Chose the Winning Side (Rahab) - March 4

Read Joshua 2:1-5

And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” Then the kind of Jericho sent Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.”

Reflect

Why do you think Rahab was willing to risk her life to hide the Jewish spies?

Imagine that living in an ancient pagan city surrounded by walls is all that you’ve ever known. But for the past 40 years or so, you’ve heard a story about the God of the Israelite people. This God was able to do things that your pagan gods could never do. He sent plagues and natural disasters on the people of Egypt. He put the firstborn son of all the Egyptians to death but spared the Israelite boys. He parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross over on dry land but sent it crashing back down on Pharaoh’s mighty army of chariots. You know that this is a God who can perform miracles. He’s already completely destroyed two Amorite cities! Now, you’ve heard that this God is sending His people your way! How terrifying that would be!

One day, two of these Israelites show up at your door and the king wants you to hand them over. What would you do? Well, I don’t know what you would do but I can tell you what Rahab did—she hid the men and helped them escape the city with the agreement that when the Israelites attacked the city, everyone inside her house—marked by a scarlet cord in the window--would be safe (Joshua 2:17-21).

But why did she harbor “the enemy”? In Joshua 2:8-13, she told the spies: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house and give me a sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”

You see, Rahab had heard about the awesome power of God and it led her to the only logical conclusion—He is the real God and if we are not on His side, we are against Him. And if we are against Him, we will be destroyed. It had to have been terrifying to know that your entire city was about to face the judgment of Almighty God. But Rahab didn’t let that fear paralyze her. That fear sprung her into action. Rahab’s quick thinking and courageous act not only saved the lives of the two Israelite spies, but it saved her entire family from the destruction of her city. The rest of the land was “melting in fear” but Rahab and her family could rest in the assurance that they were safe because they were on the Lord’s side now. She had chosen the winning side.

In this life, there is so much to be afraid of. If we are not careful to guard our thoughts, we can melt in fear because it seems like there’s a threat on every side. We have to remember that we are on the Lord’s side now! In Him, we are safe. Romans 8:31 says “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Remember that scarlet cord hanging in Rahab’s window? The scarlet cord was like the blood of the Passover lamb that spared the Israelites in Exodus 12:13. Both are a picture of the power of the blood of Christ. We don’t have to hang a red cord in our window or smear lamb’s blood over our doorposts but we do have to trust in the blood of Christ for our salvation. And when we do, we have no reason to fear. We have chosen the winning side and we can rest in the assurance that we will be safe in Him for all eternity.

Respond

Lord, I confess that some days the fears of this world are crippling. In those moments, remind me that I am safe with You. I know that You are the One True God and I have placed my faith in You alone. By the blood of Christ, I am on Your side now. Help me to rest in that assurance. Amen.

Reveal

Do you have a friend who struggles with fear or anxiety? Remind them that if they are in Christ, they are safe for all eternity because they have chosen the winning side.