Sermon 322:
A Bloodline of Grace – Rahab: Part II
Joshua 2, 5:13-6:27, Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:30-31, James 2:25...
Pastor Mark
Here we have it... 2 for 2... woman in the bloodline of Jesus our Messiah who are racially or morally
different...
and we aren't even half way through Advent.
Rahab knows the spies are coming... she is smart and can read things between the lines...
As an innkeeper or as a prostitute... she hears many things and interacts, converses with people from
around the world. She is also one who many people tell there secrets too... but one whose word might
not be believed in.
The stories of the Finger of God has reverberated throughout the Ancient World. It was God's intention
when delivering his people with a mighty hand from Egypt... that his people, the Egyptians, the entire
world would know who the Lord is!!!!!!!!
Words spoken 40 years ago are now coming true again...
“I have raised you up Moses... for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my
name might be proclaimed in all the earth... Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who
brought you out... And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand...”
As the plagues came upon Egypt – one after the other... attacking the gods of Egypt... Pharaoh's own
magicians cried out, “This is the finger of God!”
The Plagues... the Red Sea... the fall of Og and Sidon of the Amorites...
Three times Rahab says, “Our hearts melted, everyone's courage failed, we are in fear of the Lord God
of Israel...” That the world may know that “I am... that I am... the Lord!”
Rahab never saw the Finger of God at work... she only heard about it... and yet, she has faith in the
God of Israel! “Blessed are they who do not see and yet they believe!”
Rahab was willing to place her life at risk... (similar to Tamar) to hide these spies of Israel. I wonder
what the punishment is for hiding foreign spies who seek only to destroy you and your family... nothing
short of death I assume. Rahab is willing to lie and deceive her king and her people... She even helps
the spies out by giving them the king's movements as his army scouts the surrounding region for them.
Is it just pure survival tactics on the part of a desperate woman who knows how to make friends with
enemies in order to save her own life? Is she simply a manipulator of men? Something she has learned
how to do well in her inn keeping 'career'? Why Rahab? An outcast... a whore...
Aside: Does Scripture approve of lying? in some circumstances? Particularly, when the cause of God is
being threatened? Couldn't God have protected the spies without Rahab's help? AAAAhhhhhh.....
A couple of other instances of lying:
1. David faked madness when he was in the land of the Philistines after fleeing from Saul.
2. The lie of the midwives in Egypt who were supposed to kill all Hebrew baby boys at birth... they
said that the woman gave birth before they arrived... The midwives did not obey Pharaoh, for they
feared God.
Some would say that in times of war, when a nation is threatened by an aggressor it is legitimate to tell
lies... This argument was used, for example, during the Nazi occupation of Europe in WWII. Jews
were hid by those who were willing to risk their lives to save another's life. Gestapo agents would
come to the doors of your home and search your home for hidden refugees... Over and over, lies were
told to the Gestapo, “They too.... hid them under the flax”.
Notice – the midwives of Egypt are not commended for their lies – but for their fear of the Lord.
Rahab is not commended for her lie – but for her faith and for hiding the spies.
Besides – Can't you identify with Rahab? She lied... how just like us is that?!
Could it be that Rahab was also looking to be saved from her profession? Her lifestyle? Perhaps even
her 'culture and people?' It's a proven historical fact – prostitution is among the lifestyles of the poor...
why would you choose this if there is another way? Desperation can drive you to many things.
There is a holy-human weave, by God's design, by his allowance where he uses people, circumstances,
decisions, lies, actions... everything to accomplish his purposes... and this is a deep mystery...
A certainty: Rahab gives a stirring Profession of Faith: (Joshua 2:11) “The Lord your God is God in
heaven above and on the earth below.” Where is this faith coming from?
After lying to the kings guards... Rahab lets the spies down on a scarlet thread from her window in the
outer wall... The scarlet thread... is it a sign of redemption... salvation... protection...? She is placing
her hope and her faith in YHWH, the LORD, the God of Israel. She and her family will be covered
from disaster – they will be delivered from certain death.
Meanwhile, Joshua is making plans... How will we over take Jericho's walls? He goes out for a
scouting walk... To see the fortifications of Jericho... After a distance, there before him were the walls
of Jericho. “O Lord, how will we breach such stone?” As Joshua was turning to return to camp,
suddenly, right in front of him was a man standing with a drawn sword! Joshua was stunned – he didn't
hear anyone coming... He whispered, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” The man simply
answered, “No... but as commander of the armies of the Lord, I have come.” Could this be? Another
army is here? The army of the Lord? Immediately, Joshua fell face down on the ground and
worshiped. “What does my lord ask of his servant?” The commander of the Lord's army said, “Take
off your shoes... you are on holy ground.” Joshua did as he commanded.... and then the commander of
the army of the Lord told Joshua how the stones of the walls of Jericho would be breached.
The King of Jericho has shut the gates of his city and barred them with timber. Outlying farmers,
citizens, and every soldier in the region were inside... Sheep and goats and cattle... weapons, and the
harvest of barley had all been gathered in... the underground granaries are full... Jericho could
withstand a siege for months if necessary... it would endure... Along the walls – spears were propped
and ready, short arrows arranged in bunches every ten feet or so... and pitchers of oil resting on the top
of the wall – smoking smudge pots ready to ignite to shower down a rain of fire on their enemies. And
stones as well – ready to push onto anyone who gets near the wall. The hearts of the people of Jericho
were filled with fear... but they were ready!
