in the city or she may have operated the only lodging house. This city was only 8.25 acres with about 200 people per acre. This small size explains why the King knew who to ask. However, Rahab happened to believe and to ask for salvation. Let us ask the question. What would have happened if the two men had not come to Rahab's house?
It is recorded in Matthew:
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king;(Mat 1:5-6 KJV)
Rahab was David's great grandmother. The house of David would not have existed. And from the house of David comes Mary “of the house of David” to whom was said,
Behold, thou shalt ..bring forth a son, and shalt call his name YAHSHUA. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. (Luke 1:27-33 KJV)
Both Matthew and Luke emphasise the origins of Yahshua. Matthew says Yahshua is of Rahab, and Luke says he is of David. We are told David is descended from Boaz son of Rahab (Ruth 4:21-22). There is a link of providence spanning generations. One Yahshua (Joshua) sends out spies who save the ancestor of the later Yahshua.
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