Archaeological Note: The walls of many cities during this time are double walled. An inner and an
outer wall... and in between are supporting walls that was used for living space. It was the place for the
poor and the outcasts... Not very big – not very wide... It was a great efficient way to use masonry for a
double purpose. Many times when war is upon a city, the space between the outer and inner wall was
filled with rocks... making the wall a nearly impenetrable fortress... if you have time to fill them before
the enemy comes...
Early the next morning, the king of Jericho paces the walkway along the wall looking to the horizon...
“O Great Baal – Storm god – shake your spear of lightning – send your thunder! Save us from this
desert pestilence Israel... Oh Asherah... mother of seventy gods and of Ba'al – fight for us – and protect
us your children...”
Jericho is breached...
And then in the distance, he hears the people of Israel approaching... Jericho breaks out into a hurried
frenzy as the guards sound the alarm. “Warriors! Archers! Get up and get ready! The enemy
approaches!”
As the King, the warriors, and the people of Jericho lined the walls to catch a glimpse of this people
that they had heard so much about... a silence fell over them, as the people of Israel marched toward
Jericho. There was no hurry in their pace... but there was clear purpose...
As they marched toward Jericho – they never were close enough for a thrown spear or a bowed arrow
to reach them. At a safe distance away, horns sounded and the lead group turned... and continued
marching parallel to the city wall. They completely surrounded the city.
The King of Jericho noticed 7 priests in dazzling robes... they raised rams horns and blew in various
melodies... this was followed by four men carrying a box of beaten gold on two poles. They marched
around the city all day... And not one arrow was fired... not one word exchanged... it was maddening...
“What kind of battle is this?” Then the Israelites simply left...
And to the Kings surprise, he was exhausted... The soldiers too... weary from the days events...
Again the next day, the King of Jericho and his soldiers were ready... the Israelites came... same as
before... marching around the city – blowing seven ram horns, parading this mysterious box around in
front of them, and then returning to base camp by the setting of the sun. This happened again a third
day...
On the 4th day, Israel only marched around the city one time.
On the 5th day, the 6th day, here they came again. The King of Jericho was getting angry and frustrated.
He began to shout at the Israelites... taunt them... the soldiers and the people of the city joined in...
They cursed them... spat over the wall in there general direction...
No response from the Israelites... every day the same... Blowing of horns, march once around
the city, no war cries... not a word was said... Until the 7th day...
On the 7th day, the Israelites came like they always did... priests with rams horns – blowing loudly... a
golden box paraded in front of them... but after they marched around the city once... they kept
marching... 2,3,4,5,6, this is maddening! 7 times they march around the city... and then they stopped
and out of the silence – the horns are blown at a pitch not heard by the King of Jericho until that
moment... And then Joshua, shouts in a mighty voice, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!”
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! Everything in the city – silver,
gold, bronze, and iron are sacred to the Lord.” Another trumpet blast sounded and the people shouted...
a roar so deafening... a roar heard throughout the promised land...
The walls collapsed... and everyone who lined the walls ready for war tumbled to the ground, crushed
in a pile of rock and mortar... and the people of Israel entered the city from every side and conquered it
with ease...
As soon as the walls crumble... Joshua remembers Rahab and the promise of the spies... quickly he says
to the spies, “Go to the prostitutes house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance
with your oath to her.” So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her
father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. As it turned out, there was one sliver of
rock in the Jericho wall that remained intact... with a window about two stories up – with a scarlet cord
draped out the window. They brought out her entire family... Every other living thing was killed and
everything was burned... But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged
to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho – and she lives among the Israelites
to this day.
Hebrews 11:30-31 says, “By faith... Rahab was not killed because she welcomed the spies...” James
2:25, “Rahab was considered righteous for what she did – gave sanctuary and protection for the spies
and sent them off with instructions for their safety.” Rahab had faith and was evidenced through
action. Action for which she risked her life... Rahab is praised in Scripture for her faith and works
upheld by the writer of Hebrews and by James!!!
By the way, what are Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John collectively called? (Gospels... Story of Good
News!) Could it be that Matthew is preaching the gospel through his choice of genealogy???
That he is saying something of God's deep and wide mercy?!)
Of all the women that could have been mentioned in Jesus genealogy... Tamar and Rahab?
And who's been intentionally left out/absent? (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah...)
What is God doing here?
1) A Scarlet Thread... could it be that scarlet is the color for blood... could it be that we see an
ancient/future connection here... Pointing back: Blood from the lamb on the first Passover in
Egypt 40 years ago... smeared on the doorposts of peoples homes so that the they would be
covered – and the angel of death would pass over... delivered from certain death... Or could it
be – Pointing forward – Blood from the hands and feet, his back, his head... and pouring from
his side – the Lamb of God 'who takes away the sins of the world.' Who covers his people...
who now holds the key of death in his hands... and the angel of death passes over. What is God
doing here? Pointing us to Jesus.
2) Another Gentile Woman – who has a questionable occupation, and breaks a few
commandments along the way - in order to rescue her family from almost certain destruction. A
Canaanite woman who is delivered by YHWH and enfolded into his people. What is God doing
here? Pointing us to grace...
3) God is preparing the way for his people. It's interesting what the spies say after Rahab's hideout
outside the city and the troops movements come through like clockwork, just as Rahab told
them... “Surely, The Lord has given the whole land into our hands; all the people are
melting in fear because of us.” God is once again preparing the way for his people! A
highway of sorts to the promised land! He will go before you, he is behind you, beside you,
above you, below you, and even within you... Psalm 139 says, “You hem me in – behind and
before me... such knowledge is to wonderful for me...”
Final slide:
Rahab: A Bloodline of Grace...